Columbus Crew SC Sporting Director & Head Coach Gregg Berhalter
Opening statement…
I can't wait until August 5th when VAR gets put in play. I think the level of incompetency has risen among the referees, among the officials and this is going to help. It's going to help clean up the game, it's going to help stuff like this. These guys, they're too focused right now on other stuff. I know half of these guys are doing international competitions. They're doing all of these big teams. What are these guys doing? They have a job to do. We have a league to run. When they're making decisions like this in games, that are affecting games, it's a joke. It's an absolute joke. They need to get back to work, they need to focus on this league and that's it.
Thoughts on team's performance…
The guys didn't quit. When you have to beat two opponents, when you have to beat Philly and the referees, it's difficult, but the guys didn't quit. They kept going, they kept fighting, they kept working, they did more than I can ask of them and I'm proud of them for that. I think every one last one of them worked their butts off to try to get a result and we were close. Again, it's really challenging when you have to play against 11 players in Philly and four officials.
Thoughts on the red cards…
I take issue with everything. The whole performance with these referees. The whole performance. The first thing is, no matter how you look at the Mensah challenge, he ends up winning the ball trying to play the ball. He gets thrown out and it's a penalty kick. I'm not even sure it's inside the penalty box. When any type of contact is initiated, he comes away with the ball. Lalas (Abubakar) gets hammered as the ball is up in the air. The referee calls a foul. Ilsinho is trying to block Lalas from getting the ball and playing on. He does a swim type of move to get around him and he gets a red card. Ilsinho should be ashamed of himself. That has no place in soccer, that type of acting. No place. He's really hurt? He got hit in the face? Seriously?
Thoughts on Lalas’ red card…
Seemed like he got a straight red, right? (Ilsinho) was definitely acting. Again, to me the whole presentation of the game was disgraceful. There were times where we had the ball, the referee stops the whistle, we should get the ball back, Philly kicks it out of bounds in our final third and presses the throw in. What are we doing here? Seriously? We have a one-v-one going to goal, the referee stops the play. Stops the play. When we resume play, kick it out of play in our defensive third and then press the throw in. That has nothing to do with this sport or what we’re trying to do. Nothing to do with sportsmanship. Ilsinho acting has nothing to do with sportsmanship. These referees, the way they officiated this game has nothing to do with soccer.
Thoughts on where Columbus fell short…
We could have handled a couple of plays better. No question. There's a couple of plays that could have gone better. We were creating chances, we were creating chances with nine men. We were going to have a good performance in this game and unfortunately it got ruined. Fortunately enough, we're going to be in position now where VAR is going to support it. We'll get to hopefully nullifying some of these mistakes that are happening. Hopefully the referees will get some rest, will stop doing these international competitions. I don't even know why they're doing them. They need to focus on the league.
On the next match…
We'll regroup. We have five centerbacks so all them didn't get red carded. We'll be able to regroup and play with two. We’re probably going to appeal Lalas' red card. The other thing is Lalas is getting scapegoated because he so strong and because he's a rookie. It's true. If Lalas is in the league ten years, [the referee] doesn't call half the calls. No way. He doesn't treat him the way he treated him. No chance.
On having space to play with…
I thought we had a lot of space. A lot balls between the lines and unfortunately the game got ruined. I thought we had good intentions. We were hurrying the opponent, disorganizing the opponent. Everything we wanted to do. Creating chances, putting crosses in the box and it was okay.
On if he believes the result is different if the match stays 11-v-11…
I’m not going to say that. That doesn’t make any sense.
On expending energy down the stretch and how that affects the next match…
It could, yeah. It’s going to be a challenge. We’re on a plane tomorrow to Salt Lake, so it’s going to be a challenge. This is something you have to deal with. I’ve talked to other coaches around the league, they’re dealing with the same thing. They fly all across the country on short rest, and that’s part of it. We’ll regroup and we’ll put a team on the field Saturday that will be competitive.
On if he brought additional players on the trip…
Yeah, we did. We traveled 20.
On turning the page…
We’re putting the result away, I already told the guys after the game. We didn’t get beat by Philadelphia tonight, we got beat by the men in red, so we’re okay. We’re going to regroup, we’re going to be fine. The morale is going to be fine in this group.
Columbus Crew SC midfielder Wil Trapp
On the performance…
It is hard to really evaluate the performance with two red cards. The first one, I think we responded decently well. We had a big chance to make it 1-1, we did not capitalize on that one which was disappointing, but I think Zack (Steffen) makes a huge save on the penalty. We ground out the first half pretty well. Into the second half I think legs started to get tired, the second card happens and when you are down two men it is really difficult. I think the amount of effort from the guys was excellent tonight.
On having a young team…
Absolutely, you are learning how to grind down and sacrifice when the chips are down, so I think it is a learning experience for a young guy like Lalas (Abubakar). Unfortunately, he had to leave the game, but knowing you are on a yellow card, then the opponent knowing that they are going to kinda come after you, so can we be clever, so can we be a little bit more mature in those moments. Then for the rest of the team, just picking each other up and moving forward.
On turning around for RSL…
Absolutely, you have to. It is a quick turnaround and I think the way in which this game happened with the shakeout with the two red cards really allows us to do that easier I think, so we have to move forward for Saturday.
Columbus Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram
On the mindset heading into the next match…
It’s alright actually. We are putting it behind us. Some of the decisions, some of the plays that happened, that’s the game of soccer. That is what we have to do, is put it behind us and look forward to Saturday. It is only one game. We had two wins in a row, so everything has been alright.
On what he says to his young teammates ahead of the game at RSL…
Obviously short term memory. Always playing here is difficult. Eastern Conference opponent, it is a grind. There are going to be little moments where you have to keep your head in it and clearly we didn’t and it is learning experience and we are going to move on, we are going to get better. We have twelve games, so we are going to start with two more games on the road and refocus.
