New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch
On the trend of giving up the first goal:
What was troubling about tonight, I’m not so worried about the first goal part as much as I am just having a really bad start to the game where we wanted to make sure we had a good start and were on top of the match from the beginning. I think that we thought this was going to be an easier game than it was. Credit to Colorado, I think we knew that they were going to come here, fight and battle hard and they did. They definitely earned that draw and so that was the part that was frustrating a little bit is that we just didn’t come out and command the game like we need to.
On the defensive adjustments in the game:
Well we talked about, they were definitely looking to counter us with speed and we talked about making sure that the center backs, once we lost the ball, didn’t put themselves in one-on-one situations but that the two of them dealt with it together. They did a good job and they do have fast guys that made it hard on us so they certainly tried to put [Dominique] Badji near Damien [Perrinelle] and now try to counter there with speed. In the end he made some plays and prevented them from scoring, Luis [Robles] came up with a couple big saves. To be fair, they did a good job of sitting back, trying to make it hard on us, trying to clog the center of the midfield, winning balls, playing forward quickly and trying to catch us on the counter. That was their gameplan and it almost worked.
On if the Red Bulls looked at the standings and underestimated Colorado:
I think probably that’s part of it. We need to make sure that – everyone in this room has been pretty kind to us so far and written some nice things and that’s all great, and maybe we weren’t focused enough, maybe we were ahead of ourselves and looking at the standings and looking at some articles, looking at what people are saying, whatever it is and thinking we’re a better team than we are. If we want to be a good team then we have to stick to what we do well and that is run hard, press, recover balls, play forward, compete, and I think that in a lot of those categories we were second best tonight. Credit to Colorado.
On if he was frustrated with the attack:
Yeah, there were a lot of plays that were close to coming off, but didn’t even up to the very end with Bradley’s header and we created a lot of transition opportunities where I thought that we missed the first pass often to Bradley [Wright-Phillips] and then we either went wide or made a mistake on the pass and then some of our crossing was off and we weren’t getting enough numbers forward. I thought a lot of guys felt like the way to help the game on the day was to try and get balls to feet which actually allowed them to close us down and then win balls and counter. So overall, we did have a command on the game, we were also a little bit lucky because they did have some chances. In the end, we need to be better. We need to be better.
On if he feels they left points on the table:
No doubt. No doubt. I think we tried to take this one game at a time. If you now look back at it, in the last two draws I think that we feel like we should have won both so that’s four points left on the table, but even more than the points I think it’s just, this was not the kind of game we wanted to play. We weren’t quite sharp enough, we weren’t quite playing fast enough, and we didn’t put the game enough on our terms so as much as I look at the results, I also look at the fact that this is probably the first game that we didn’t really play like ourselves. Second half it got a little better and we almost created some chances that way but we need to play like we want to play for 90 minutes.
On if this result is a step backwards:
Yeah it probably is a step backwards, but in the end it’s still a draw so we’re still undefeated so we need to stay positive and we’ve got a tough match coming on Saturday and we’ve got to figure out how we’re going to physically recover and now make sure that we’re ready to go to New England and get a result, but I think we want to continue to move forward in both the way we play and in the results so right now, the focus is moving forward.
On if teams are figuring out new ways to play against the Red Bulls:
A little bit, it’s a good observation. I think teams are sitting back now trying to clog things, playing direct, playing forward, trying to counter us, inviting possession through the middle and trying to jump on us – two teams in a row have kind of done that – and at home I think especially that’ll be a factor more than on the road and then we’ve got to figure out how to deal with it, both by being better with the ball in possession and creating more chances, and then also finding ways to press them even when they don’t want to try to play and they’re just going to try and play direct. And a lot of that it has to do with some of the reactions when we lose the ball, I’m doing a better job of having the guys around the ball react quicker and go back and try and win it. Sometimes we did that in the second half and almost created opportunities, so yes, a little bit of a gameplan against us that we saw in two games.
On the black armband:
Our trainer Albert Altarriba, his grandfather passed away and so he went back to Spain. So we tried to honor him and his family tonight.
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles
On the gameplan against Colorado
When we planned for them, we thought there were two ways that they could score on us: on set pieces and balls over the top. In the first half they were dangerous; they utilized that. They were able to get a goal. I was surprised that they didn’t continue to do that in the second half.
On if the team overlooked Colorado
It’s tough to say. I really don’t think that we overlooked [Colorado]. I felt like that guys came out with the confidence that, yes, we were going to win, but that we were going to put the work in for 90 minutes. We don’t do ourselves any favors when we give goals up at home. Now we’re chasing the game down a goal. I think that changes the entire dynamic of the game. Instead of being able to pressure them in their own half and find chances, now we’re spraying balls over the top and looking more desperate.
On if depth is an issue
Not necessarily. I know that the coaches really wanted to experiment with some lineup changes this game but a lot of the older players came in and said ‘no, we really want to play this game’. So we understood there was a certain responsibility that cam with that since we stepped up and said that. Of course, now we’re going to have to examine ourselves and be critical of ourselves and understand that it just wasn’t good enough tonight. You can expect that this weekend there will be some lineup changes; not because guys didn’t play well enough but because depth does exist on this team and that guys are good enough to get a chance and they’re going to get a look in New England, a tough place to play.
On possible team changes against New England
I just love that turf. It’s part of this league [and] we understand that. There are some places that you have to deal with it so there are no excuses. As far as the schedule it’s the same thing. The way that the league and the schedule-makers set it up, it’s going to be a test. It’s going to be a long season. It’s going to get even harder. If we start making excuses now, we’ll start to do ourselves in. I understand the character of this team and I really believe that, regardless of who’s in the starting lineup on Saturday, regardless of the conditions and who we’re playing against, we’re going to bring the sort of focus that’s going to be able to get three points.
On if the team was looking ahead to New England
To be perfectly honest with you, I do not believe that we overlooked this game. The reason that the older players came in and said that they wanted to play in this game is because in the past we have overlooked teams, we have dropped points at home, and so we wanted to show that this is a different mentality. Unfortunately, we fell flat today.
New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan
On overlooking this game:
"In my opinion, no I don't think we overlooked this game. I think we started the game very poorly. I think we started the game on the wrong foot. They came out and put us under pressure, and maybe we didn’t expect that, and we didn't handle that good enough. The effort was just lazy in the first ten minutes. The second half was much better, we created a lot more chances, but overall, big disappointment."
On continuing to concede the first goal:
It's getting annoying. It's not the way we want to start the games. I think it comes down to a little bit of focus. The mentality had been so good to come back, but why are we putting ourselves in that position? Set piece goals were definitely something we've been working on. We want to be one of the best teams in the league at defending set pieces, and so far it has not been good enough. Sometimes it comes down to good individual play and sometimes it comes down to just having a good mentality at the kickoff.
On Colorado being the best team at dealing with NYRB's high pressure:
No I don't think [they were the best team at dealing with our pressure] because they didn't play it out of the back one time, and team's know that about us. They know we pressure teams really good and when they get the ball they just play it up the field. We didn’t handle their speedy guys up the field good enough. We talk about when we're playing up the field that we're tighter and closer to their guys and too many times I think [Dillon] Powers got the ball and was able to play in behind to [Dominique] Badji who was already in behind our backline and we didn’t handle that good enough.
On dealing with their speed:
I just think we could have done better. I think we should have done better from the get-go and not allow them to play simple balls over the top for them to run on. I just think we need to be a little more intelligent in the way we handle a speedy player. If you have to give them an extra yard or two head start then you have to do it. We just made too many mistakes tonight.
On home play this season:
This club has already been one of the best teams at home over the past few years. We want to be one of the best teams at home in MLS this season. We don't want to lose a game here so it isn't about not not losing at home, we want to win, and so far we've dropped a couple of points at home in the past few games and it definitely feels we dropped points here tonight. We need to not get too frustrated with ourselves and with tonight's game. To look at the positives, we're still unbeaten, we're still near the top in the East, and we're still close to obtaining our goals that we set in the beginning of the season.
On pressure heading towards New England:
It was already a big game. We had that one figured out that they've been on a good run here, and that's going to be an important game. They knocked us out of the playoffs last year so, we'll have some revenge on our minds, but we have to stay positive, go there, and try to get a good result, and get ready for a really important game against a good team.
On playing on bad Astroturf:
I don't really remember playing on Astroturf, I don’t know how bad it is in New England, but we'll see, everyone has to do it
New York Red Bulls Forward Bradley Wright-Phillips
On the Rapids being better than expected:
No. I felt like we defended poorly. Not just the defenders, the whole team. I don’t think they did anything special. They’re tactics were to ruffle our feathers. To me, if I were watching that game, I wouldn’t be happy.
On if tonight was a trap game:
Not at all, we took this game so seriously. It’s a MLS game. I don’t think that that’s even the case. We tried to win the game and we just weren’t good enough.
On other teams adjusting to the Red Bulls’ style of play:
Some of these teams are playing, for me personally, with no ambition. We’re going to have to find a way to deal with that.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Mike Grella
On squad balance and competition for spots in the lineup:
Yeah, absolutely, I mean, I think everyone knows they have to work hard and they have to play for their spot. It’s as simple as that; you need to work hard every day no matter where you are in the team, whether you’re a guy that’s rotating in or out, or you’re a guy that you think it’s a solid, because in football nothing is guaranteed. You have to come in and work hard every single day.
On possibly overlooking Colorado:
No, I don’t think so. We were all prepared for this match. One thing this group doesn’t do is really overlook anyone. I think we were prepared, the warm-up was good, and everything was good. To be fair, it’s difficult to play against some teams sometimes, you know, and things aren’t coming off our way. When we let up the first goal sometimes it’s difficult to get back in the game. I think for large periods of the match we dominated. I think a lot of teams come here now with a lot of respect for us and sit back. It makes for a different match but we’ll definitely find a way to play against that as well.
Colorado Rapids Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni Post-Game
On the result:
We had enough chances in this game to win it. I think we created some things. We were let down by a few situations out on the field that could have easily gone our way that change the course of the game, but that's football. We control what we can. I think the effort was spectacular. The guys executed what we wanted to achieve here almost to a 'T' here, the only thing lacking was scoring that second goal.
On it being a better result given the strong opponent:
No. Everyone is concerned about the first seven games of the season, but what I've learned in my time as a player and a young coach is that it's a marathon, so it doesn’t matter where these guys are at in the table now, there's going to be ups and downs in the season. This is another games that is going to help us progress as a group. We'll look at the things we did well, and continue to do those things. We'll look where we fell short in a few areas, and continue to work on those, but it's a good point because it is a point away from home.
On Drew Moor's late pull from the lineup:
He came in and said he wasn't feeling right, he was feeling loose, and didn’t feel comfortable at that point. I'm a big believer in, 'you have to be right mentally, spiritually, you have to feel the right way,' and he's still coming back from a pretty tough injury. I felt it was best to not expose anyone that doesn't feel 100%, to be out on the field.
On Ben Newman's debut:
I thought he was solid out there. I think he did a really good job keeping the game in front of him. It's a big ask playing on the road in this league and putting forth a performance, so I thought it was an outstanding game for him and it's good to add another player that can contribute, in a very long season.
On the defense's play on the road this season:
I'm a big believer that all things good start with a good shape defensively, and I think the guys did a good job against what has been a very prolific scoring team, a team that creates a lot of opportunities. I think for the most part, they handled themselves in a very disciplined and professional fashion. Against a very dynamic team, it's not easy to do, but again a great performance by the guys against such a potent attack, to only concede one.
On the referee's decisions:
Without getting in trouble…those are tough calls to make. Obviously I'm biased because I see them and want the calls to go in our favor, but I think there's a shout definitely on the second one. I think it was clear as day, but that's football. You're not going to get all of the breaks, you're not going to get all of the calls, the important thing is the guys never stop working, and fought through those moments and came away with a good road point.
On turning draws into wins:
It's those little variables. It's those calls, it's those breaks, it's the finishing of chances, it's everything. You just can’t put your finger on it and it's elusive. Yet, whilst we're not getting the wins, we're building a ton of character, we're a hardened bunch of individuals that fight extremely hard for one another, and that's all I ask from the guys: to put forth a very intelligent, hard-working effort, every time we step out on the field, and tonight, they didn't let anyone down.
Colorado midfielder Michael Harrington
On the result:
A good point on the road. We defended a lot, but had chances to score a few more than we did, maybe a call that goes a bit differently for us in some moments, and we could win this game. It would have been big, but a good effort, playing a good team on the road.
On the getting the result against a strong opponent:
Yeah, they've proven that they are a good quality team, solid in the attack, some dynamic players, some good players in midfield as well, so we feel good about the way we played. We had good shape, we defended as a group and we wanted to counter and we did that pretty effectively in some moments. A bounce or two the other way and it could have been 3-1 or 4-1.
On turning draws into wins:
The game is won and lost in the boxes, and right now, we're not quite good enough in the boxes. We're getting some chances, especially in the last couple of games where we've only gotten two points out of these games, where it very well could have been six. It's a long season, but those points add up, and come playoff time, you need those points to really put yourself in a good spot so we really need to start capitalizing on those opportunities we are creating for ourselves, and being a bit more ruthless.
On adjusting to Drew Moor's late change:
It's always difficult when you have a change late like that, especially a big player like Drew for us, he's our captain, but we have confidence in the guys that can step in. I think that unit that we had out there tonight with Bobby [Burling] and Axel [Sjoberg] in the center, we've gotten two or three shutouts from them already with that group so we were confident. We know Bobby is an experienced and solid player and he showed that tonight.
On strong defense on the road:
We pride ourselves on our defending as a group, Pablo [Mastroeni] was a defensive minded player, and that rubs off on the team, and that's our identity and we're sticking with that, and we just have to finish a few more chances, and we can start picking up a few more points instead of one.
On heading to Los Angeles:
We just need to prepare, take care of our bodies. We just have to be smart, hydrate, recover, do all of things that a good professional team will do, and by Saturday, we'll be ready to roll again.
