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HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On how Adrien Hunou and Franco Fragapane have looked in training this week…
“They’ve only been joining in with the guys. We’ve had them here for about a week and have joined up last two or three days. Obviously, the quality is there for all to see. Both at different stages because I don’t think Adrien has played in a full game for seven to eight weeks, so he’s obviously a little bit behind but Franco has looked really sharp because he’s been playing every four days for about two or three months. He’s looked really sharp. But they will both be involved at the weekend and it’s been a long, drawn-out, protracted negotiation but we’re glad we’ve got them both here.”
On the positives of a bye week for the group…
“The one good thing is the bye came on the back of two wins and it gave us an opportunity to get some work in to some people who needed it, with one or two guys chasing their fitness a little bit so we managed to really look after them. For what it’s worth, it’s been a case of actually getting over one or two little bumps and bruises they were carrying. So it’s been really, really good. Now we’ve got a big game coming because then we’ve got another break after that. It’s an important for us at the weekend.”
On maintaining momentum after the bye week and into a long international break…
“As I’ve said before, no matter what we say as a staff, the thing that breeds most confidence in players is winnings games. The last two games, they’ve won. We’ve played well, we need to keep that going now. We know it’s going to be difficult at Salt Lake, always is. The air and everything there, but we go there, game is always tight. I don’t expect anything different. But I know if we play well, we give ourselves a chance of winning.”
On facing Real Salt Lake again and preparing differently…
“Well you don’t. Hopefully you prepared for them three weeks ago in the right manner and we’ve done the same. We’re much certain in the way they’re going to set up. They’re well-organized. They’ve got good players in attacking positions, got pace throughout the team. We’re going to have to play well. But that’s what we think they’re going to do and I’m looking forward to the game.”
FORWARD ADRIEN HUNOU
On his first days of training with the team…
“It’s very good. I have French [teammates] like Bakaye [Dibassy], or Romain [Metanire] and Aziel [Jackson] who help because it’s not easy when you arrive in another country. All of the players are very good and speak with me and I try to speak English because it’s important to speak with them. It’s a very good [training] center, it’s all very good.”
On the possibility of making his MLS debut against Salt Lake this weekend…
“I hope we are first to win because that’s important. We win before the break, now for some more points now and we are going to do a good game.”
On what he can bring to this team…
“I like to score because it’s my job. Not only score but I like combination with other players that can play with me. It’s important to have the ball, to keep the ball and to make the game.”
MIDFIELDER FRANCO FRAGAPANE
On his first couple of days training with the team…
[SPA] “La verdad que muy contento, muy feliz. Me encontré con un grupo muy bueno, me dieron la bienvenida muy bien y me recibieron todos muy bien también.”
[ENG] “Truth be told I’m very pleased, very happy. I met a very good group, they welcomed me very well and they all received me very well too.”
On the possibility of making his MLS debut this weekend…
[SPA] “Bien tranquilo. La verdad que estoy entrenando para eso. Obvio yo quiero jugar, me vine para eso. Así que vamos a ver si lo puedo hacer.”
[ENG] “Very calm. The truth is that I am training for that. Obviously, I want to play, I came for that. So let's see if I can do it."
On having two country-men as his teammates in this new situation…
[SPA] “Se hace más fácil para uno porque teniendo compañeros del mismo país, que hablamos del mismo idioma, se hace mas fácil.”
[ENG] “It makes it easier for you because having teammates from the same country, who speak the same language, it easier.”
On what he can bring to the team…
[SPA] “Le puedo dar al equipo mucha ayuda en el defensivo como en lo ofensivo. La verdad que estaba jugando muy bien ahí en Argentina, y bueno ahora se me da la posibilidad de venir para acá y hacer lo de la mejor manera.”
[ENG] “I can give the team a lot of help defensively as well as offensively. The truth is that I was playing very well in Argentina, and well, I had the possibility of coming here and now it’s time to do it the best way. "
