Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes
On Sporting KC’s 3-1 win over Saprissa…
The first thing I’d say is that Saprissa is a very good team. I thought they were excellent in the middle of the park. They were extremely aggressive and it was something that we talked about at halftime because they were winning a lot of second balls and they were biting really well. It was a big thing for us and we needed to open up the game. I thought that we started to have a lot of nice combination play which started wide, and that’s how the goals come about. That second goal was an important aspect because it got the momentum going for us.
On Antonio Dovale’s performances in CCL…
He’s a good soccer player. I don’t think it’s necessarily this [competition]. He should have scored last week against Chivas USA. I just think he’s a good player.
On Aurelien Collin’s defensive performance…
I think defensively we’re more like who we are. I think that’s a big step in the right direction. I said that when we played against New York [Red Bulls]. So I think we’re back to who we are from a defensive perspective and that’s been very good.
On Toni Dovale’s development…
It was important for us in the last game against Chivas USA to try and get him 90 minutes. He hasn’t really had 90 minutes with us and that’s because of the physical aspect. It’s always difficult when we bring in foreign players to our team because there’s an adaptation period. For some guys it’s different time periods. For him, it’s not the soccer; it’s the speed of play and the physicality of the game. Saprissa is a very athletic team so this was very much like an MLS team, but more technical.
On Saprissa’s performance…
They’re a very good team, very well organized. Like I said, working in the middle of the park is a strength of theirs. I think that caused them to win a lot of balls and then go on the counter. Their transition was good at times, but at the same time I thought we did a good job of delaying their game and giving them poor opportunities to get a good chance off.
On Sporting KC’s recent improvement…
I think we’re in form. I thought the game against New York, like I said – I thought we played very well. I really don’t’ see it as we’re out of form. I actually think we’re in very good form. And I think at times it’s not bad to have a game here or there that you get your butt kicked because it resets the team and now all of a sudden everyone remembers what you have to do to be successful. And it’s a good time of year for us to be in that place.
On getting a result away at Saprissa on Oct. 23…
I’m very familiar with the CONCACAF region from my time as a player. Every game is important. Every roll of the ball is important. And in this type of environment where you’re in group play, you have to be prepared for everything. Scoring three goals tonight was a big deal. Giving up one wasn’t something we wanted to do but we scored three. Obviously the next result is another big game. And then obviously we have to go into the lion’s den and we understand that it’s going to be a difficult place to play. Our team is a lot more experienced than we have been in the past, and I think we’re up for the challenge.
Sporting KC midfielder Antonio Dovale
On the first of his two goals on the night, a left-footed volley that gave Sporting KC a 2-1 lead…
[Graham] Zusi changed the point of attack and played a long ball to Igor [Juliao]. He (played) a one-touch pass into the box, and I was at the top of the box to score. The ball was pretty difficult to shoot with one touch because it was very high. I just tried to hit the ball as low as I could. I’m very happy to score, but the most important thing is the team did a great job for 90 minutes.
On Saprissa’s performance throughout the match…
We tried to win the game the way we usually do. We also have to give a lot of credit to Saprissa. I’m surprised because of the level they played (at) today. They were trying to score from the first moment. There are not many teams that come to Sporting Park and try to win the game. That give them a lot of credit from my point of view.
On his confidence level after scoring three goals in two CCL games…
Today I’m not happy because of my two goals. I’m happy because of the win. After some tough moments and some tough results, the team is again playing the right way. The attitude of coach [Vermes] has been extremely important because when we were going through a tough moment, he just told us to enjoy the moment and have fun. That gave us confidence to keep on going in the same way. Now I think we are in a good position again.
Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer
On Sporting KC’s offensive performance in a 3-1 victory…
It was a good performance and we created lots of chances. We probably should have scored more goals than we did, but maybe we’re saving them. Everyone’s done a good job looking for me. I just try to make good runs and stay active off the ball, and it’s my job to put the chances away.
On the challenge of preparing for CONCACAF Champions League opponents…
Our coaches find plenty of video on them. We’re as prepared for these teams as we are for any MLS team. We take the Champions League very seriously and the coaches do a great job preparing us. We were definitely ready tonight. We’re always given enough information on the other team to get the job done.
On scoring his seventh penalty in seven attempts this season…
This season I’ve usually done something different every time. I don’t pay too much attention to the keeper. I just pick my spot and hit it hard. Sometimes the goalie has guessed right, but I’ve been able to place it well enough to beat them anyway. Hopefully that continues.
On Sporting KC’s increased confidence after two straight wins…
We’ve been playing well the last couple games now. We’re feeling really good about ourselves, and now we’re looking forward to Tuesday. Whenever you score goals and win, you’re going to feel really good. Hopefully we’ll get another three points on Tuesday and then head back to MLS with plenty of confidence.
Saprissa manager Ronald Gonzalez
On Saprissa’s 3-1 defeat to Sporting KC…
It’s a very physical team and at times, especially in the second half, it became difficult for us to contain them. It’s a game of opportunities and a game of chances. And for us and we had our chances, but we weren’t able to take advantage. In the end, that was costly for us in terms of the result.
On the chances created between both teams…
It was a game of back and forth. It was difficult at first in terms of defense, but with the opportunities that were created, it was possible to take advantage of them. In the end, they opened up in the back and Kansas City was able to take advantage of them.
On the two teams’ rematch in Costa Rica on Oct. 23…
It’s not important what happens to us tonight. What it’s going to come down to is the match between Kansas City and Saprissa in Costa Rica. We have to go get that game. We have to go after it and make sure we do well. According to my understanding, it doesn’t really matter what happens in the other group games in terms of outcome of the group. It comes down to a direct duel between Saprissa and Kansas City, so the (group) comes down to that game.
On Saprissa’s preparation for a home game against Sporting KC on Oct. 23…
We’ll do much of same in terms of what we’ll do before our next game against Kansas City. We have a couple games in the league, and we hope to play and get some rhythm going forward. I assure you that the next game with Kansas City will be completely different down in Costa Rica.
