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2019 MLS All-Star Game Notes

August 1, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


ORLANDO (Wednesday, July 31, 2019) - Atletico de Madrid topped the MLS All-Stars 3-0 at the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on Wednesday in front of a sellout crowd at Exploria Stadium.

Before the game, MLS and Audi of America announced a multi-year initiative to further elevate soccer in North America by enhancing the on- and off-field experience at MLS Academies, launching Audi Goals Drive Progress.

MLS ALL-STARS 0

ATLÉTICO de MADRID 3 [Llorente (Riquelme, Herrera) 43; João Félix (Ñíguez) 85; Diego Costa (João Félix) 93+]

HT: 0-1 ATT: 25,527 (sellout)

MLS is now 8-5-3 vs. international opposition in the MLS All-Star Game. This was the second match against a club from La Liga (losing by penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in 2007).

Marcos Llorente of Atlético de Madrid was named MLS All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. He became the fifth player to appear for two different foreign opponents and the first of those to score a goal in the MLS All-Star Game, having started and played 61 minutes for Real Madrid in 2017. (Kieran Trippier then became the sixth, coming on as a substitute for Atlético, having first appeared with Tottenham Hotspur in 2015).

João Félix became the 10th player in an MLS All-Star Game (current format) to score a goal and add an assist in the same match, the sixth from a foreign opponent club.

Atlético de Madrid had 12 attempts at goal in the first half, equaling the second-most in any MLS All-Star Game featuring foreign opposition.

The MLS All-Stars were held without a goal for just the second time vs. foreign opposition (also: Manchester United, 2011).

The match attracted a sellout crowd of 25,527 to Exploria Stadium.

2019 MLS ALL-STAR GAME QUOTE SHEET

MLS ALL-STAR HEAD COACH JAMES O'CONNOR

On difficulty of rotating the roster during the All-Star Game:

"It's more of an occasion for the whole league. I think when you look at the league this is the standout game for the league and it gives a great representation of the league. It's a chance for so many more players to test themselves against some of the best players in the world and I think, equally, we have some of the best players in the world in the league. When you look at the quality of those players, there were some exemplary pieces of passages of plays from both teams. I thought it was a very entertaining game. So, again, for all of the players I think it's just pleased that everyone's managed to get through with no injuries and I'm sure everyone's happy that they'll be able to rest and enjoy the rest of the evening."

On keeping the game close:

"I actually thought that the second half- I thought that the first half, I thought we probably had a 15-minute spell where we looked a little bit dangerous and looked like we were gonna get control of the game. I actually thought the second half the fellas did a really good job of obviously pressing, counter-pressing and staying in their half. For me, the second half, the passages of play, the movements, there were some good opportunities and for some of the guys. But I think obviously in a game like that where they bring a lot of players on in the second half, you have to try to manage that. But I thought the guys second half played very well and handled that very, very well."

On importance of experience for the players"

"I think it's a wonderful experience for, not just the players, but for the supporters and for everyone. It gives everyone the opportunity to see an elite level team. I think when you look at Atletico, they're one of the best teams in the world. So I think for the players, for the coaches, for the supporters it gives the opportunity to test themselves and to see the difference in levels. The supporters it gives them the chance to come and maybe see some of their heroes. And then the exposure of the league gets around the world ... it's incredible. So it's a very important game and it's more of a show for the players and coaches and supporters and memorable for everyone."

MLS ALL-STARS PLAYER QUOTES

GOALKEEPER NICK RIMANDO

On appreciating his last All-Star Game:

"I think I said this in the beginning, I was surprised to come into this All-Star Game. There's so many good goalkeepers in the league. But yeah, it was special, of course, for them to pick me and honor me in my last year. Very special for me, and like I said I took everything in, I brought my family out, and it was a special one even though we lost."

On the format of the MLS All-Star Game:

"I came in to enjoy this, and the experience is to come here and enjoy it, not to think about what could be next year because there is no next year for me. Did I enjoy the East vs. West? Yes, I think that was a fantastic format. But again, look, we brought in Atlético Madrid here. These fans love that and they filled the stadium, a soccer-specific stadium. When I did the East vs. West it was in a football stadium at Spartan Stadium. Will we go back to that? I don't know, but again this is a good event for fans and look at the players we have in this locker room. It's what the fans probably wanted."

MIDFIELDER NANI

On the match:

"We had one or two chances and good movement on the pitch that the fans were very excited. I think this what the All-Star Game is about. It's to field good football with all these fantastic players and it was fantastic for them. For sure they enjoyed the evening, it was good."

On getting to know some of the guys off the pitch:

"It's great, I always like to get involved with the players, meet new players. Sometimes we have a different impression of the players from the pitch, but now you can see that everyone is a nice person. They are normal as well and then we very easily compact together, we talk about a lot of things, it was very easy to interact with everyone."

On enjoying the All-Star week:

"To tell the truth, it's a little bit difficult for a player to manage because we get tired. We arrived from the game, we had to do so many interviews, and to go to a lot of places to be available to be involved, to interact with this event. It's fantastic, but you know to prepare for the game we couldn't, we had to be better. The body could feel better, but I'm very satisfied for being involved in this game and all the events. I'm very happy, I hope everyone is happy with our attitude on the pitch and outside of the pitch and it was great."

MIDFIELDER BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER

On the MLS All-Stars:

"It's great to play with all those players from MLS. You can see everyone can play football and that's what I enjoy the most."

On playing in an MLS All-Star Game for a third time:

"I remember the one in Chicago we had back home - it was an amazing atmosphere and you compete with the best teams. What I enjoy the most is being surrounded by the best players in the league and having fun in training. It was really cool and a nice atmosphere."

ATLÉTICO de MADRID MANAGER DIEGO SIMEONE

On the game:

"It was an entertaining game. It was competitive. I think especially in the second half. In the first we went from the least to the most and in the second half we were able to do the things that allowed us to win."

On MLS:

"The league is growing. Each day there's investment in players first and then coaches. The league will continue to grow. As I said in the second half you saw a dynamic MLS team that could have hurt us."

On Atlético de Madrid and their preparations:

"In the path we're taking ahead of the league season we want to be in the best shape possible. We're working with a 4-3-1-2 system - we were able to resolve some of the situations that were uncomforable for us. In the second half the players that came in, they were able to generate vertically and danger against the opponents."

ATLÉTICO de MADRID MIDFIELDER and MLS ALL-STAR GAME MVP MARCOS LLORENTE

On the game:

"It was very beautiful. We know how they like to do things big here. It was a special match, a different one. One that we have enjoyed a lot and it has served to prepare us for our upcoming competitions."

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