SPORTING DIRECTOR & HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On overall reaction to the match against NYCFC…
“We knew that if we did not win the game we were not going to be able to control our own destiny. A little bit disappointed after the game. The second half was really good, really strong. These Decision Day type games are fun games. That wasn't short on excitement.”
The message to the team at halftime…
“I was disappointed at halftime. I felt like we weren't ourselves. I felt like we let the occasion get to us. I think we weren't poised enough. We were not calm enough and that's on me for preparing that. We were a better team than we showed on the first half. By the second half we played really well. The guys competed. The guys stayed focused and they battled throughout that half.”
On the match...
“It is hard to pinpoint. Obviously we know a lot happened this week. A lot was going on. Nonetheless I think there was opportunity for us to hurt New York and we didnt do that. We lost the ball too easily.”
On Zack Steffen”s performance...
“It was big. He did an excellent job. He is an excellent goalkeeper. He executed.
On scoreboard watching on Decision Day...
“I was doing a little bit. We knew at the end during the last fifteen minutes that we had to go for a win.”
On facing Atlanta FC in the playoffs…
“Our expectation was to come here (to NYC) and win. We will not be scared of Atalanta. We are going to have a lot of respect for them. A lot of respect for the environment the stadium has but we are not going to be scared.”
DEFENDER JOSH WILLIAMS
On scoring the second goal for Columbus…
“In my head I feel like I am going to score every game so maybe I am determined and Gregg tells us to beat your man to your spot. Little magic man put the ball where it needed to be.”
On team play on first half vs second half…
“I thought the first half it wasn't us. The field is a little tight obviously. We were a little bit rattled there. We might have been a little nervous.I feel great about the second half. I like the way we fought. I thought we took it to them.”
On what he said to team after scoring goal…
“I said we have to get another one. That was the main objective.”
MIDFIELDER WIL TRAPP
Talk about the game...
"I think we didn’t do a great job. We had two sloppy goals that we kinda gave up. But luckily Ola [Kamara] had a nice finish on the first one and then we came into halftime knowing that it had to be better and it was better. Josh scored and I think for that second half, barring a couple of plays, we were the better team. Obviously we don’t know what the other results were at the time. Knowing it now, obviously we’re a little disappointed, but I mean, we still did a great job. I thought the second half was really what we wanted out of it. We just now have to stretch that to 90 minutes rather than 45. And we know that Atlanta is going to be a difficult task, so now it’s just about recovery and getting ready for the next game."
Talk about going into the postseason with the momentum you’ve had as of late...
“No [We don’t fear anybody.] We know every game is going to get harder from here on out. That’s just how it works. But, we’ve been battle tested over the past 10 games, so it’s a good place to be.
Talk about how you were able to withstand 23 shots from NYCFC...
“Well we let two of them in, so. But I think our communication got better. Our movement of our back line and of our midfielders after we settled down was much better. I thought initially we were a little bit all over the place with the tempo that was being played. With the quality of them switching the play and making it difficult for us.
