Presented by:
MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On playing a new expansion team in Austin FC…
“Well, obviously, they’ll be buoyed on the back of getting their first ever MLS victory. We know a few years ago how excited we were when we won our first game. They look as if they’ve got a really good squad, I think they’ve brought good players so we know it’s going to be a diifcult situation. But one where I know if we play like we can, approach the game with the confidence of being a good team, which we are, then I can’t see any reason why we can’t win the game.”
On uncharacteristically giving up six goals in two games and how the team can improve that…
“I don’t think it’s a defense, I don’t think it’s a collective, I think it’s individual errors have cost us dearly and the people who’ve been involved with the errors know that. That’s part of football. Our general play has been excellent in both games, I’m sure that anybody who’s seen it, I’m sure the opposition would tell you that and I’m sure Josh [Wolff] and his staff will look at the game and think ‘they’re probably a little bit better than they’re record this season suggests,’ but it is what it is. We’ve got to go out on the pitch and prove it and I’m confident we’ll get a result this weekend.”
On finishing in the final third…
“Well, since time began, since football began, the most important thing is both boxes. You’ve got to score one end and keep it out on the other and we haven’t been very good of that this season so far. Robin [Lod] has had a couple really good opportunities, we’ve had a couple of maybes, but we haven’t created enough in that final third and we’ve conceded and made big mistakes in [the other] end and they’ve cost us.”
MINNESOTA UNITED DEFENDER JUKKA RAITALA
On his first start and playing in front of fans…
“Fantastic. I had been waiting for this for a while. I knew the stadium was nice and to get the fans there it made a big difference – event though it was maybe 20 or 30 percent of the capacity. They made a really nice atmosphere and enjoyed it except for the result, of course.”
On what the defense can do to improve…
“If you look at the game against Real Salt Lake there was individual mistakes. If you take that out they didn’t have too many chances. As a team we have been defending well and if you make mistakes at this level they cost you. It was very unfortunate to concede two goals in the first half. We just need to continue to work hard every day and stay focused and keep improving.”
On facing an expansion team…
“We focus on ourselves, the things we need to improve. Austin had a good victory and we go into the game and try to win.”
On adjusting to the defense…
“We missed a couple weeks in preseason [due to international duty] to not be able to train and play with the guys, of course you need time to get to know each other, but it’s getting there and I feel comfortable to play with these good players.”
MINNESOTA UNITED FORWARD JUAN AGUDELO
On his first start with Minnesota United and playing at home with fans…
“Fue especial los minutos que jugué, empezar por el equipo por primera vez y jugar con los compañeros en un muy lindo estadio al frente de los fanáticos. Lástima que no pudimos ganar, pero hay unas jugadas que podemos crecer y yo también, individualmente, pensé que jugué bien pero delanteros tienen que meter goles.”
“It was special to get those minutes and to start with this team for the first time, and to play with my teammates in that beautiful stadium in front of our fans. It was shame we couldn’t win but there a few plays in which we can grow and me, individually, I thought I played well but forwards need to score goals.”
On a strong attacking core and what they can do to score…
“Yo pienso que han pasado muchas veces en las temporadas y los equipos no pueden empezar metiendo goles, pero después del primer gol, se abren todas las puertas. Y si teníamos más minutos en el último partido que jugamos, hubiéramos metido como dos o tres.”
“I’ve seen in several seasons where a team starts out not being able to score off the bat, but once they get that first goal, it opens the gates. If we had a few more minutes in that last game, I think we could have scored two or three more.”
On playing a new expansion team in Austin FC…
“Un equipo que acaba de ganar su primer partido y con compañeros en el equipo que muchos de nosotros conocemos. Pero, definitivamente, si, un nuevo equipo, una nueva playera y emocionados en ver cómo vamos a ser este sábado.”
“It’s a team that just got their win first and with players that we on this team know very well. But it’s a new team, a new jersey and we’re excited to see how we all look on Saturday.”
