Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
On what makes Krisztian Nemeth a dangerous forward…
It's when great balls are put in there, like Chance gave him tonight. That's why we're able to score those goals. He has good finishing qualities. He's very good around the box, but you don't score that if you don't get that kind of ball that Chance put in there. Because, what can happen a lot of the time is that you just get outside and you send the ball into the box and you say you did your job. But (Chance) picked him out of a lot of people. That's probably about a 50-yard ball that he plays in and along the ground. It was a tremendous finish. He's just a good finisher, very good in and around the box.
On Sporting KC winning five straight league games at home…
There's intelligence about the group. I think our style of play is a little more evolved and I think that's what has been able to get us the kind of results we're getting right now. Especially when teams try to sit back, we have a lot of dangerous guys, a lot of ways to break them down. We're finding ways, whether it's through the run of play or also set pieces to score goals. You have to be dangerous in all the parts of the game, especially when you're going to goal. You can't just be one of those who only scores from set pieces or from long distance shooting. You have to find guys in the box, you have to be able to dribble people, make chances and you also have to be good on set pieces. When you look at the combination of those things and the evolution of our style of play and the intelligence of the players that we have, it starts to yield the kind of results that we're looking for, especially here at home.
On the fan support at Sporting Park…
The fans here are tremendous. I've always said this, I don't mean this disrespectfully to anyone else in the league, but there are three venues: there's Seattle, Portland and us. The environments are incredible. It's one of the things that happens with our fans—the fact that they show up game in and game out, the fact that we played when it was (fourth) round of U.S. Open Cup, and we get a sold-out crowd. Even U.S. Soccer is blown away at the fact that we got that kind of crowd, largest crowd in that round of the history of U.S. Open Cup. It says a lot about the commitment of our fans. At the same time, it's a great aid over the course of 90 minutes to help our guys play with the amount of intensity and enthusiasm they're capable of playing with. It puts a lot of pressure on other teams. What I don't think a lot of other people take into account, when other teams come here to play, they're excited about playing here. What happens is, over time, the intensity and pace of the game, it's very hard for them to stay up with it because the fans aren't there for them. They just feel the energy at the beginning, and then what takes over is our team, and the crowd just gets louder and louder as the game goes on. Next thing you know we just overpower them.
On the chemistry of the team after bringing in so many new faces…
It all comes down to coaching (smirks). No, I think what it is—we have such a solid nucleus of players that are here, a core group of guys that have a very good understanding of the way that we play, the expectations we have for every individual player, and then the profile of the player that we bring in winds up being a guy that can acclimate really quickly. If you look at Soni Musivar and you look at the way that he has adapted and the work ethic that he puts in on the field. I think everyone is pretty amazed, especially within the team, forget about anyone outside. The guy has bought in to everything, he's a relentless worker, and he's kind of the unsung hero for what he does. He's a new guy here. He didn't even have the whole preseason with us. Krisztian, very similar, fits into the team, gets along well, but it has so much to do with the nucleus of players who we currently have here. As much as I may set out what the expectations are, it's those guys that continue to raise the standard and who police that with the rest of the players in the team. I can't be a policeman seven days a week, 365 days a year. It's up to them to do it and they're doing a very good job of that. I think that acclimation has happened so quickly because we have such a strong core group of guys.
On Tim Melia’s save sequence in the first half…
He comes out and makes a good punch on the ball, and we don't get pressure to that ball. Tim has incredible athleticism to get back and make that next save. Then he makes another save not too much after that on a ball that was shot to his right. That was a tremendous save; it was big time. That definitely kept us at a good point going into the rest of the half.
On short turnaround before Open Cup on Wednesday…
It wasn't like I was going to play (Myers) two games in a row, the fact that he could go as long as he did. He probably could have went the full game at the end, but I took him off because I think it was great to get him an ovation because as most of you know, or don't know, he's worked his ass off over this past year to try to get back. He suffered a serious injury. For him to be back and be playing at the level he's playing at this point, it's tremendous. I'm very happy to see the way that he's playing for him and for more importantly for the club. He's a big part of the success we've had and will continue to have in the future.
Sporting KC defender Chance Myers
On marking his first MLS match since May 2014 with an assist…
It's really exciting. Obviously I've worked really hard this past year, so to see it all play out in a good light, it's pretty exciting.
On playing in an MLS match as opposed to an Open Cup match…
It's definitely a different level. Coming into this game I was a little bit more…obviously nervous, but excited to get the competition going and just challenge myself. Coming off 50 minutes in an Open Cup game and 90 minutes in an MLS game, it's a little different, but I'm always up for a challenge.
On the fan support at Sporting Park…
The fans, game in and game out, they make it a lot easier on us. Obviously there are periods in games where we're not possessing the ball, we're down, or we're defending. They make it a lot easier. When we make a good play, they give us confidence in ourselves and help us drive the game. They give us that extra bit of energy that we don't have late in the game.
On playing the full 90 minutes…
Our team makes it a lot easier on me. We have guys around me doing a lot more than is expected of them. We’ve got guys like Ellis, we’ve got Besler, we’ve got Zusi around me. It just makes the game so much easier for me. We have a really intelligent squad. I just have to go out there and take care of my business and help the guys around me. Everybody is looking out for everybody. That's kind of our mindset. If we're looking out for one another it makes everyone else's job a whole lot easier. It kind of worked out in the second half, being on the right side. I was in constant communication with Peter, but I felt pretty good. I didn't cramp up or anything. I think two or three times I got winded but I got my wind back and pushed through it.
Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia
On his acrobatic save in the first half…
I just came out and tried to make sure I got distance on the punch. I don’t know how far I punched it, but I saw Marcelo (Sarvas) line up and I knew the second he was on the ball he was a player capable of hitting that dipping shot, so I just tried to get back as quick as I could. Then I got stuck in the goal and I was lucky to get my foot out of it before the guy got there.
On locking down the defense for an eighth shutout…
What we didn’t do in Salt Lake — we didn’t come out and grab the game by the back of its neck — I think we did tonight. We didn’t give them many opportunities at all. We controlled the tempo, we controlled the midfield. When we had to make defensive plays, I thought Matt (Besler) and Kevin (Ellis) did an excellent job tonight. Chance (Myers), coming in, played really well; Marcel (de Jong) as well. I thought everyone across the backline was excellent.
On getting an early goal…
I think it just gets the crowd into the game a little bit more, and then that gives us that little extra momentum to let us hold onto it to win the game.
On the sprinklers turning on mid-game heading into a free-kick…
I think it actually helped us, because it looked like it messed with the kicker a little bit. That guy (Dillon Serna) usually serves a good ball in and that wasn’t one of his better balls throughout the game. I think it got in his head a little bit.
Colorado Manager Pablo Mastroeni
On how Colorado approached Sporting KC…
Obviously the idea was to get in behind the backline quite a bit. We didn’t do a good job in the first half getting guys into the box. A lot of that has to do with Luis (Solignac)’s pace and his commitment to go forward. I think we created some good chances and had some good looks at goal. This team is a good overall team and a good defensive team. It’s hard to get good looks against them and I thought tonight was a very good game for us. I think we did enough to get a result and I think some of our looks were very good.
On Colorado’s scoring chances…
I think we had a few good chances. I think there was a deflection that barely missed the bar in the first half. I think we had two good looks in the second half where we were probably 15 to 18 yards out and both of those fell to the left of the goal. I think those were really good chances and they were a lot like the goal KC scored. They were in the same area but they finished their opportunity.
On Krisztian Nemeth’s strengths…
He is definitely clean. He is definitely proficient and his technique is very good. We knew that he likes to end up on the top of the box when the ball is on the side. If you give that guy an inch of room, then he scores and that was for me was the defining moment of the game. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t have to be involved for 90 plus minutes. He picks and chooses his moment, and when he strikes he’s very good.
On comparing Nemeth to another MLS player…
To be fair he reminds of Landon (Donovan). The ability to really find the corner with pace and trajectory from the service he uses. He’s really dynamic and clinical.
On the difficulty of recovering after falling behind…
Any time you’re playing from behind, you’re going to find yourself in a heap. For us, the plan was to come out on the front foot and be aggressive and I think we did that. We wanted to create a couple of chances. I think scoring and being efficient in front of goals is a confidence issue. Everyone can do it with time. It’s when you work that split second, that inch of space to release your shot. When you have confidence in your strikes is when you score goals and at the moment we are having a hard time finding the back of the net. It wasn’t for lack of effort or getting in the right spots. It was just that last bit and I think that comes with the confidence. We are doing everything we can to get in the right spots it’s that final shot or final pass that is loose at the moment. Again, the effort was tremendous and the guys executed everything that we have talked about all week. Against a team like this in this type of environment it is difficult to play. Again, I’m proud of the effort and execution, except for the finishing.
On the difficulty of playing at Sporting Park…
It’s no different than going to LA and playing there. It’s the psychology of the game prior to the start. It’s the history and the legacy of the last couple years. It’s the fans, the environment, the way KC attacks the game, and the fearless approach. It’s all that culminating in it being a difficult place to play. Having said all that, I felt today the guys didn’t back down for a second and actually fought the fight, and competed really well. It’s mentality and a mindset that makes it tough.
On Colorado’s defensive performance…
There were just key moments. I didn’t think KC had the ball in our defensive end and was passing it 180 times per possession, and dominating in that regard. What they were was opportunistic. Over the course of the game, I thought we created just as many, if not better opportunities in dangerous areas to finish. There is always the need for improvement on all aspects but it’s those moments. Nobody knows when those moments are going to be so to be tuned in for 90 plus is critical. Overall, I thought the guys did a good job of keeping Dwyer and Zusi relatively quiet, and other than his goal they kept Nemeth relatively quiet.
Colorado defender Jared Watts
On Colorado’s 2-0 loss to Sporting KC…
We came into a tough environment and it’s obviously a dynamic attacking group that they have. We had a game plan going in and we knew that we needed to weather the storm the first 15-20 minutes and match their intensity. We knew they were going to come out and press, so we wanted to try and turn them and gain some space. Unfortunately they were able to find two goals and that’s just how the night went.
On Krisztian Nemeth’s goal in the first half…
You’ve got to give it to him. They kind of caught us on the break there and he took it well. There are no excuses on our side. Those are details we kind of just have to fine-tune. With a good team like Kansas City, you can’t give them opportunities, especially to a guy like him. They’re playing well and in good form.
On Colorado’s chances created…
We had a couple of chances there to maybe even the game. We didn’t take them as well as we could have—could have got back into the game. We wanted to chase it and get back into it, but once we gave up that second goal we knew it would be tough. With the atmosphere here and the fans—the way they get behind them—is hard. We battled and never gave up, and we still have faith in the guys that are out there. We want to turn this around.
On Colorado’s confidence level…
We still have a lot to play for. Our heads aren’t going to drop here in this locker room. We’ve got a lot of the season left and we’re desperate for a win. We want a result and we know we can get one.
On Colorado competing in the Open Cup on Tuesday…
It’s another opportunity for our team to be out there and play a tough game. On Tuesday night it’s the Open Cup. We want to get a result and get a win and hopefully turn this thing around and look forward to the game on the fourth of July (at home).
On the challenge of traveling to Houston in the Open Cup on Tuesday…
We went down there and played them in what was an organized game—a 0-0 draw. I thought we could have won the game—I thought we let some points slip there. I think going down there we’ll be confident knowing that it’s an Open Cup game. It’s just about the mindset going in. There are positive things we can build off of coming back into the league.
On the challenge of playing three straight road matches…
It’s part of the league, having to adjust with the travel schedule and games going back-to-back on different coasts. All the teams do that here and it’s part of this league. We just try to take care of ourselves and be prepared when the next game comes.
Colorado forward Luis Solignac
On Colorado’s 2-0 loss to Sporting KC…
It seems like everything is against us right now. We are trying so hard—fighting, shooting, doing everything, and it seems like the ball doesn’t want to go in. It’s one of the worst moments for the team right now. We are really frustrated.
On Colorado’s first half performance…
We had a very good first half. One chance and they score. It’s hard to explain the feeling we are experiencing.
On feeling responsible for scoring goals as a striker…
Of course, every game. The last game I thought it was my fault with the chances I lost. But if I keep thinking like that all the time, it’s going to be worse and worse. I’ll just focus on training and keep going hard. Like I say many times, when the first goal comes, many will come. I need to keep working hard and it will come.
On continuing to fight hard for goals…
I’m happy that I am having chances. The worst thing would be having no chance at all. Then it’s like you are doing nothing. I’m working hard and getting chances every game, and I think that helps the team. I just have to focus, work hard and breathe. Maybe it’s not just me—it’s everyone. We need to finish our chances and feel like the ball doesn’t want to go in. We have to stop thinking like that and be confident. The first one will come and then many others.
On his current form…
I’m feeling quite good. Even if the goal didn’t come, I feel like my levels are getting better and better. The only thing I am missing is the goal. Otherwise I feel great with the ball and the touches and the movements. Of course, as a striker, I would change all those things for a goal. I’m going to work hard and that will change for sure.
