Head Coach Adrian Heath
On whether or not he’s disappointed or okay with a point in San Jose…
“A bit of both. Always, as I’ve said numerous occasions, never turn a point down on the road. Contrary to belief, the other team wants to win as well when they’re at home. It’s never easy, but obviously with the circumstances, with them going down to ten men, I don’t think we showed enough quality in the final third. At times, our final ball was poor at times but I can’t fault the players’ efforts. It’s a quick turnaround. Interestingly enough, I saw that the Galaxy lost. I think there was an awful lot of energy used up on the game against the Galaxy last weekend and then to play on the Tuesday night, never ideal. I know [San Jose] played Friday and it’s an extra day, but trust me, an extra day makes an awful lot of difference at this stage. A little bit of disappointment, but as a I say, I never turn down a point on the road.”
On adjusting the game plan when a red card is given so early in the game…
“I thought, in the first half after the sending off, we used the ball really well. Started to stretch the game, we started to get the spare man on the ball and we did a good job of that. Second half, I think we went too vertical too quickly and really didn’t use the extra man because the area where they don’t have the extra man was where they packed in around the penalty box. Back to normal there. It’s higher up the field where they were short a player. I didn’t think we did enough in moving the ball side-to-side and getting openings that way. It is what it is, we move on now. We’ve got another really difficult game against a really in-form team and so let’s see how we do.”
On facing a top Sporting Kansas City team and what’s so difficult about them…
“Incredibly well-organized. Got good players. Really good coach who’s got them really well-drilled. They’ve not changed an awful lot, they tweak it little bits each year. The likes of Johnny Russell, [Daniel] Salloi is having, probably, his best year of his career and then [Alan] Pulido, you know, is a top-draw player. Attacking wise, they’ve got different threats. Midfield, well organized and they try to stretch you out. We’ve done well against them at home but we’re going to need another big performance to try and get a result this weekend, for sure.”
On the availability of the squad this weekend with the injury list stacking up…
“We’ve done a good job against [Kansas City] at home in the last few years, if you look at our results. It’s more of the same, more of a good shape. Can we drag them out of their comfort zone with the way that we play? And we’ve done a good job of that, as I say, in the past. It’s not going to be easy and we’re going to need every single body to be playing at the top of their game because, as I’ve said, I’ve got great respect for Peter [Vermes], their staff and what they’ve done there. I always use that club as a model for us because it’s a similar size club. It’s a big occasion for us. Live on telly. Let’s go show everybody what we’re about.
On being back in front of the loyal 20,000 at Allianz Field…
“I’ve not seen a better atmosphere in the MLS this season. Our crowd have been unbelievable in terms of getting behind the players and in turn, the players have given them something to cheer. It’s a big one for us at the weekend, I’m sure they’ll bring their A game, let’s hope we do.”
Goalkeeper Tyler Miller
On getting a point on the road in San Jose…
“Most people were disappointed, given that we were playing 11 v 10 for 70 minutes. But those games are always, sometimes, the trickiest because that team knows what their job is for that whole game and that is to hang on and counter and get one in if they can and win the game. But they were, I think, content to get a point out of that whereas we were trying to push, trying to push, all the pressure is on us at that moment to really win the game. So it’s a really difficult mentality to have in that moment. At the end of the day, we got a point and we can only look forward now, to our next game.”
On what he sees from Sporting Kansas City and the challenges…
“They’re a dangerous team. There’s a reason that Peter Vermes has done so well with that team and everyone buys into what they’re doing we know they’re very detailed oriented. They’re dangerous in the attack. They have a solid defense and Tim Melia is a solid goalkeeper as well. It’s going to be a difficult task for us on Saturday but it’s a game that we see as an opportunity to, also, gain some points and momentum on them and the teams at the top. Going into the rest of the season, we have, I think, ten to 11 games in the top four teams in our conference so there’s an opportunity for us to really gain momentum and catch up to the [teams] that are at the top of Western Conference.”
On the amount of draws teams are getting this season…
“I think coming off of last year and this year, the games are just tighter. The amount of turnaround that’s happening, I think teams are just not able to push for that second goal all the time or that killer goal that really holds it down. We’re just seeing a kid of, overflow from last year and last season and how it’s affecting the games and we’re seeing a lot more closer results and teams that are staying in it for longer throughout the game.”
On being back in front of the loyal 20,000 at Allianz Field…
“[The fans] are massive. They bring a lot of energy and a lot of spirit to the games that we have there. For us. It’s going to be important the first 15 minutes of this game. KC is a team that likes to come out and likes to put teams under pressure in the first 15 minutes so for us it’s about managing that and feeding off the crowd’s energy throughout the entire game and really fighting to the end. We’re in a difficult moment right now but I think this is where the true teams, the greatest teams are able to rise to the occasion and not really focus on all of the excuses and just putting them aside and saying ‘we know what we have to do and we’ll go out there and do it.’”
On what he’s been able to accomplish so far this season after surgery last year…
“I’ve been really happy with how I’ve been able to use this season as sort of a comeback season, in the first 15 games. There are always areas where I see myself, where I can improve though. I am constantly pushing myself because we truly don’t know what we’re capable of until we just go out there and try and see. I’m not really focusing on what I’ve done so far or what I’m going to do next. I’m really just focusing on each individual game and try and see what I’m capable of each game and really pushing myself to the limit and not giving myself limitations of like ‘I think I can reach this or I think I can do this.’ Just seeing what happens and allowing myself to be in the moment and I think that has helped me a lot throughout this whole season. It’s what I continue to do every day in training and hopefully that will be what carries me through the rest of the season.”
