HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On what the three points tonight feels like …
“Well, a huge relief for everybody concerned. More importantly, the players. When I look at the season, I think I said after the game, I have days where I scratch my head because we haven’t played at times to be 0-4. But that’s where we were. I know pressure starts to build on the players. On the coaches. On the manager. Even the supporters. You could feel the relief of the supporters at the end. So, I’m pleased for all of them. But, I did say to the guys after, I thought that we did all the ugly things that nobody ever sees better than we’ve ever done at any other stage. Cleared our lines. Put a foot through it. And then we’ll debate whether it was a good decision or not after. We haven’t beat ourselves. And, a couple of occasions, Ty [Miller] has come up with a couple of good saves, which was to be expected.”
On what he was hoping to gain with the goalkeeper change and what he ended up getting …
“Sometimes it’s not about form, it’s about doing something different, as a different response from the people in front of you. And obviously the change of voice sometimes helps and maybe refocuses the guys in front of you. I said to you the other day, I think he’s [Dayne] played 20 games or 21 consecutively, Dayne, and maybe two or three of the goals could be his, but that’s the same with all goalkeepers. So, I don’t want to say that that was the big catalyst of all change. But, Tyler [Miller] has done really well. He’s come back from his injuries really well. That’s a testament to the work that he did, his rehab, which, was a major operation. You know? For a goalkeeper, hips, when you’re diving all day in training, it’s a delicate situation. But, he obviously had good surgery. And, more importantly, he had really, really good rehab.”
On Emanuel Reynoso being subbed off and signaling a pain, and if that was cramping …
“I think he’ll be okay. I think he was just tried, to be honest with you. He put a good shift in tonight. I feel as though he’s coming back to the [Emanuel] Reynoso of last year. He got his energy levels going again. At times he gave us a spark tonight. And, obviously, I think he’ll be pleased that his mate and his teammate from down in Boca has got on the field and scored a goal. So, it’s been a good night for a couple reasons.”
On Ramon Abila showing a jersey in memory of his brother, Gastón, that took his own life as a victim of depression, that said “Gastón we love you. We will never forget you.” And his mood in the locker room …
“He’s pleased. You know, I feel for him a little bit, he came in and was maybe thrust into it earlier than he was ready for. We spoke before the game, he said it’s the first time since he’s been here he’s been pain free. I thought his movement was a little bit better. But, I think he’d be the first to say he’s still some weeks away from being really fit and sharp as he would like. But, we’ll keep working with him and hopefully we’ll have time to give him some time because hopefully we’ll have a few reinforcements here in the next few days hopefully. And then we can get a full complement of players. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the goal came and Robin [Lod] was down his side, a great cross. We’ve been struggling a little bit in terms of forcing everybody onto the field in positions in times to help us. So, it will be nice to get everybody fit and healthy. I will say.”
On the win coming from more urgency in the second half, or tactical changes …
“Well, we changed things tactically and went back to our sort of familiar shape but the thing is, and it’s hard for people to understand, when you’re in a run like we are and the confidence is low, and we try everything to keep the guys motivated and confident, your natural reaction is, let’s take a step back and defend the goal and keep nice and compact. And, unfortunately, you can’t win a lot of games like that. So, we change the system, which probably left us a touch more open, but, obviously, I think freed us up to play a little bit more and we got Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] a little bit more involved in the game.”
GOALKEEPER TYLER MILLER
On how he felt coming back after a long layoff…
“I really have to give it credit to a lot of the medical staff that helped me along the way. It was nine months and I worked my ass off to be honest. I worked as hard as I could every day and there were days where I really didn’t want to be in there and Stacey [Hardin], our old athletic trainer, she can tell you and attest to it. And I told myself that if I put in the work now it would be worth the reward that comes on the back end of it, and that was kind of what got me through it all.”
On his dad being at the game…
“Well, I found out Monday that I was going to start. As much as I’ve been wanting to play, my parents have been really wanting to see me play themselves. So, as soon as I found out on Monday, I called my parents and let them know and my dad flew out yesterday and then my mom is going to fly out on Friday for this weekend’s game. It’s always special to me when I have that opportunity to play in front of them and tonight I definitely got a little emotional, just with the end of the game and what I’ve been through, and to have him in the stadium for that experience meant a lot to me.”
On if they came from New Jersey…
“Yes.”
On the goalkeeper change and getting his chance…
“You know, I really didn’t worry about it. I kind of knew and was confident in my own ability that if I continue to keep my head down, keep training, have a positive attitude, that eventually an opportunity would come. I really just focused on myself and what I needed to do to put myself in the best position for when that opportunity did come, and then I could seize it.”
On his thoughts on coming back, and first thoughts of the game tonight…
“Yeah, it was a gradual build into the game. As a goalkeeper, obviously you have to be ready from the opening whistle with anything that can come and it was nice that I was able to get an early touch on the ball and then get an early save, and that helped build the confidence. But I told myself going in, just keep it simple, play within myself, don’t chase the game, let the game come to me and see where it takes me. Thankfully, tonight things worked out and that’s going to be my game plan moving forward for each game and opportunity that I get.”
On working his ass off and his dedication to come back…
“It’s a mental challenge every day, because you have goals. Like tonight I had a goal that back in August when I had my first surgery, okay I want to make sure I’m ready for the start of the season, and to not know when that was made it all the more difficult, and kind of as we went on, there were little milestones I was able to hit, which helped, but still going in and doing a lot of similar exercises and not really feeling the progression. Even though I am getting stronger, getting more mobile, agile, I really had to be patient with myself and with the process. Patience is something that sometimes I struggle with, but throughout the entire process, the training staff was there with me to guide me through it. When I wanted to do too much, they would pull me back and they would also encourage me to do more and to really push myself and have trust in my body, in my hips. And throughout the entire thing it was a challenging process, but something I am very grateful for and now I have a much better appreciation for every opportunity that I am able to play the game that I love.”
On how he describes what the team went through the first four games…
“It was obviously a difficult start to the season. As much as I’d love to take credit, I’m not the sole reason we won tonight. I think collectively you saw a more determined attitude that this team really needs to encompass in order for us to be successful. That’s who we are, that’s our identity. We are really difficult to play against and I think tonight you saw that, where maybe it was lacking in a few positions and we weren’t able to put it together for the entire 90 minutes for the first four games, but we have to also be realistic. We are still 1-4, we’re still challenging to compete and climb the table. But each game, each opportunity that we have, we have to approach it with the same attitude and I think that this team could be really successful if we can do that.”
FORWARD RAMON ABILA
On his feelings about finally getting to play and make people happy during this pandemic ...
[ES] “Que tal, buenas noches, la verdad que contento. Feliz de poder convertir, y que el equipo gane, que es lo importante. Volver a la ritual de que, de que tanto lo necesitábamos. Obviamente siempre la dedicatoria va a hacer para él. Ayer casualmente, se cumplió lo aniversario de su partida, entonces bueno, lo extrañamos. Es alguien que amamos mucho y mi familia todavía tiene ese dolor interno de ver perdido alguien, ¿no? Tan joven y una decisión tan, tan drástica, pero bueno, hay que seguir adelante, la vida sigue adelante, nosotros tenemos que salir a la vida y levantarnos y tratar de ser mejores y de conejar y de lo que podamos, asegurar que todos sentemos un poquito mejor y si este gol y la victoria sirve para que la gente está contento hoy, un poco más tranquilos, bienvenido sea.”
[EN] "I'm really happy. Happy to be able to convert, and for the team to win, which is the important thing. We're back to the ritual that we need to be on, we needed it so badly. Obviously the dedication will always be made for him. Yesterday coincidentally was the anniversary of his departure, so we miss him, he is someone we love a lot and my family still has that internal pain of seeing someone lost. He was so young and such a drastic decision, but hey, we have to move on, life goes on, we have to live our life and get up and try to be better and connect and what we can, ensure is that we all feel a little better and if this goal and the victory help people to be happy today, a little calmer, it's welcome."
On what's going on in his head moving from one country to another and changing clubs ...
[ES]: "No, yo no tenía ninguna lesión, estaba recién operado y estaba en el proceso de recuperación, pero ya estaba bien así de rato, para jugar. Bueno después del partido en Seattle, todo el dolor del ciático, porque obviamente no estaba acostumbrado a jugar en el sintético. Pero yo estoy recuperado, estoy bien, entrenando al 100 por 100. Y la verdad que le estoy dando todo. Obviamente que es una transición difícil, porque lo principal es lo lenguaje, la comunicación, entonces está complicado eso la verdad. Comunicarse en la cancha, que es lo más importante, pero bueno vamos aprendiendo, vamos a mentirnos a lo que es otro futbol, totalmente que yo no estoy acostumbrado. Pero la verdad que muy contento. El grupo me hace sentir muy importante, me ayudan mucho, y la verdad que uno solamente está dispuesto de aprender, a colaborar y a tratar de seguir sumando para que el equipo gane."
[EN]: No, I didn't have any injuries, I had just had surgery and was in the recovery process, but I was fine after a while, to play. Well after the game in Seattle, all the sciatic pain, because obviously he wasn't used to playing synthetic. But I am recovered, I am fine, training 100%. And the truth is that I am giving everything. Obviously it is a difficult transition, because the main thing is the language, the communication, and to tell you the truth, it's complicated. Communicating on the field, which is the most important thing, but hey we are learning, we are getting into a soccer that I don't know, I'm totally not used to it. But the truth is that I am very happy. The group makes me feel very important, they help me a lot, and the truth is that one is only willing to learn, to collaborate and to try to continue adding so that the team wins.”
On his goal and his feelings on if he could have had two or three tonight ...
[ES]: "Siempre se puede más. A veces se presentan situaciones que uno trata de resolver la mejor manera, a veces será a veces no. Pero lo importante es tener situaciones que el equipo genere y yo estar ahí para poder convertiría la. La verdad que fue una jugada, creo que una contra que salimos, contra golpe, manejamos la pelota o si se la da a Robin [Lod] y tiro un centro fantástico que solamente lo tuve que desviar un poco para que la pelota entra, la verdad que agraciado a todo porque bueno si hizo un esfuerzo muy grande para ganar.
[EN]: "You can always do more. Sometimes situations arise that one tries to solve the best way, sometimes it's resolved other times it's note. But the important thing is to have situations that the team generates and I'll be there to be able to convert it. The truth is that it was a play, I think it was off a counter that we came out of, we handled the ball and gave it to Robin [Lod] and he passed a fantastic cross that I only had to deflect a little so that the ball could enter. The truth is, I'm grateful because the team made a great effort to win."
On the mood of the team over the last four games and how he tried to turn the tide tonight ...
[ES]: "No, obviamente es cultural. En Argentina se ha visto totalmente diferente a como si yo fuera de aquí o sea, la única satisfacción para la gente es que el equipo gane y aquí es totalmente diferente, es un trabajo más. Pero nosotros tomamos como mucha responsabilidad, con mucho sacrificio y obviamente que no está bueno perder, no está bueno perder menos cuatro partidos seguidos, pero bueno hay que seguir trabajando hay que seguir manteniendo la cabeza fría y tratando de colaborar y de ayudar en lo más que pueda para que el equipo puede encontrar su funcionamiento y empezar a ganar unos partidos.
[EN]: "No, it's obviously cultural. In Argentina it looks totally different than if I was from here, that is, the only satisfaction for people is that the team wins and here it is totally different, it's more than one job. But we take on a lot of responsibility, with a lot of sacrifice and obviously it is not good to lose, it is not good to lose less than four games in a row, but well you have to keep working you have to keep keeping a cool head and try to collaborate and help as much as possible so the team can find its way and start winning a few games."
On whether or not his injury has to do with turf and on having comunication with Franco Fragapane ...
[ES]: "Si la verdad que hable con el entrenador porque viene sintiendo un poco d molestia de dolor, igual vienia entrenando normal y estaba igual en condiciones para jugar pero bueno obviamente cuando uno tiene dolor es un poco más complicado, no esta bueno al 100% como quiere. La verdad que, hace unos días que vengo muy bien, sin dolor, y entretenido normal, y la verdad que hace mucho tiempo que no hacia así. Y bueno, pero como dije que ha reflejado y la verdad que ahora estoy muy contento. La verdad que no ha tenido una oportunidad de hablar con [Franco], no se, no te he enterado en nada, que viene, si viene. Pero bueno a seguir adelante como todo."
[EN]: "It's the truth, that I spoke with the coach, becauseI came with feeling a little discomfort from pain. I was still training normally and was the same in conditions to play but well obviously when one has pain it is a little more complicated, it is not 100% good. The truth is that, for a few days I have been very well, without pain, and normal training, and the truth is that I have not done that in a long time. And well, like I said, I've reflected and the truth is that I am very happy right now. Honestly I haven't had the opportunity to talk with [Franco], I don't know, I've got nothing for you there if he comes. But you've got to move forward and continue on.”
On getting the yellow card for his celebration ...
[ES]: "La verdad que todavía, no sé bien las reglas, de que está bien y que está mal. Pero bueno, no la verdad que la tarjeta no me intereso mucho, no le di mucha importancia al férrico porque es alguien que amo mucho y extraño mucho y la verdad que es alguien que me da fuerza para poder seguir día a día.”
[EN]: "The truth is that I still don't understand the rules thoroughly, from what's allowed or not. But the yellow card didn't interest me, I didn't give the ref much attention because this is someone that I love so much and miss so much. Truth is, he's someone who give me strength to continue day in and day out."
On how Emanuel Reynoso has helped his transition…
[SPA] "Obviamente en tener un compadre, uno de la misma país, en el mismo equipo, siempre es bueno. Y obviamente con el Rey, hemos jugado mucho tiempo en Boca juntos, somos de la misma ciudad, nos conocimos hace mucho tiempo y la verdad que no, sirve mucho, el apoyo la confianza, en entendernos, en saber, en adecuarnos mucha mente, adentro la cancha y afuera. Y la verdad es la clase de jugador que es. Juntos tratamos de ser lo mejor para ayudar a nuestros compañeros y tratar de ganar muchos partidos.”
[ENG] “Obviously, to have a compatriot, someone from the same country, on the same team, it’s always good. And with [Reynoso], we’ve played before many times while at Boca [Juniors] together, we’re from the same city, we’ve known each other a long time, and honestly, it serves us well. The support, confidence, we understand each other, to know, be on the same wavelength, on and off the field. And, honestly, that’s the type of player he is. Together we try to be the best to help our teammates and win many games.”
