Commissioner Peterson, coaches, and players meet with media ahead of NASL Final

November 14, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release

NEW YORK (Nov. 14, 2015) - The North American Soccer League (NASL) hosted a press conference ahead of The Championship Final, which features the New York Cosmos and Ottawa Fury FC on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y.

The press conference was held at the Intercontinental New York Times Square Hotel on Friday afternoon. Below is a transcript from the event:

NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson

Good afternoon, welcome.

I'd like to thank these players and others out there for taking the time to go out into the community and for being willing to help others who are less privileged.

I'll keep my comments short, we're here to listen to the combatants in Sunday's game.

2015 has lived up to our growing reputation for delivering intense competition week in and week out. The Cosmos jumped out to take the Spring Season. Ottawa turned it around to take the Fall Season. We're excited about what that split-season format provides for our fans and sponsors. It's what makes this a very, very special league.

It is fitting that our top two teams made it. I guess our system works. For Ottawa it was a great Fall Season. We heard about their incredible streak. You can go on and on and on. So Marc [Dos Santos], congratulations and good luck in the final.

The Cosmos jumped out early. That's an interesting part about our format - after all that it ended up going down to the wire. There's pressure to continue to win, our game is intense and fun to watch from a fan's perspective. The Championship Final gives us a chance to watch the final match of Raul and Marcos Senna. It's been a privilege to watch those two, especially to go out in the NASL.

We expect a great match on Sunday. This has been a great year for us. We've added three new teams and some incredible ownership groups - Riccardo Silva and Paolo Maldini, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Malik, Rayo Vallecano.

It's been an exciting year. I'm sad to see it end, to be honest. I wish both teams a lot of success. We're very proud of all their efforts in completing our fifth season. We look forward to the match this weekend. Thank you.

New York Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese

Congratulations to all the players here who have won awards. It has been a long season. I remember preseason in Hong Kong, starting the NASL season and winning the Spring Season, traveling to Cuba, playing in the U.S. Open Cup and being able to maintain a good rhythm to the end. I'm very proud of my players, especially because we get to host the final. We want to give everyone a great game. Thank you and enjoy the final.

Ottawa Fury FC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos

I'll start by congratulating New York for being in the final. Two teams that battled close in a very fair battle. Two teams that deserve to be in the final. Two teams that are different but with great quality. I have to congratulate our players, owners, and our city for reaching these goals. It's incredible to be here and playing in this final. Well done and good luck.

New York Cosmos Defender and Captain Carlos Mendes

Ed Cohen (Event MC): You were the first player to sign, what will it be like to play the final?

A: Any time you're playing for a championship it's special. It's what we play for. To be able to host the game in front of our fans is special, and we want to try and take advantage of it. I'm excited to have the top two teams in the final.

Ottawa Fury FC Midfielder and Captain Richie Ryan

Cohen: What triggered the team's turnaround after the Spring Season?

A: Toward end of Spring Season, the ball wasn't going in for us, and luckily the big guy next to me [Tom Heinemann] started putting the ball in the net and it helped us to where we are today.

New York Cosmos Midfielder Leo Fernandes

Cohen: What do you make of your first year with Cosmos?

A: It's been a great year. Thanks to my coach, Gio, for having confidence in me. I love my team and I love playing here.

Ottawa Fury FC Forward Tom Heinemann

Cohen: Can you account for the team's confidence on the road?

A: It's definitely a confident group and to play semifinal at home was very special for the first playoff match in club history. To win in dramatic fashion was an honor for us. We have a lot of experience in our group, we'll need that to be successful.

Q&A Session

Q: The Sept. 22 game when Ottawa defeated the Cosmos, 4-1, what did you learn from that result?

A: Savarese - As I always say, every game is a new game. Every game has to be prepared for by itself. We can't look at the history and plan for this game. There are some points we take away from that game, but this will be a different game. It's a final, it's going to be at home, and for us it's exciting.

Q: Is there any added pressure from your fans in Canada as the only club team from that country still playing?

A: Dos Santos - Pressure from Canada is not that big. If I was the coach of the Montreal Canadiens, maybe. Yes, I've received some messages from across Canada. We feel that responsibility. We know the country will be behind us, especially for me being a Canadian. It's important to make everyone at home proud.

Q: You both [Mendes and Leo Fernandes] grew up born on Long Island, what does it mean to you guys?

A: Mendes - It's important for me. Playing the game at home is extra special, for me personally, I was born on Long Island and knowing the history of the Cosmos is something special.

Fernandes - All year round I've gotten to play in front of family and friends - it has been a great year. Now we're in the final game with friends and family going to bat for us is great. It's going to make me work hard, it's going to be a fun game.

Q: This question is for Marc, having a second season, did it help your team. For Giovanni, was it difficult to stay focused after winning the Spring Season?

A: Dos Santos - In our locker room from the start the goal was to finish in the top four. We only talked about winning the Fall Season when maybe there were four games left. We were always focused on looking at the schedule as 30 games and to finish in the top four. We were able to do much more.

Savarese - For us we were focused on winning the Spring Season and doing the job after that. For us every game is important, any kind of match we have we want to be competitive. We were also battling for position and home field. We kept that competitiveness throughout the year. For us there was no change.

Q: For the Cosmos are Raúl and Senna more nervous during this week knowing it's their last game and playing for a championship?

A: Mendes - They've had unbelieveable careers and they are focused. They have been doing it all year long. For us to share the field, the locker room with two great individuals and great people is definitely special. We want to send them off as champions. Again, it's an honor and privilege to share the locker room with two great legends.

Fernandes - I can't say enough about them. To practice with them every day, you try and watch them and see what they do and see how they became so great. Hopefully we can win a championship for them.

Savarese - They have been an example for everyone in the organization. Their standard of the bar is high every practice during every day. Their passion to the game and the club - we are fortunate to have them retiring with this club. Most of all they are great people. It's going to be difficult for us to replace them.

Q: For Coach Dos Santos, what are the keys to taking them [Raul and Senna] out of their games?

A: Dos Santos - We're in our bubble. What can we say about Raul and Senna, there's a lot of respect. We're very focused with winning. There's nothing wrong with Raul retiring and us winning the league. We're in our bubble and say that with a lot of respect. We want to make sure it is a big day for Ottawa Fury FC. That's what we have to think about.

Q: For Carlos, you've played with a lot of world-class players in your career. What is it like to pass along knowledge?

A: Mendes - Yes, I've been very fortunate to play with some great players. For me, I like to lead by example. I've learned from a lot of them. To be a good person, to be humble, and professional day in and day out. You don't get too many chances to play for a championship. To be home, in front of the home fans is more motivation.

Savarese - As coach you want to have these players. They've been there before and they know what's needed. To have them with you makes the difference.

Q: What are the lessons you've learned from 2013?

A: Mendes - For me, in a final, it is about controlling emotions. Stick to the game plan and do what we do well.

Savarese - We understand how to manage the emotion. For us there's a great environment in the locker room, a great feeling we're playing at home - it's a place we've been very strong. There's a very good feeling all around. Everyone's on the same page and we're looking forward to the game.

Q: For Dos Santos, you chose to rest players for your last game and ended up losing the No. 1 seed. Do you regret the decision?

A: Dos Santos - We're at the right place at the right time. This is where we have to be. Players that played in Atlanta play for Ottawa Fury FC. We trust them. Atlanta lost only three times at home. It's a lack of respect for Atlanta to say anything different. There was no way a couple of our players could play in Atlanta. Then we played overtime [against Minnesota] and we felt our decision was the right one. Credit to New York, they needed to score goals and they did.

Q: For Ryan, you guys attacked Minnesota and played well. Is that how you'll need to play on the road?

A: Ryan - That probably was the best we've been holding the ball for a while. It's important against New York to have the ball, otherwise you end up chasing the game.

NASL Championship Final Press Conference

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• Commissioner Peterson, coaches, and players meet with media ahead of NASL Final - NASL

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