Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On the team’s defense…
"It’s a big piece of success in the League and, more importantly, success in the playoffs and winning MLS Cup. You have to be able to keep goals out of the back of the net and it’s got to be between two things; it’s the players doing everything they can to limit the number of shots and then your goalkeeper has to come up with big saves and both of those things have happened the last two weeks which has been great."
On how long the team will celebrate a playoff berth…
"Tomorrow, we have to come in and do regen and start preparing on Tuesday for Seattle. There is really nothing to celebrate. We have to get ready for this game quickly."
On the team’s postseason streak reaching six…
"I wouldn’t even call it a streak. I would just say the fact that we made a commitment when I took over. Our biggest thing was what we don’t want to have are these aberrations where one year we are winning and the next year we are last place in the League. We want to continue to be competitive. We want to continue to do well and always put ourselves in a position to compete for MLS Cup. Our first goal is making the MLS Playoffs and we have done that now six years in a row. I go back to giving credit to the effort and the guys’ commitment to getting in."
On the team’s current form…
"I think we have good form. I thought we played really well in Salt Lake last week. I actually think the two games prior to that - outside of the New England game - when we were at home, we played well in those games, too. We realize we have a big hurdle in regards to Seattle. They are a good team. They made a lot of changes at the midway point that have changed their team. They have guys back from injury so they are feeling good about themselves. We are going in to the lion’s den and it’s going to be a difficult game. We will do everything we can to play our best game."
Sporting KC Midfielder Benny Feilhaber
Thoughts on making the playoffs…
"You are not going to win every year. But we have been able to win three trophies in the last four years. And six times in the playoffs in a row, we are putting ourselves in a position every year to succeed. We would love to have a home game, so now we have to win an away one before we get the home one."
On the team’s commitment to defense…
"It’s a little bit of a mentality, a team mentality to get guys behind the ball, to not overcommit to give the other team easy opportunities. I think the chances they had today they had to work for. There wasn’t a breakaway from half field that we have been prone to giving up in the past. It’s the little things and when you make it tough for other teams to score, you give yourselves a chance. I don’t think it was one of our best games, but we played well as a team and we took our opportunities and played good defense, so that’s the way we won."
On if the team has learned anything from the past two playoff appearances…
"To be honest, if you look back at the two game we’ve lost the past two years, we’ve played pretty well. In the New York game, we got a 1-0 lead and gave up two late goals. And in Portland, we were able to come back from a 1-0 deficit, get two goals and blew it in the end. But we can definitely take the experience of being able to compete in tough situations like that on the road. Hopefully, we can also take the experience of not letting down in the last few moments of games to be able to come away with a victory."
Sporting KC Midfielder Roger Espinoza
On securing a playoff spot…
"It was very important. It was something that as a club, we shoot for. Those are our expectations, from our fans and our owners and us. But we have to keep working hard to be better."
On the team’s defensive form…
"It’s great that at this moment in the season we are doing that. It’s been a very difficult season for us and I’m very happy that we have done well in the last two games. If you keep the game to zero, it gives you more opportunities to win the game."
On playing on the wing the past two matches…
"As a younger guy, I played a lot of positions. I always said as player, wherever the team needs me, I will play there. Goalkeeper is the only position I will not try. Don’t even try me at goalkeeper. Anything that is required to help the team, I will play."
On if the team has to change anything up now that they are in the playoffs…
"The last ten games have been like playoff games for us. Going to Salt Lake, that was a playoff game. That’s how you have to play on the road. Today, was like a playoff game. I don’t think you have to change anything, we just have to keep going. It’s a new season, but it starts right away and that’s good."
San Jose Earthquakes Assistant Coach Ian Russell
Thoughts on the match…
"It’s the story of the season. We defend pretty well. We get in good areas to score and we haven’t been able to get the end product."
On the result being a product of the team being eliminated from the playoffs..
"I will say one thing about this team, they fight and give everything they have each game. That has never been in question. They want to win each game and it didn’t happen."
On plans for the offseason…
"When you don’t make the playoffs, you potentially have to bring in more players. That’s the nature of the beast. We are going to evaluate everything, every player and see what we have to do better next year."
On the team’s slide since July…
"I don’t think it was anything specific. There were a lot of little things. I think obviously we missed some chances in some games that instead of getting a draw or a win, they became a draw or a loss. Those points add up. Overall we just have to get better."
San Jose Forward Chris Wondolowski
On generating chances, but not being able to capitalize...
"Yeah, I think it's just a microcosm of our season. It's very frustrating, but credit to Kansas City, they did a good job and they are very hard to break down defensively. I thought at times, we possessed well and got it down to the final third and we're just missing again that final pass and that final shot, that final idea. Again, kind of story of our year."
On being able to generate quality opportunities...
"It sounds so cliche, but I really do like our team in there. Obviously, it's a big disappointment this year, being out and being done right now, but I really like our team. I thought we played well at times and created a lot of great opportunities but we need to finish them off and capitalize on them and we were punished for our mistakes very heavily this year and rightfully so."
On looking forward to next year...
"You gotta hope they want me back. I have no idea really what our plans for the future hold. I'm hoping that we make the right strides. I do believe in the guys in our locker room and I think we have a good core and there is always some turnover each year, no matter if you win the championship or finish last. So there's always some turnover, but I hope that it's not too much because I really do like these guys and I love em, but it's just part of the job, I guess."
