MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On finally having a stretch of home games at Allianz Field…
“Well, it’s been long overdue we think and the stadium has been really kind to us since we’ve opened it. Taken a lot of point there, it’s become a bit of a fortress for us. The way our results have gone the last few weeks on the road, the importance becomes huge for us. It’d be nice to be at home for a week and not traveling and a couple of home games, hopefully get a few more points and start to climb back up the table.”
On how being at home can provide a positive boost to the home team…
“It’s the familiarity of being at home. A lack of travel. Waking up in your own bed the morning of the game, etc. It’s all them little things. It’s not just in the country, all over the world home-field advantage is huge and this is proven the case for us. We have to make sure we keep the level of consistency and level of performance that we have done and if we do, we’re a difficult team to play against at Allianz [Field]."
On the grind of many games in the month of October…
“There’s no set way of doing it. It’s too many games in a short period of time. Sometimes I feel for the players a little bit because it’s 36 hours after a game, you’re still recovering and then you’re on a plane to another game so it’s not ideal but it’s going to be the same for everybody. Hopefully we get a few more bodies fit, it’s been nice to see a few of the guys running around who we haven’t had for the last couple weeks. We need a clean bill of a health and if we do, our depth of squad will show out towards the end of the month.”
On preparing for a Real Salt Lake squad MNUFC has already faced this season…
“Like we always do: try and be as thorough as we can, respect the opposition. They’ve had an eventful few weeks there with what’s gone on, etc. They’ve looked like they’ve pulled together, it’s galvanized them a little bit , a really big result the other night. And like all the games, they’ve been tight and I expect nothing different. We’re going to have to play well and if we do, we give ourselves a chance at winning.”
MINNESOTA UNITED FORWARD AARON SCHOENFELD
On finally having a stretch of home games at Allianz Field…
“Playing at home, with how difficult the travel is, gives us a bit of an advantage. Obviously, we all get a lot of energy playing at Allianz Field. We’re all excited about it.”
On how being at home can provide a positive boost to the home team…
“You’re in the home market, you know that the supporters are all watching, home or away obviously. But I think, especially in this moment with how the travel is in the league, flying in and out on the day of, it’s such a big advantage of a home game.”
On the grind of many games in the month of October…
“Can’t think of a busier month than that. You gotta take care of yourself, starting with nutrition, the little things, making sure we’re stretched, eating right, doing everything we can to recover as fast as possible. I’m sure you’ve seen around the league there’s been so many injuries with each team, we had an injury bug going on but I think it’s just a battle of nutrition right now.”
On preparing for a Real Salt Lake squad MNUFC has already faced this season…
“It’s like any other game, you go into it with a plan. We’ll evaluate on film, try to find strategic areas we can break them down using our abilities and we’ll go from there.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER HASSANI DOTSON
On finally having a stretch of home games at Allianz Field…
“It’s going to be real nice. We’ll be able to do our normal routine, not traveling the day of and we feel really comfortable playing at Allianz [Field].”
On filling for Ozzie Alonso at central midfield…
“I’m just trying to do the best I can and help the team win. Ozzie is obviously a great player and I’m trying to do the best I can with the minutes I’m provided.”
On having the rest of the regular season schedule…
“It’s good for us to plan our recovery wise and also be able to start getting game film from the guys upstairs on the next opponent earlier.”
On playing with Michael Boxall who’s played every minute this season…
“He’s terrific. He gives it all every day. I joke around and call him a pre-warrior because not matter what injury he has, he battles through it, he’s always tough.”
