MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On getting the win at home over FC Cincinnati…
“As I said after the game, football is a funny old game, isn’t it? We played really, really well against Salt Lake and everybody is disappointed because you come away with a point and I don’t think we played as well as we can [against Cincinnati] and we come away with three points. But that’s how football is. I thought some of our football was very, very good at times but not consistent enough. I thought our final ball, at times, could have been better and I thought our combination play wasn’t as good as it’s been. It’s a win, it’s another three points towards, what we hope, is going to be a total big enough to get us in the playoffs.”
On heading back on the road after a short turnaround…
“It’s always a challenge on the road in this league because of the travel, etc. but we’re all in the same boat. What was it, seven games in 24 days or whatever it was so it’s not ideal we know that, but it’s not just for us, [it’s] for the rest of the teams around the league. A lot of us are, perhaps, playing players who are not 100 percent. It’s not easy. We’re going to go [to Nashville], going to give it a go and be positive because that’s what we have to do and then we’re looking at another four or five days and then we’re on the road in Dallas. It gets no easier, that’s why the three points at the weekend were probably more important than the performance.”
On the depth of the roster…
“We’ve needed it. I think it was last Thursday we had 20 players to train. Ozzie [Alonso] is a lot closer now. Obviously we’re losing Jan [Gregus], so that’s a blow. We had hoped to keep Jan around but [the Slovakia national team] have exercised their clause to bring him back which is disappointing but I understand it. All the clubs are in the same boat. We’d like to get Ozzie fit, if we can, for next weekend but we’ll have to make one or two changes because we can’t expect the same group to go every three or four days.”
On expansion side Nashville SC…
“I think they’ve done well. They’re very well organized, they’ve got an experienced team. Like us, they’ve got a few injuries at this moment in time, and I think we’re all going to be in the same boat. It’s going to be as much mental as it is physical. The fact that you’ve got yourself up in 36 hours, now you’re next day preparing for another game. We know it’s going to be tough, they’ve done well of late. We know it’s going to be a tough challenge but one if we play as well as can we’re more than capable of getting a result.”
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER JACORI HAYES
On getting the win at home over FC Cincinnati…
“It’s always nice to get a win. Everyone was smiling and buzzing after the game, trainings are a little bit more fun. Hopefully we can do the same tomorrow. It livens the mood of the group and it’s super tight in the Western Conference right now and any points are big right now, especially three points.”
On heading back on the road after a short turnaround…
“It’s quick. Saturday–Tuesday is a quick turnaround. As I was telling some of the guys, it kind of reminds me of college days. But it’s our job, we have to get to it and no complaints, we just have to get the job done.”
On the depth of the roster…
“It’s helped a lot. We’ve been able to rotate a few pieces and it’s going to be especially challenging coming up, we have a lot games, multiple games in a week so we’re going to have to count on everyone.”
On expansion side Nashville SC…
“They weren’t able to go into the MLS is Back Tournament which was unfortunate for them but I have a close friend on that team so I’ve been staying close in touch with how they’ve been doing. It’s their first season in the league but they’ve done some good things, had some big wins so we gotta go in there and take care of business.”
