QUOTE SHEET
SANTA TECLA FC 0-0 REAL SALT LAKE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2015; ESTADIO LAS DELICIAS
Defender Tony Beltran
On the match:
“Credit to the boys. It was a tough adventure to go on – to travel to get here, the field being what it is, we’re not familiar with the terrain and all that. But I think the boys had the right attitude from the get-go. These games can be the hardest in unfamiliar territory. From the start I thought we came out and tried to take control of the game and never gave them an inch. So it was good.”
On young players getting their first CCL action:
“Credit to Justen. Credit to Bofo. Credit to all the guys who step in. This was not easy coming off a weekend game and then coming into this atmosphere, playing on this turf against this team who is very good at home and used to playing here. The boys did fantastic and that’s because the desire was there from minute one and that’s what it takes in these situations.”
On shifting focus between MLS and CCL action:
“You have to take it one game at a time. It’s tough because you’re excited from the weekend’s results and you want to continue moving forward in the league and you’re ready to play that next game and make a playoff push. But CONCACAF is hugely important. I thought the guys did a good job having the mid-week focus shift to this tournament. Now we’ll do the same with the long travel back to Salt Lake. We’ll have the opportunity to digest this game and get ready for LA because that will be a pivotal moment for us.”
Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella
On getting the shutout on the road:
“It’s awesome. Anytime you get the chance to do something different – when else am I going to have a chance to come to El Salvador and play a soccer game in front of this type of crowd? It was exciting and the guys battled tonight. A lot of guys that haven’t been playing a ton got some minutes and I thought they played really well. Defensively our center backs were outstanding. They made for me life pretty easy. We fought, got a point and now we get to play them back at home in front of the Riot. It’s three points or bust. We came down here, did our jobs, had a good time and now it’s back to Salt Lake to worry about LA.”
On balancing competitions:
“I think the main thing with CONCACAF is that you know it’s going to be a fight. You know you have to have a different mentality. It’s not worth arguing with the refs. It’s not worth worrying about the field. It’s not worth any of that. I thought we did a good job of that. As far as shifting focus, we want to win every game that we play. Tonight was a good result for us. The focus just shifts to the next game on Saturday against LA. We’ve got to get three points. Then we’ll worry about the rest of it after Saturday.”
On a young lineup:
“When we come down here it’s just us. It’s just the guys that wear the RSL shield. And that’s pretty much it. The guys come together in a good way. We’re all eating together every meal. We’re together all the time and the whole week we’re saying it’s going to be a fight. That’s what we did tonight and luckily everyone had our backs and now we’re back to Salt Lake.”
