Head Coach Adrian Heath
On how the group is feeling coming of the FC Dallas win…
“There’s nothing like confidence. Instilling confidence in the group and then winning, especially on the road. Difficult place to play. The pleasing thing is, for me, we carried on from the last game against the Galaxy where I thought we were excellent. Probably the best performance of the season. The lads are in good neck. There’s a few tired bodies. Come the end of the week, it will be five games in 15 days, but everybody else is going through it, so you get on with it. Not doing a lot of work in between. A lot of preparation a lot of [regeneration]. But, no, they’re in good neck.”
On rotating in some new players…
“I think the fact that we’ve got the second team now is all them guys who we’re going to give some minutes to are coming in fresh and sharp and, mentally, in a really good place because they have been playing regularly. Feeling part of a group. The younger guys have been doing really well. I think they are six unbeaten in their league. We’re really pleased with the way it’s been going for the second team and that’s going to help us for sure.”
On what he sees from the goalkeeper group…
“I said this recently, I don’t think there’s a team that’s got four better goalkeepers than us in the league. I really believe that. Eric Dick has been outstanding since he’s arrived. Tyler [Miller] is in, loses his spot to Dayne [St. Clair], who’s been exceptional. Fred [Emmings] is doing really well with the second team, so we’re really pleased with all of them.”
On the expectations from Union Omaha…
“I expect a really well organized, highly motivated group, like Forward Madison were. As I said to the players this morning, we have to treat them with the respect they deserve. These are professional players all wanting to play at this level. For some of the guys, it might be the biggest game they ever play tomorrow night. I just said to our guys we have to treat them with respect because Salt Lake, Columbus, Austin, Chicago, they all played lower league opposition and if you read the quotes of their coaches after the game, they don’t think they approached the game in the right manner. And that’s what can happen. Football history is littered with lower league clubs beating premier league clubs and, generally, it’s because you don’t approach it properly. We have to guard against that and that’s something we have spoken about.”
Goalkeeper Eric Dick
On the challenges presented in U.S. Open Cup matches versus USL teams…
“It’s just a big opportunity for everyone that’s in the game. Especially for them, they’ve been up for it ever since their last game. It just gives everyone an opportunity to win another trophy and make a name for themselves. Every single game like that is always going to breed a little competition and excitement among everyone playing. We just have to be up for it because I know they’re going to be up for it too.”
On getting the starting opportunity against Union Omaha…
“Every day I come in and try to be the best goalkeeper that I can be and push everyone here. I’ve got great goalies around me, a great coach around me, and a great coaching staff. My goal is just to be ready every single day when my name is called and I’m just honored to get the opportunity. I’m excited to do anything I can to help the team a W.”
On finding chemistry with his teammates in the game…
“The experience in practice really does translate. It’s great here because I really get to interact with everyone defensively and do work on the field, so I know it’s going to translate in the game. We just have confidence in each other going out there in every single experience and every single situation. I know that when we hit the field, whoever is out there, we’re going to put together a good 90 minutes and hopefully we can get that dub.”
On the energy that Union Omaha will bring…
“This is their Cup final. They’re going to be so excited. They’re going to bring so much energy. I just know it’s going to be a full 90 minute game with a team as good as Omaha. We can’t take anyone lightly in any game. I know they’re going to be buzzing, so we also have to be buzzing when we get out there.”
On how the group feels heading into Wednesday’s game…
“It’s been a lot of soccer the past couple of weeks, but I think it was the first win at Dallas this year, but what a shift we put in. Guys are excited to have done that. Bodies are doing all right. Again, it’s an opportunity to win a trophy. I think that no matter how much soccer that you play before this, you’re going to get amped up and everybody is going to be ready to go.”