QUOTE SHEET
Real Monarchs 2-1 El Paso Locomotive
Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, UT
November 9, 2019
Interim Head Coach Jamison Olave
On the feeling:
āI donāt think there are any words to describe how weāre feeling right now, in the locker room and after the game. Everyone is happy for what weāve achieved and what we had in front of us to play for.ā
On the halftime message:
āI tried to instill confidence. El Paso created two chances in the first half. One from long distance, and the second was the goal. So the message was, āDonāt lose your mind. Keep calm.ā We were playing well. They didnāt break us down and we had good things that we could do in the second half. Thatās what we did. We made a couple tactical corrections that in the second half we did very well, and we got the result.ā
On the mental toughness:
āThe players know that it doesnāt matter what position we are in during the game, we have the team to come back. In a perfect world, it would be better to score first but we are very mentally strong to come back when we concede.ā
On David Ochoa:
āI think there is a big future there for the club. Ochoa has a lot of quality. He helped a lot during the regular season and then in the playoffs. He has been doing so good. Putna has also helped a lot during the season. There is work for everyone. The quality that Ochoa has shows that he has a big future.ā
On the defenders scoring goals:
āI scored a couple goals when I was playing. The whole week you train to defend, so itās a special moment in the game if you see Erik Holt or any center back score. When they score - because weāre not used to that - we donāt know how to celebrate. I feel very happy for center backs when they score.ā
On the upcoming week:
āWe want to enjoy today and try to process what we have achieved today. Tomorrow, we start preparing for the week, watching Louisville and how we can hurt them and the strengths that they have. Monday, when we come back to training, weāll have a plan for that big game.ā
On watching the other conference:
āThatās going to be hard work. We donāt play against them so we donāt watch them that much. We prepare week by week, but right now, we have tomorrow and Monday to watch and come up with a plan to go and play there.ā
Midfielder Jack Blake
On the feeling:
āI literally canāt describe it. The feeling that we had last week in Phoenix was indescribable, and this is indescribable times 10. Iām so proud of the boys and what weāve achieved this season. Everyone around the league didnāt fancy us winning it. We were underdogs throughout the whole season pretty much, so to come out and get the win in the last minute of extra time, itās fairy tale stuff.ā
On the difference tonight:
āI think it was the fight to keep going. The belief as a team to get the equalizer early on in the second half. We knew in that moment that we were going to go on to win it. We made it difficult for ourselves going down one nil again. Iām so proud of the boys and the fight we showed. El Paso is a very difficult team to break down. We knew that they were going to possess the ball, and we wanted to possess it.ā
On takeaways for Louisville:
āTactically, they are very well set up. They have a very good coaching staff. Iāve worked with their coach before. Defensively, theyāre very organized and very difficult to break down. Even when they went down to 10 men, you probably couldnāt even tell they were playing with 10 men. Credit to them for doing that, and pushing us all the way. There was no stopping us in the end, and we got what we deserved for the effort weāve put in this season.ā
On two defenders scoring:
āThose boys are like strikers in the box. Kalen turned to me when we got the freekick, and said, āShall we put it in the box?ā and I said, āYes, of course.ā Theyāre lethal in the box. The chance that he got wasnāt an easy chance. Kalen took his chance really well and Holt showed such determination to win that header. So proud of those two and the whole defense, Konrad Plewa, (James) Moberg, (Noah) Powder stepping in, Tate (Schmitt), and (David) Ochoa. The whole defense was fantastic to see that one out.ā
On Ochoa:
āHe brings a calmness. To have someone as young as him along with the trust that he has from the team, we trust him to make the save. At such a young age, he has a bright future ahead of him. He just has to continue working hard, and doing what he does day in and day out. Heās a special playerā
On the halftime message:
āIt was the same message when we went down at Phoenix, to stick it out. We knew we were going to create more chances. The message was to stay the same, not let them get any opportunities. I donāt think they caused us any problems from open play. Theyāre big guys, so set pieces are always a danger from them. Weāve been in this position before. Earlier in the season, we went down to San Antonio two nil and we came back to win that 3-2. Iāve never played with a bunch of lads who have the same determination and desire to come back and win games. We did it today.ā
On what it meant:
āIt was very special. The regular season is one thing, but the playoffs are separate entity. To give the fans the trophy, thatās our way of thanking everyone for coming out. The support was incredible today. We heard it. The performances that we put in, I think we deserve to have more people come out to games, and thatās exactly what happened. Thank you to everyone who came out.ā
On Louisville:
āThe jobās half done. We want to go and represent the West really well. Thatās our goal. Weāre already talking and thinking about next week. If thereās any proof in the pudding of the strength and character of the team, weāre already concentrating on next week.ā
Defender Erik Holt
On the goal:
āI canāt even put it into words, to be honest with you. This team has gone through a lot this year. I think at one point we were in 14th place and for us to come back as a team, Iām just so proud of the team and how we fought all season. Itās not about me, itās about the group. Iām super happy for the group right now, and I canāt wait for the Championship.ā
On the recent run of form:
āOur buy in to the team. Everyone is buying into their roles, both on and off the field. There is not an individual thatās winning the game for us. Everyone is stepping up when they need to, so I couldnāt be more proud of the group.ā
Latest News