Sporting Director & Head Coach Gregg Berhalter
What were your thoughts on the game tonight?
I thought it was a game of high intensity, both teams willing to get up and down the field and put in a good effort. I think we could have been a little bit cleaner with some of our offensive movements but overall I was very happy with the result.
What did you see in Ola Kamara today?
You see his movements, constantly trying to get behind the line. As we get more comfortable playing with him and his movements, they will result in goal scoring chances. He had a couple today but we want to get him even more involved in the coming games.
Steve Clark with another clean sheet today, he deserves a lot of credit for that?
Credit Steve, but you also have to credit the entire team for the defensive pressure and our defensive shape. Rodrigo Saravia came into the game after 30 minutes, a midfielder that came in and played center back and the guys really helped him and he put in a good performance. So credit the entire team for getting a shutout away from home.
Any specific plan for shutting down Giovinco?
Yes, to get guys around him and put pressure on the ball so they couldn’t find him in good positions. Deny him service and position for the ball, then condense his space and I thought we did a good job in doing that.
Goalkeeper Steve Clark
Steve your third shutout of the season today. How do you feel about your performance tonight?
I’m just happy with the shutout. With Gaston Sauro going down, I thought Michael Parkhurst played a great game and Rodrigo Saravia did really well to step in there. Overall a good point on the road and a good shutout.
How was it having Rodrigo Saravia play in front of you for the first time in a match?
We are talking to him out there. It’s not easy being a rookie and playing out of position at Toronto with probably the best player in the league against Giovinco. So he did really well. He’s a tough kid.
How well were you guys able to contain Giovinco? You definitely were able to limit his opportunities tonight.
Very well. It’s a team effort. I thought Michael did a really good job. Had a great block. Rodrigo had a nice block in the second half. It’s really about team defending. I’ve said all along. We’ve been defending better this year than last year.
Midfielder Wil Trapp
Just wondering if you had any specific tactics going up against Giovinco specifically and Babouli upfront?
With Giovinco it is always difficult because he is such a talented player if you give him time and space. You always have to think about swarming, in terms of getting two or three guys around him to try and nick a ball or close his passing angles down. I thought we did a great job with first and second balls and then getting numbers around him. He’s always going to be dangerous. But I thought for the most part we did a pretty good job.
Do you think today’s game might mean a little bit more because of the rivalry with Toronto FC over the years?
Sure... For us we are just thinking it’s a big game on the road. It’s a big point for us. It would have been nice to get the three points. I think both teams had chances. It was a back and forth game. I think more importantly it’s about the points.
You think the team stepped up with guys going down due to injury?
I thought the guys that came in did a great job. Rodrigo (Saravia) stepping in playing center back which is not his normal position. Hector Jimenez coming in, Ethan (Finlay) as well. I think a lot of guys did a great job of bringing energy and life to the game and helped us get the result.
Forward Ola Kamara
Do you feel like you are getting closer to finally getting that first goal?
Hopefully...I think I was a little bit unlucky. The goalie made a great save and I think he did a good job on a lot of our attempts today and maybe he was a little bit lucky with the rebounds.
