Sporting Kansas City Head Coach Peter Vermes
On his overall thoughts after the game tonight:
“I think it was a dangerous game, and what I mean by that is that I am very proud of my guys for keeping their emotions. We could have easily lost ourselves. We were very disciplined, not only tactically, but we were also very disciplined emotionally because this wasn’t an easy game to be that way. There is something that could happen, and we could have reacted poorly, but we didn’t. In that end, I am very proud of the guys. I think that was the difference in the game for us, to keep our emotions and to be disciplined in our tactics in the game.”
On any adjustments he made at halftime:
“The biggest thing was that we needed to be very is smart with the ball and not slow with it. Also, we need not be antsy or frustrated that we hadn’t scored yet because we knew it was going to come. We knew we were going to have some chances, but we just needed to be ready for when they came and in a good frame of mind. I think the guys did a good job at that as well.”
On the performance of midfielder Gianluca Busio:
“Man of the match for me. For a 16-year old to play in a game like this at the level that he did consistently for 90 minutes, he took some shots, physically, but he never got rattled, and he easily could have. For me, he was the man of the match. Not only because he was 16, but because he played very well in the game. He was mature for a 16-year old. He has a bright future.”
On the performance of the referee:
“I think it was a difficult game. It’s hard for me to comment on all the things that happened because I would like to review the tape before I do. A lot of times I have a chance to do that, I didn’t have a chance to do it before I came out here, so it’s hard for me to say.”
On starting midfielder Gianluca Busio:
First of all, I think he has been playing very well. A while back we played him in the (Lamar Hunt U.S.) Open Cup against Salt Lake and I think he got his feet wet in the way that isn’t just throwing him in a game where you are winning 3-0 with three minutes to go; that’s experience, but it does not result in reactive experience. The Open Cup game was that, but it’s still not an MLS game. He has been in form, and I just felt that we needed another quality player on the ball in the midfield, because we knew we could keep the ball. It ended up being that way even more so because we went up a man, and then we could keep the ball. I think he was good with the ball and played between the lines in an intelligent way. He was very confident to turn and go at the back four, which cause them a lot of problems.”
On his game plan:
“The biggest thing for us is that we think that having the ball is important for us and our game. Having possession is big as well. There is no doubt that you have to be very careful of the four guys up front for Houston because they are excellent in the counter and they can kill you if you are not paying attention. I have to give a lot of credit defensively because we were very organized from behind when we did go forward, and when we didn’t do, we didn’t lose our concentration of where their guys were in the position where they were ready for the when the ball went they could counter. Our defense did very well in keeping us disciplined and balanced in the game.”
On the message for the veteran players:
“To keep everybody focused on one thing, which was the result. We couldn’t have reactions; we couldn’t be caught in anything else besides playing soccer. This is a soccer game, not a boxing match, and we need to be a focus on that piece.”
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gianluca Busio
On his mentors on the team:
“Definitely, all the midfielders really are big mentors to me because we play the same position and most of them have been playing in World Cups and big matches against big teams and they know much more about the game than I do. When they are telling me things, I am definitely going to listen. So all the midfielders, especially all the veterans that have been here for longer than I have been alive. I’m learning as much as I can from them.”
On starting his first game against Houston:
“(I didn’t) score a goal, but it was a good game for us, I’d say. Even with the 10 men, it was a good team performance from them and that’s a big step having the best of games lately. To get these points on the road is really big for us.”
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia
On his overall thoughts on the game:
“For us, it was an important result. We had been down since we haven’t been getting results and giving up a lot of goals because that’s not how we identify ourselves. We came to a difficult place to play, against a team that has electric players with pace up front, but we shut them down and got the 1-0 result.”
On his performance tonight:
“It wasn’t me; it was the way we defended. They love to be high and wide, they are very connected to their midfield and when we turn the ball, or any team turns the ball over they are out and running from width. I think we did a good job making sure our fullbacks were balanced with the center backs and eliminating those top ball. All in all, I think I made one save which is a very good result against a team like this.”
Sporting Kansas City forward Diego Rubio
On the outcome of the game:
“Well, you know it was a good game. We won and that is very important. I think we won the last game a few games ago, so it is very important (to build) confidence for the team. Everybody, every team suffers to play here.”
On staying calm during an intense game:
“In the future, for the next game, we need to be smart with the injuries we have. We can get in some trouble, especially since we know how the games are here. I came from Latin America and I know how Latin Americans play. We are happy for the game, and I think the referee did a good job actually, and I think it was a complete game for us.”
