QUOTE SHEET
Real Salt Lake 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
BC Place; Vancouver, BC
October 6, 2019
Real Salt Lake
Interim Head Coach Freddy Juarez
Overall thoughts:
“What we’ve trained, what we’ve talked about leading into today put us in control of the game. There were some scary moments there at the end and we knew we were going to get some flurries from Vancouver at the end. But, we handled it well and the credit goes to the guys. They believed, they followed what we talked about - us controlling the game. With that, the results went our way and we put ourselves in a good position for the playoffs and we got what we wanted.”
On Vancouver’s response:
“We knew they were going to respond to try and win the game. We just wanted to make sure that with their pressure coming, we maintained and controlled the game well with discipline. The guys that came in for us helped us close the game out and gave us energy during the final 10 minutes. We started to lose a little bit of our legs but we know that happens on the road and we handled it well.”
On the 12th clean sheet of the year:
“It’s exactly what I brought up to the group after the game. I believe we’re third in the league in clean sheets. We need to be that team that’s hard to play against and always have control over our opponent and capitalize with goals. Sometimes we’ll get one goal, sometimes more goals. We always need to make it hard for teams to beat us and we know we’ll win the game.”
On hosting at least one playoff match:
“It’s awesome for the players. After everything that’s happened this year, the players deserve to play in front of their home crowd to back them in the playoffs. They give us the extra gas we need to succeed so now we need to go home and take advantage of being at home. We can’t let this go to waste and now we’re in a good position so it’s time to take advantage of it.”
Forward Corey Baird
Overall thoughts:
It feels great. At the beginning of the season we set goals. The first was to make the playoffs and the second was to have a home seed. Both of those were accomplished so we’re happy with it.”
On his assist:
“We had a cross early in the game that Damir did a good job getting to. Kyle was able to find me out wide and Damir made a great run.”
On earning the shutout:
“I think we did well to sit in and maintain our shape and the guys off the bench really gave us some life in the second half. I think that was huge for us in the last 10-15 minutes today.”
On finishing 3rd in the West:
“It shows we’re a good team. At the beginning of the season no one was really giving us the credit, so we had to earn it and we did that through the entire season.”
Goalkeeper Nick Rimando
On finishing with a win:
“It’s awesome. I took it in before the game and we knew the importance of this game. I thought the boys played great. For me, personally, I don’t think I’ve ever won here. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a shutout here. So to end it that way felt great.”
On some late saves:
“I was lucky to get a tip to some of those. I just wanted to be there for my team. I was up for this game and focused. We knew what we had to do and I’m happy that I could help out my team.”
On having a home playoff game:
“It’s great. We wanted to give one more game to the fans, but for me to go back and have on more game at the RioT is going to be great. A home playoff game is what we worked for all year.”
On the improved defense late in the season:
“That was the team’s effort all year long. It’s about the group of guys in this locker room giving that extra because we deserve it and we know what kind of team we can be when we’re at our best. Hopefully we can be that come playoff time.”
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman
On earning a home playoff game:
“It feels great. All season we’ve just been trying to improve each week, whether we win, lose or draw. As the season went on, we did, and we put ourselves in a real good spot for these playoffs.”
On defense late in the season:
“That’s what we’ve held our hat on this year is defense. I think we’re top three in goals against which is something we’re really proud of. We haven’t scored as many goals as we’d like, but if we can keep shutouts, we can keep ourselves in every game.”
On what to expect against Portland:
“There’s going to be a lot of intensity. I think all these playoff games will be. I think what’s important is being stingy on defense and then when we get our chances, to put them away.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Head Coach Marc Dos Santos
On today’s loss:
“Salt Lake played a playoff game. They were deep and dangerous in the counter. We deserved a goal, we deserved at least a point. We did enough for that in the second half. We didn’t have the spark, a little bit of luck especially some balls that Yordy got in the box and could’ve laid it faster. Erik Godoy, big chance. Michaell Chirinos, big chance, so that’s the game.”
On preparing for next season:
“For next season, after a year like that, just imagine the work and the commitment happening right now in the back scenes. The commitment, the work, the pieces that are happening in the back scene, the thought process, the moves are huge right now. And huge because of the fans. As the coach, I’m with the GM, the owners, the staff. The only thing in my head right now, from the bottom of my heart, is the people that are coming to the stadium every day and support this team. We have to give back.”
On how to bounce back next year:
“You need to adapt a little bit as a coach. You have to take the good things. The problem with majority of the media or fans, it’s good, then after four losses, then it’s not good anymore, then there’s no identity. There are a lot of good things that you can take away.”
On positives from this year:
“After what happened at the end of the season, I feel that this is the base, this is where we need to be stronger. There’s something now to build on. When I arrived, I didn’t feel the same. There has been work done for the window much earlier, there are people that are working to make the roster better. Not only the staff, there are a lot of people in the backstage helping out so all that’s in place right now gives me a lot of hope for the future. Understand one thing, this is a very difficult division and it’s going to take more for the next step.”
On roster changes:
“There are pieces for us that are crucial and we’re working hard on them. We have to see. Maybe there’s opportunity that are going to come with players that we think, this is part of the core but we don’t know how other teams are thinking. Maybe there are players that today we think are going to keep, then there’s something that happens in the market that makes us move because it’s the best thing for the club. What I want us to focus on as a club is on making the team better. Whatever it takes to make the team better.”
Midfielder Russell Teibert
Reflections on the season:
“We all know statistically how this season went, but if you dig deeper and you look deeper, this was a season of ups and downs. But we’re building something here. This was always a rebuild year, and we’re going to continue to grow. That’s the message with this team, we will continue to grow. We know we have stuff to work on, and we’re going to do that. We’re going to address those things in the offseason and we’re going to come back stronger.”
On a career high in starts and the future:
“I’m very happy to be here, very happy to be playing with this team. I’ve made some very good friends within this team. I want to keep building those relationships. I truly enjoy being a Vancouver Whitecap and I want to continue to be.”
On establishing a winning mentality:
“We’re growing here, and this is a rebuild year. I can’t say there is one specific thing that we need to address. There’s multiple things that we need to address, but again, we’re growing. And we know as an organization what those things are. We have to trust the organization as a whole that those things will get done and everybody just needs to do their job. We need to take care of our business on the field, and it’s as simple as that.”
Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau
On fan support and the end of this season:
“The fans were there all year long. Win, lose, tie, home, and away, they were always there. It’s important for me that I stay behind to say hi to each and every single one of them … It’s true, at the end of the day, I didn’t want the season to end. I feel like I can give so much, so that’s why I have that feeling. It’s not cool, obviously.”
On his individual progress compared to the team’s results this season:
“On a personal note, it was important for me to come here in the preseason prepared to fight for the opportunity to play some MLS games. That opportunity came, and I had to step up, and respond to the call where if I need to keep my team in the game all year long, I will do it, and I’ll put the work in. [On] the collective side, it’s difficult because I do whatever I can to help this team, and at the end of the day, we’re at the bottom of the West. It’s the reality. I’ve said it pretty much all year … we know the reality, we’re not hiding anything, and it’s difficult for me because I wanted to give so much more to my teammates, to the organization, to the fans, to everyone. So, yes it’s a good year to start, but now I need to prove [myself] every year. That’s my mentality. How can I be better for next year, and so on.”
On the team’s journey from preseason to present:
“Starting the year, we didn’t even really know each other to be honest with you. [We were] all new faces, including me. We started pretty slow, and then we found a little bit of rhythm, and while we had that break in the month of June, June [and] July killed us, and after that, a little bit better, and after that, we were actually good if you see the last four [games]. But it was a season filled with ups and downs, definitely.”
