MINNESOTA UNITED HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On how pleased he is with the useful road point in Nashville …
Well, I think whenever you go on the road in this league, it’s a difficult situation. You know, the fact that you go on the day these days makes it a little bit more difficult. We’re all in the same boat. I actually thought our second half performance was excellent in Nashville. Now, you know, we’ve got to pick up where we left off in Dallas this weekend. It’s never an easy place for us to play. It’s always a difficult place. They’ve got a good, young team. They get after you at home. So, we expect no different. But it was a really big performance in the second half and we need more of the same.
On how happy he was with the partnership of Jacori Hayes and Hassani Dotson, and how much their performances have made him think about pairing that duo together moving forward …
They’re both two young guys who have had the opportunity and I think they’ve done excellent. I thought their performance in the second half in Nashville sort of epitomized where everything else was. They were in good spots. Really good both sides of the ball. With the ball and without the ball. And they certainly gave us a real good shield in front of the back four the other night. As we’ve spoke to them two guys, them two can be pleased with their efforts over the last couple of weeks.
On road games being even more difficult now, Minnesota United being 0-4 in Dallas and why it’s so difficult to play down there …
Well, you could say that the weather at times, et cetera. But, no. We’ve had a couple of good performances where we probably haven’t got what we deserve. And we had a couple of performances that didn’t warrant anything. It’s been difficult for us. We have to go and do better. I think we will. I’ve sensed in the last two or three weeks, the team is getting back into some sort of rhythm of pre-Orlando and probably in Orlando. I feel as though we’re just getting back to that type of level. And, it’s gonna need a big performance, but I know that if we play as well as we can then we are more than capable. As we did the last time we went to Dallas. We made a good show of the second half. We need more of the same.
On his thoughts and expectations from FC Dallas …
Well, at home, they are very, very good. You look at people’s home record, and theirs is one of the best in the league. You know, the weather is generally very, very hot and that’s not an excuse, but it does make it difficult, coupled with they have a good team at home. As I said, they play on the front foot, they get after you. And first goals are normally always really important. So, we know we’re going to have to start well. But, if we can play like we did in the second half, last time we went there, where we had opportunities to get something from the game, then we have a chance.
MINNESOTA UNITED MIDFIELDER ETHAN FINLAY
On how good it felt to get back out on the field with the team …
Well, it felt great. Obviously, coming off of an injury, you’re always antsy to get back on the field. And, you know, I never put a real time table on myself. I wanted to make sure I was good, ready to go. Not only for myself, but for this group as we lead into the last month of the season. So, I was happy to get out there and get a full 90.
On how he is feeling physically a few days after playing a full 90 against Nashville SC …
I’d say a little more sore than normal. Obviously, I was happy how everything came out fitness-wise and how I felt right after the game. But, now 48 hours plus past the game, some of that soreness is setting in. But we’re doing everything we can. We’ve got an extra day’s rest, which is a great advantage for me and the group. And, we’re looking forward to Sunday.
On what it was like to play in front of fans in Nashville …
I don’t think there’s honestly too much of an impact. It’s so weird because usually when there’s fans in stadiums, stadiums are quite full. So, you can’t really hear any of the chitter chatter. Now, you can hear everyone and their mother and what they exactly say. So, I would say, you can hear more and have a better understanding of what’s being yelled at you, whether they’re cheering you or jeering you, I guess. But, for us, you know, it didn’t play any kind of factor. It would be great to have fans here in Minnesota, but we understand that the health and safety is the number one priority.
On Minnesota United still yet to earn a win at FC Dallas and what makes it so difficult to get results there …
It’s a difficult place to play. It’s usually quite hot down there, even this time of year. So, it’s a difficult place to go into and get points from. It’s a very good team. It’s an experienced team. And, I think we’ve gone there and actually played well at times, so, I take that as a positive. And where we’re at right now and where the table is, we know we need to get points everywhere. So we’re looking forward to it.
On if it’s a benefit or hindrance to play the same team multiple times in close succession …
I think it’s what you make of it, right? You do the film study and you try to learn from the mistakes that you make in the prior games and the prior weeks. You hope that you have a better handle on what a team is going to do. Obviously, there’s going to be formation changes, there’s going to be personnel changes, we’ve done that on both sides. But this group is a team that I saw on the road the other night and what I’ve saw in the last couple of weeks, that can go on the road, win games and compete. Obviously, we didn’t win against Nashville, but we played well. We played well enough to get three points. And, we’ll take a point on the road, as long as we keep getting these results at home.
