Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match and making the playoffs...
For those that doubted the quality in our team, I'm sure a lot of them weren't here tonight. So we played 34 games in the regular season. That's 68 halves and there is only one half out of the 68 that I can say that I was a little concerned about. Is the team committed? Is it losing faith? They came out in the second half of that game and it was amazing (to see) the turnaround. So for the fact that they were able to be committed, focused, they had pride, they worked hard to put us into a position where in the last game of the season we had a chance to still make the playoffs is truly a testament to them, to their belief and how competitive they are. What I would also say is that I appreciate the fact that our ownership group had faith in the staff because it's very easy at times in our profession when you don't get results, to lose confidence and to lose faith. Just as easily as a player can lose confidence because he's not playing well, so can everybody else and they can lose faith in it. Obviously, they had questions. I had answers. We had great conversations. I think it ultimately led to where we sit today. So I appreciate that, but that's one of the reasons why I've been here so long and I've chosen to stay here. The final thing I'll say is tonight's game -- when you look at Portland playing at home, San Jose playing at home, Dallas on the road -- obviously when you look at the significance of a game like tonight, it is not easy to play in that game just from pure stress. A lot of guys get so nervous that they use up half of their energy not even playing the game. Our guys have been through such ups and downs over the course of the season in all these different ways that they have learned to scratch, bite, claw and fight back and get themselves into all these positions or get us into this position. So I knew that we were ready for this game. At the same time, the quality at which we played tonight, the level was tremendous. So I'm very proud of the guys. I'm very happy for them because they got rewarded for their commitment and so that's where I sit. For the naysayers and the doubters? No problem, keep doing it because we'll keep fighting and clawing and making our way.
On being able to close the game out...
I think that was a big part of tonight, I really do. I think that we were incredibly good with the ball. Our circulation in the first half was just at a different level -- confident movement of the ball, side to side with numbers. We had numbers up on the left side and the right side. We found the individuals within our team in the places where they want to be and then the hunger to go and get the first goal, the second goal, the third goal was big time. Then finally I thought that defensively it was probably our best game that we have played as a back four. All four of the guys, it was the best game. Their decisions in the game, they were great.
On if he ever doubted himself...
No. It's not like I woke up and I forgot how to coach. I said it from day one. You guys can go back and review, I said I know we have a great roster and I know when our guys get healthy and when those guys get on the field, we're going to start winning and we're going to start showing people that we can play. I think you could miss everything. You could see the first 10 games and you can just come watch this game. We're a team that can play and we're really hard to play against and we've always been that way and we'll continue to be that way.
On the play of Erik Thommy...
Early on in the season, because he's so professional, he actually tried to carry the team on his shoulders. He started to do that way too much. Once all the other guys started to come back into the team and he saw that he could just do his thing, he has been a bright spot in the team. His ability to run at teams and put them under pressure, he's nonstop. He never tires out. I took him off because he had a little tightness early on in the week and I wanted to make sure going into the next round he was healthy. He was like the Energizer bunny, the guy keeps going. It's a pleasure to coach guys like that because of how professional they are in every single thing that they do.
On Jake Davis’ development...
We were talking about this the other day. Jake’s a gamer. There are guys that when the lights come on and the crowds are there in big moments, he winds up playing at a high level. It’s just incredible. He’s established himself in that position and it’s for a guy that has not had a ton of repetition there, but it’s his in-game sense which has been really good. The other is that there is nobody that is more competitive than he is on our team. I’m not saying he’s the only one, but there’s nobody that’s more competitive. He does not back down to anybody. And it’s starting to really come out in him and in the way that he plays within our team, which is huge, because as a defender -- and I played in that position -- you want the guys that you play against, you want them to know when they come, this isn’t going to be an easy day. He’s given that message to those guys without even having to say anything.
On this lineup emerging as a first-choice XI…
I think that there’s no doubt that over my tenure here, I don’t tinker a lot. I don’t change a lot when things are going well. But, at the same time, I think what also has happened is that the fact that we have had to play so many different players over the course of the season. For the most part, most guys that step in actually give a really good performance. I think there are a lot of guys that can contribute within this group because of the amount of participation that they’ve had based on injuries and all of the other things.
On not losing faith…
Well, I talked to the coach and the coach told me that the group was good so I trusted him. Look, I think it’s very evident when I say these things, I don’t say them to be disrespectful to other people's quality. I’m not looking at it that way, but just look at what kind of - and I know he’s the best player in the world -- but look at what kind of impact Messi had on a team that wasn’t doing very well. They go on to win the Leagues Cup. And to be frank, if he was healthy, I think there might have been a good chance that they may have gotten into the playoffs or at least gotten into Decision Day with an opportunity. It’s amazing sometimes what a couple of players can do for a team. You’ve heard me say this before. I’ve said if you went to the Chiefs and you took out Mahomes and Kelce and left them out, it’s amazing how in the first game they lost, but Kelce didn’t play. And I don’t know if that was the problem or the other lineman. I don’t know. But what I would say is that sometimes there are players that can either really help you and be great or they just change the team. And we were missing some very key guys. Look at the first games of the season. Even Johnny was out or was coming back from injury and we’re trying to get him back in. All of that has a knock-on effect on the rest of the group. But, again, when you know the quality of the guys that we have and you see them every day, sometimes you scratch your head and you’re like, ‘man, when’s that result going to come?’ That’s more of what was the challenge for me because I knew once it came, then we were going to get on a roll and the guys would feel good about themselves again.
On Johnny’s role...
I think that sometimes gets covered over a little bit. There’s only him and one other player on our team, if they truly are hurt, they’re finding a way to get on the field. I have got to tell them they can’t train or keep them off or what have you. He is a true captain in the sense that he is an incredible example for the rest of the guys. I remember when I first was scouting Johnny and the one thing I always thought is that he had the “it factor” and that is for the big games because he’s got big balls and he’s going to step up - simple as can be. He was big-time tonight. I can’t say enough.
How are you getting ready for San Jose...
They’re a team that kicked our butt when we went to their place. They were a fast team. They have good street smarts in the game. I think they can go really well on the counter. They’ve got some speed. Espinoza is just a really high-quality player. Ebobisse has found his way into that group. He’s a physical specimen that can play soccer really well. He’s really found his niche and he’s goal-hungry. And I think he has a point he wants to prove that he’s a top-class forward. So, it’s a difficult team for sure and a tough opponent. But I think everybody we’re going to face from here on out is going to be that.
Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell
On what the game meant to him…
These games are massive. To be in the situation that we were in at the beginning of the year to making the playoffs, someone just said to me that no other team has done it in MLS history. And that's just down to everyone: players, staff, training staff, everyone involved at the club who has sacrificed, put in the time, put in the work, not given up, kept the belief that we were still capable of doing it. We gave ourselves a chance tonight. That's all it was leading into the game. We knew that we needed other results to go our way, but we had the belief that we could go and win our game and other teams would drop points. Luckily for us, they did. But, like I said, to be in the situation we were in, I don't think there are many other teams in this league who could start a season like that and turn it around the way we have. Obviously, we don't want to start the season like that but I think it just shows the character of every single person in this team that we're able to turn that around. Let's be honest, we haven't done anything yet but to make the playoffs is huge. A lot of good teams have missed out so to make it in the fashion that we have – to go down to Decision Day - credit to MLS, they always seem to get the fixtures spot on. It's always interesting on Decision Day and obviously we've come out on the better end of that. I’m delighted. I think you can see how much it means to everyone. A huge night for the club but we've got another one on Wednesday.
On the moments after the match waiting to see other results…
It's nerve-wracking watching games that you can't affect and that you're not a part of. (The home match) is such a huge thing as well. It's difficult to travel in this league - don't get me wrong, it's difficult to play at home in this league as well -- but I'd much rather be at home than have to travel as well. It was just a nice way to end the night. It was a nice way to end the night. The game went perfect for us. Then to watch the last couple of minutes of that game and realize that you've got the home playoff game, that put icing on the cake tonight.
On playing through an injury…
I think anyone knows that I'll do anything I can to be out there. I haven't practiced all week. Yesterday was the first day that I actually trained and it was a little partial as well. I was struggling coming into the game, but I'm not about to let my team down. We've all worked so hard this year and I'm not the only one that has played through stuff. There are a lot of guys who have played through a lot of things this year. The sport we play in, you're never really going to be 100 percent. So there are a lot of guys in that room that deserve credit for some of the stuff that they've played through and put the team before themselves at times. Yes, I was struggling, but it was never really something that was going to stop me.
On his scoring record at the club…
I've got my sight set on the top. So does (Daniel) so it will be an interesting battle. He's got a couple of years on me. We've always had that friendly competition where we drive each other to be better with goals, assists and just general involvement in the game. I want that top spot. I'm hoping I can stay here for a little bit longer and catch Preki and then I think Daniel will eventually catch me. It'll be good to get it and then pass it on to him. That's the plan but right now I'm just happy we're both contributing to the team and hopefully that continues for the next few years as well.
On cutting inside to score at the far post…
Obviously, it's a position that I like to be in. I like cutting in on my left foot. I feel like defenders are getting a little bit smarter and making it a lot harder for me to do it, but you still get opportunities in the game. There was probably one in the second half, I could have delayed the shot maybe a couple of seconds more and managed to bend it around a little bit better as well. But I'm glad it went in. It got us off to a great start.
On what changed after the slow start…
I've never lost belief in my teammates or myself or this team. You guys come to training and you see the quality. I get to see that every day. With the team that we've got, you can never count us out. We came together as a team. We spoke a lot. We got a few things out in the open that probably needed to be said and everyone had a platform to speak. Everyone's voice was heard. There was probably a couple of home truths spoke as well. That led into the Seattle game. I think you could see the spirit we showed. It’s such a hard place to go and that moment showed that we weren't out. We didn't give up. And that was the start of the comeback. Yes, there's been ups and downs throughout the season since then. If you look at our form since those first 10 games, we are right up there with the best teams in this league.
On how proud he is of the turnaround…
It's easy to be a captain and be a leader when things are going well, but you learn a lot about yourself as a leader, as a person, as a player when things aren't going well. There are times where I feel I've let myself and my teammates down, but it's a learning curve. It's still relatively new to me. I'd never been captain until obviously I was made it here, but the amount of pride that I've got in being able to call myself captain of a team full of guys like that always will be one of the highlights of my career.
On if the team looked at other results at halftime…
Don't look at your phone was the start. It doesn't change anything. If you look at your phone, you see the results. The only thing it can do is probably have a negative effect. We are doing our job. We're winning. That's all we can do. If you check your phone and results aren't going your way, maybe people can drop. It gets in their head a little bit that it's more of an upward battle. The message was simple: continue to do what we've done in the first half that was so effective. They had to change their game plan. They had to come at us and we knew that we could pick them off on the counter and create a few more chances. They made it extremely difficult for us to do that in the second half so credit to them. But we found a way, which we've done so many times this season when odds are stacked against us at times. We found a way to win games. It has not always been pretty, but who cares when you get the three points and you get yourself in the playoffs.
On grinding through the season…
No one wants to start the season the way we did, but the way we've turned it around, it takes a strong group to do that. You want everything to be plain sailing. You want to be top the whole season. But, the same as some victories, it’s the ones you grind out where you find out a lot about yourself as a team. Those ones sometimes mean a lot more than dominating a game and winning 4-0 or 5-0. The games that you have to stick together, cover each other, work together as a team, fight for each other as a team and you grind it out -- which I feel like this season has been sometimes -- those are a lot more pleasing. Like you said, we've still got a long way to go. It's not over yet. The aim at the start of season is to get yourself in the playoffs. Everyone's got the same aim. We have gotten ourselves in there. Now we have to show that same resilience that we've shown to get to this point and try and make a push.
On what it will take to make a run…
The resilience that we've shown all year. We're going to have to stick together. We're going to have to show the quality that we've shown tonight and we've shown recently as well. We've went into some tough places. If we get through this game, we know we're going to have to be on the road. We've shown recently that we are capable of going on the road and getting results in tough places. We're going to have to do that in the playoffs. But if you want to win it, you have to beat the best. It's going to be a little bit more difficult than you probably would like, but I think every guy in there is up for the challenge.
