CREW SC HEAD COACH & SPORTING DIRECTOR GREGG BERHALTER
On how it felt to come out on top…
“It feels good. I think the goal of tonight was to advance, so we managed to do that. What I’d say for New York City is that they played an excellent game. It was a different team than we played two weeks ago for sure, and I can imagine as a coach when you’re playing an elimination game you want to come out and bring your best stuff, and they certainly did that so we were happy we advanced. It wasn’t our best game, but we got through.”
On what he saw from bringing in Lalas Abubakar...
“Well they were focused on getting the ball in the penalty box, so a lot of good crosses. We felt like we were having some difficulty, especially spreading across the line and covering ground, so we wanted to bring in an extra defender and be able to deal with some of those crosses. I think we did a good job. I think safe from that one crazy play, the crazy scramble at the end, we were pretty much in control in the last 15 minutes.”
On Harrison Afful’s goal in the first leg...
“I think from a quality standpoint, I think that was an amazing goal, so we were excited about that. In these legs, every goal is important and every goal helps. That’s why when we went up 2-0, our focus was on scoring more goals. We knew this was going to be a tough place to play tonight. We knew the size of the field. We knew the opponents are very good opponents. We knew the crowd was going to be behind them. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, so that goal was big.”
MIDFIELDER & CAPTAIN WIL TRAPP
On the resolve shown in today’s match…
“The ability to hang on was important. None of us are happy with [the result], I think it was sloppy. We came out with some good intensity in the first half but the penalty deflated things a little bit. We have to be better, Toronto is a quality team and they’re going to capitalize on some of these chances so we just have to be smarter, be cleaner in the back and then just be calmer. At the end of the day I think we were just anxious.”
On the intensity NYCFC showed in today’s match…
“[We were not surprised] at all. They have to score three goals at minimum. You knew they were going to be coming with a lot of power, a lot of intensity. For the most part, I thought we handled it decently well but we just have to hold on to the ball more.”
On playing the game with a 4-1 advantage…
“We didn’t come into this game thinking and resting on our goals by any means. We knew that it was going to be a difficult environment. We knew that we wanted to score a goal to really push them to try to score four. We didn’t do that and it got nervy there at the end.”
DEFENDER JONATHAN MENSAH
On turning the page after the own-goal…
“We had nothing to lose after the second goal. We had to be stronger than we were before. We came together and just fought through.”
On what unfolded in the play that led to the second goal…
“I think it was a dribble. He came inside and shot with the left and it came fast on me, I wanted to clear it but it skipped my head and it went inside. We didn’t put our heads down, we just picked it up and fought through it.”
On withstanding the offensive pressure from NYCFC…
“We knew it was going to be like that because the field is very small, they’re going to come very hard, we just had to be prepared for it - and we were. As we trained, we planned for it, we knew everything was going to be fast and we were defending collectively and it went good.”
MIDFIELDER PEDRO SANTOS
On playing in the MLS playoffs for the first time...
"It is a good moment for me and for my team because we made a good performance in the playoffs. Today it was a difficult game against a big team but sometimes we need to fight. We need to run a little more without the ball but I feel great to advance to the Conference finals."
On NYCFC providing pressure all game...
"We know how NYCFC tried to press us in the first half. Sometimes it is difficult for us and we need to fight. Today there was more fight in us and we passed on to the Conference Finals."
On playing against the next game (Conference Finals) at home...
"When we play at home we are a difficult team to beat. We don't lose many games at home because we have great supporters and a good atmosphere. Now it is time to rest and the next week we have to win."
