QUOTE SHEET
Real Salt Lake 2-1 Chicago Fire
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
August 4, 2018
Real Salt Lake
Head Coach Mike Petke
On the settling into the game:
“This is a game that is very difficult to play in. A team that quickly gets back behind the ball with five in the back and gives you really no space to play in then launches long balls in transition. It was a difficult situation to try and break them down. We were talking about ways to maybe have us sit back a little bit and let them come out and play so that maybe in transition we can get them. It was difficult in the first half – we had a ton of possession, some opportunities, besides maybe the ball movement wasn’t quick enough at times, I thought the players did well.”
On Damir Kreilach’s adjustment:
“It’s always difficult to come over from another league, especially from Europe and South America, to Major League Soccer - the travel, the speed and play, the physical aspect. The amount we talk in detail with Damir throughout the week to better have him understand what we expect of him and what we want from him – he has a tough situation because I need him to play both sides of the ball probably more than anybody on this because of his position. He is understanding now when I want him to get higher up on the field and when I need him to be back. In the beginning there was a lot of conversations and a little confusion, but tonight you could see it - the timing of his runs, the goals. He is an honest, hard-working guy and we are very fortunate to have him.”
On player’s mindset:
“I want players who express themselves, that understand it’s about the name on the front of the jersey. That’s what’s important. We have those players and players who aren’t here anymore are players who didn’t have those qualities. Kyle Beckerman for example, he’s a leader by example, by work, he is proud to be part of this organization and he has been here for so long. That’s why when we bring players in, we need to do our research and not just off the quality on the field. It’s just as much about the character of the person and where he is going to fit personality wise in the locker room.”
On what was different tonight:
“Besides me yelling probably more than Freddy did? We talked a lot this week about where we are in the standings, how many points are left up for grabs and how many points we think we need. It’s a credit to this group that we’ve been in the playoff picture for three months now. We’ve been above the line, but we need to stay there. The guys are at the point in the season right now where it’s starting to get crunch time. Not that they didn’t realize before but they are really starting to realize now that time is precious in the last twelve games and we have to make the most of it.”
Midfielder Damir Kreilach
On getting 2 goals and the win:
“Tonight was very important for us. It was a great performance from the whole team and we deserved to win. In the end, it’s not so important who scores or who plays, we’re one team and we’d like to make the playoffs. That is our goal and we have to keep going in our next game versus Montreal to get three points.”
On the goals:
“They were perfect assists from Sava [Jefferson Savarino] and Joao [Plata] and it made my job not so difficult. I made some good moves but in the end, it was the assists that made it easy for me.”
On adjusting to MLS from playing abroad:
“It is important for your self-confidence to score these goals. The guys accepted me very well and it was not so difficult to adjust to this team.”
Defender Justen Glad
On the win:
“It was massive. I think especially for our mindset and attitude. We’ve been grinding to get three points and to finally get it feels good.”
On Damir Kreilach scoring goals:
“It makes us more dangerous. When teams have to worry about Damir coming in and Albert and Plata and Bofo and Sava and all these guys, it makes it tough for a defense to stay with them. I’m happy for him. I thought he had three.”
On keeping momentum against Montreal:
“Just keep the heart. In my opinion, the quality wasn’t quite there tonight, but we fought and got the three points. As long as we have that attitude and up the quality next week, it should be a fun game.”
Chicago Fire
Head Coach Veljko Paunovic
On the mixed lineup:
“We always play to win, no matter who steps on the field. We always require to give their best and play to win, so that’s not an excuse. Overall, the whole game, we were organized and it was a good game. Our guys fought to the very end, we gave our best like always. We also had a good opponent in front of us. They did well in those two goals and we just didn’t perform defensively good. You have to pay for those mistakes, unfortunately. It’s always difficult to lose, but we have to turn our focus to the next game which is the Open Cup this Wednesday. There is no turning back, from now on we have to focus on the Semifinals and that’s it. We wanted to get three points home from here and I think we were close. I liked our teams and most of the game we were a very good opponent. We just couldn’t be consistent defensively and we gave up a couple of goals that cost us too much. We just move forward.”
Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland
On making his MLS debut:
“It was a great experience. It’s great to get the first game out of the way, it’s a little bit of a relief to have one game under my belt and have a little bit of experience going forward now. I think the team deserved a little bit more, it’s a disappointing result but I think I can take this and build upon it.”
