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Post-Game Quote Sheets: Red Bulls 0, Portland 0

July 10, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - New York Red Bulls News Release


Can you give us an update on Gideon Baah, what his injury is and an assessment on Damien Perrinelle playing a little longer than you had imagined?

Gideon, it's the same leg he injured in Columbus. He felt something. We're not sure exactly what it is. We're evaluating that as we go. And then, yeah, Damien had to come on earlier. When we put Damien on the roster we said there's a chance that if something happens in the tenth minute then you have to be prepared to put Damien on the field for 80 minutes.

It wasn't the 10th, it was the 20th. But I think, first of all, that him getting to play some major minutes against Club America meant that he was closer to full fitness and game speed. And so overall the man came in and did really well. Did really well. To go against those attackers and to deal with Adi and on a day where it's a good attacking team, was really happy for him and now he starts to look like himself. So that was really great.

With the Lloyd Sam trade does it seem to be a big opportunity for Veron today? How do you think he did?

You know, he was dangerous at moments. So I mean I thought he helped put a play together in the second half. He had a couple of plays in the first half where he's now on the move and going at guys and creating some danger. We switched from a three to two to try to give him a little bit more clarity up there as to how to move around.

That's just the challenge. Just continuing to fine-tune tactics with him on how to move and I felt that moving from the three to the two helped us a little bit with our press because with our three we weren't -- Ridgewell was able to get his head up and start playing balls forward and playing through us. So but all that being said, overall on the day we have a lot of sort of half chances. We have a lot of chances.

We kind of create a lot of advantages and opportunities and we're just not quite good enough on the day. So talking with some of the guys afterwards, do we think it's a little bit of confidence or do we think it's a little about bit of sharpness, is it a little bit of both.

So we've got to still now have a real belief in our team that even when things aren't perfect we can push hard at the end of the game to get a result. And overall I thought the last five, ten minutes we did that. I thought we could make a bigger push earlier on in this second half than we did.

With that previous question you talked about confidence. How much are you fearing that it's a loss of confidence and how do you bring that back? And second part, what do you think about the quality of play of the game, your side and Portland as well?

Okay, the first part, you know, after we had some tough results, we came home and we had a game against Chicago. And we played really tight. And it was kind of like that. And we wanted to be cautious because we didn't want to... when you play some of these teams that they're attacking players cheat a little bit and they're very explosive, we can't think about attacking without thinking about also if the ball turns over how to defend. So it means we have a little bit, tactically, a little bit more cautious of an approach. And then it means that maybe we don't get going in the game with enough movement and ideas with the ball and aggressiveness.

The game overall -- a little sloppy. Not sure why -- the field was a little heavier and a lot of times when we play at night the ball moves a little bit more so the field was a little dry, and so there wasn't -- the connections weren't quite there like they normally are. But again I think for us to get a shutout in a game like this was really important. To play against a good team and get Damien back on the field and now for that to be still -- can that be a starting point and a hallmark of what we do as a team from here on forward is just not giving up goals. So that part was good.

You sort of alluded to this and talked about it already, when you only score two goals in the last four or five games, how concerned are you about that trend right now and about the offense as a whole?

Yeah, you know, in different games it's for different reasons. Tonight we certainly, I think, created enough moments where there's something that is really close to coming off and just don't pull off the final play. Whether that's the pass or the finish. You know, to be this point in the season and not have that quite firing is not what we would expect. But we're not going to get anxious about it because I know that we've got really good attacking players that on any given day can make a lot of plays. So just trying to get this thing going again and get this thing back on track and we've got to use tonight and Wednesday as a way to get our season going again.

How frustrating is it to go into the Copa America break red hot, and then just hit a wall for goal scoring?

Yeah, you know I said at the Copa America break that our team needed a break physically and we did. But then the season picked up and it was just game after game after game. The summer days can seem really long sometimes and the heat can hit and then we're -- but today I thought we actually had our legs and just couldn't quite get the final play right. So we'll get this thing going again. We'll get this going again. I'm not concerned about that.

With regards to Lloyd Sam that got traded and Alex Muyl seems more in his line with speed as opposed to Gonzalo, who is more of a ball control, and you said you were happy with Gonzalo, but is there any look at maybe getting Alex in there to see if that replaces Lloyd's -- We feel really good about Alex, and also we think Gonzalo is an important guy around here. We're trying to get him going. Listen, when Alex came in the game he helped. No doubt. I thought the game really started getting going and he found good moments and he was aggressive around the box.

So we know what we have with Alex. And, yeah, it's for me to try to get the balance of who to play when, what matchups we like, how to get the most out of each guy and then how it fits within the overall group. So was it discussion on Gonzalo or Alex? We like both of them and I think both can be good off the start or off the bench.

Why has Gonzalo had such a tough time getting going here? If you look at his numbers they haven't been very productive. And going into the formation at the beginning of the year you said that's something you guys wanted to do to evolve as a team going into this year, where do you guys stand in that process?

Yeah. Well, with Gonzalo on the field, there's a better ability to have flexibility with our tactics and if we play with two or three up front. You know we started with three. Then we switched to two and I thought actually that got us going a little bit at the end of the half. And then as -- then the first half you're trying to see if we can put a little play together. And also went back to three to try and get Sacha a little bit more underneath and Alex on the move to look at matchups to tactically make little adjustments so it can help the game and have us get better and ultimately unbalance the other team.

What was the thought process with subbing out Gonzalo in the 70th minute? Was that preplanned or something that you had already arranged? And secondly Lloyd Sam was very popular player, not only with the fans but within the locker room. Do you think it's going to take time emotionally and tactically to make up for his loss?

No. It wasn't preplanned with Gonzalo. We just felt that that minute that's what the game required. You know with Lloyd, yeah, it may take some time. I mean, I've said publicly that I really liked my relationship with Lloyd.

And he is a great personality and a guy that served this club in a big way. And so I'm hopeful that -- I think the group understands why the move was made and now it's up to us to take it forward from here. So, wish Lloyd good luck in D.C. Was watching last night, was actually hoping he would get into the game.

And he didn't. Saw his No. 8 -- some weird feelings about seeing him in DC United jersey. But overall, we wish Lloyd the best.

New York Red Bulls Defender Damien Perrinelle

On coming back from his knee injury

It's an amazing feeling. First of all, like I said the other day, I want to say thank you to all my teammates, to all the Red Bulls staff and also this guy over there, Zubar. No, yeah, it's a really good feeling. I didn't expect to play this game but at the end I was ready to play and it was nice.

On Portland coach Caleb Porter praising his performance:

That's what he said? Oh, I am glad. Well, maybe because I scored against them last year, I don't know. No, just kidding.

On how he feels after playing a lot of minutes this week:

Well, it was 75 minutes on Wednesday. Today was around 70, I don't know, I think. I'm feeling tired, a little bit, but it is part of the process and the more I have minutes in my legs the better it is for me and quicker I will be able to be ready.

On whether he thinks about all the rehab he did to get back on the field:

No. I didn't think about all the stuff. I was, I think only about the game. Only about the tactical thing I have to do. For me I was thinking of the game and sometimes when I jump, when I have a aerial dual with Adi, yes, when I step down with my knee I say "ok my knee is strong enough, I'm fine" but when I have the ball or when I have to run, I didn't think about my knee.

New York Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty

On his injury and stitches:

Yeah I'm all right. Just a busted lip couple stitches. I don't even know [how many]. It took all of halftime, I think four maybe I don't know. It's a pretty big cut actually I just, just let the doctors do his thing. I missed the whole halftime speech though so I didn't really know what we were doing going into the second half. No I'm just kidding Jesse talked to me while I was getting stitched up. So part of the game, it happens, hopefully my fiancé doesn't break up with me.

On how the game went:

Fairly even game. chances for both teams. Clearly we dictated the pace of the game, had most of the ball had a lot of attacking intent like we always do at home. Portland it was clear that their game plan was just to sit back and hit us on the counter attack. They have four very dangerous players, a lot of speed with Melano, Nagbe, Adi, and Mattocks. Obviously Mattocks goes out, Grabavoy gives them a little something different, more work rate in the back. So you know, two different ideas from both teams and clearly both teams created chances, and just a frustrating game for us. I mean on a different day you know if we put one of those chances away we walk out of here with a one-zero victory. We were happy with the performance, but you know were not sharp right now in the final third that has to be said.

On if scoring one goal will "open the flood gates"

Portland is not the type of team that is going to let you score a lot of goals on them. I think they haven't been as good defensively as they usually are but I mean they had Ridgewell back and you know they had their first choice backline for the most part so you know they are as strong team defensively and they sit deep and they don't give you a lot of space to play in behind. We were trying to play, trying to stretch them out a little bit, play a couple balls in behind to Brad and Gonzalo, try to use their speed but you know when a team sits deep there is not a lot of space and it its tough to pick out those final passes. So that means we have to be better and sharper underneath you know with Sacha, Mike, Gonzalo, me, and Felipe. And you know for the most part we connected a lot of passes, but we didn't really hurt them.

Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter

On his team's performance:

I thought it was a good game. Both teams were organized. Neither team was going to back down or give in. We knew it would be a little choppy at times because of their pressure. I thought at times we could have managed that better. We were extremely organized the whole game. I thought we made it difficult on them.

I thought we had situations on the counterattack especially. I thought we could have done better a few times. We allowed them to get numbers back. We didn't capitalize at times in the second half. I thought there were several times we could have pulled the trigger, played an extra pass.

We were a little unlucky as well on a few. First half, good save by Robles. Alvas hit the crossbar. And they had a few as well. Jake made a good save on the one time they got behind us really all game. He came up big. So probably fair result, two good teams again. And that's six results for us on the road.

So that's equal to two wins. And that's seven games unbeaten. So we're doing real good. It's two clean sheets in a row. I told the guys obviously as you reach this stage of the season it's important that you buckle down, defend well, because games get tighter and oftentimes it's one goal that unlocks it. We weren't able to find that goal but neither were they.

And if you can't find the goal on the road, you buckle down, you get the point. So put that in the bank. And that puts us level with, I think, three teams. And like you said, slow start because injuries but we're in a really good rhythm right now and we're right in the race, firmly in the race.

On his team's organization and having key players injured:

Yeah, I mean, any good coach will tell you you're only as good as your players. I'm a really good coach with really good players. So with Ridgewell in, he's missed over half the season. So these things get lost in the shuffle. Darlington missed six, seven games. Diego Valeri has missed four, five games. We've not had a full squad. We lose Darren 30 seconds into the game.

But ever since we signed Liam Ridgewell our overall track record defensively has been outstanding, and he's a big part of that. His ability to lead the line, communicate and just his quality in general.

On losing Mattocks early on:

A big part of our plan today was to play in the break. We felt through Mattocks and Lucas we could find some space.

So we lose one guy that would have brought some of those things. So kind of changed a little bit our effectiveness, but Lucas still found some time on the counter, some space on the counter, sorry. We thought Grabavoy came in and did a good job, gave us a little bit of a different look in terms of keeping the ball. I thought when we moved him inside underneath Adi and shoved, and slid Darlington on the left we really were dangerous and I thought we would get the goal.

Like I said, you have to give New York credit. I thought they were really good at defending the counter, and there have been some games I've watched before this season when it hasn't been the case.

So, really, it's a credit to their defenders for putting out those fires on the break. They did a nice job of that. I thought Perrinelle coming into the game was a nice addition. He's a smart player.

Portland Timbers Defender Liam Ridgewell

On team playing with a target on their backs:

Yeah, definitely. I think we've had to learn how to go and win games as the favorite [this year] after being the underdogs for a lot of last year. This year, people know what we can do. We've got to respect that but we think we're the best team and we've got to go out and show people.

On trying to find that next gear that the team found towards the end of last season:

Yeah, I think it's been difficult with the injuries that we've had and players coming and going. It's been a little bit of continuity that we've struggled with this season. Myself, I was out with an injury at the start of the year. Last year we didn't have that. We had four or five guys at the back, the same guys, every single game.


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