SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On Crew SC's performance against New York City FC
I think we’re obviously disappointed with the result of the game tonight. We had an idea of what the game would look like and were executing pretty well and it’s disappointing to not get any result, but I think you sometimes have to step back and look at the performance. I was pleased with the performance. I think the guys did well. They did what we asked them to do. They put it all out there. They competed. We created a good number of goal-scoring opportunities so, this is one of the situations in my mind that we’ll focus more on the performance than the result.
On what changed in the second half of the match
I think they were playing more direct. You don’t usually see NYCFC playing like that. It was getting the ball into wide areas and then playing it directly up front. They had four guys on the line and that gave us a little trouble. For us, the question was, do we continue to high press or do we drop off and give them more of the ball? In this particular case, I felt we’d be able to withstand it, make some adjustments and we could win the duels when the long balls were played in. For the most part, it was successful and then we gave the goal away – decent pressure, but not too much pressure to lose the ball and that hurts. I don’t even know what minute it was, but it was pretty late – 80, somewhere around there – so that hurt us.
GOALKEEPER ZACK STEFFEN
On being unable to capitalize on the chances created
It’s definitely frustrating. We go the whole game and we played a good game, and the guys in front of me worked really hard. In the first half we moved the ball really well and we had spurts in the second half where we did the same, and then maybe if we finished a chance or two, then the game is a little different, but I’m proud of the guys and how hard they worked in front of me.
On how to get past this tough stretch
I think we just got to get back to our ways and find our mentality and just keep grinding. I mean, life isn’t always going to be perfect, it’s not always going to be ups and positivity, you’ve got to go through adversity to get better and to get stronger.
On returning to MAPFRE Stadium next week
It’ll be good to get back at home and get in front of our fans and get another week of training in. We’ll be confident going into that next game after the performance we had today, even though we didn’t get the points and it’ll be good to be back in Columbus.
MIDFIELDER WIL TRAPP
On New York City FC scoring on two turnovers
I mean that’s the way we play. We know it’s going to happen at times. It’s unfortunate that it came at the moment that it did. I thought that for most of the first half we played well, second half we were a little bit more nervy but still we created a lot of chances we just weren’t clinical enough. Mistakes happen and that’s part of the game.
On Crew SC being unable to convert its chances
I think for us is taking the positives from it. We know we have to improve in that area. We know that this is is a good team too. The games are hard and it’s difficult to win in this league. It’s fine margins and we were on the wrong side of it today.
On how Crew SC can improve its current run of form
We are close. Like I said it’s a fine line. There’s margins here that maybe if we score one in the first half, the game is completely different. It’s just continuing to work in training and find ways to score goals.
