Head Coach Adrian Heath
On the takeaways from the match against Chicago Fire FC…
“I thought we played well for long stretches of the game. I thought we beat ourselves a little bit. We gave three poor goals away: the first goal we don’t need to get involved with the penalty. The second one, DJ [Taylor] and Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] got split down the side. The third one, I think Dayne [St. Clair] should save it. All three goals were avoidable. I don’t think there were particularly good individual displays at times and it cost us. As I said to the players after, when you look at the chances that we created and got ourselves in front [of Chicago] twice, we shouldn’t be losing the game from there. But that’s what’s happened, it’s gone. Now we move forward and look forward to what’s going to be a big, big game.”
On Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s performances over the last six games…
“We’ve always known that the kid has ability and has got this incredible appetite to work and run. He can work both sides of the ball, he never shirks a defensive duty. We know from his data the distance he runs and high-speed running. But we’ve spoken about trying to having a bit more composure in front of goal. For us, that was the next evolution in his game, if we can continually get him in one-touch scoring positions and that’s what he’s done. It takes a lot of hard work and energy to keep getting in there, but he’s done that. He’s got 11 goals now. It sounds so ridiculous when he said he’s going to score 25. We talk about all the time [that] wide guys can get you between seven and 12, 14 goals so he’s in that bracket now, and he’s still got a lot to play for. He’s in a particularly good vein of form now, a rich vein of form at the minute and he may continue.”
On the team’s regular-season performance record on the road as an advantage in Leagues Cup…
“Yeah. We’ve been to places where people didn’t expect us to win. I can think of St. Louis [CITY SC] as the first one, [FC] Dallas on the opening day of the season. We’ve proved on the road that we’re capable of getting results and making it difficult. The one thing I do know [is] we’re going to have to play well. They’ve [Columbus Crew] probably got the best home form in all of the teams in Major League [Soccer] at the minute: playing well, good players, well-coached, well-drilled. We’re going to have to play well and take our opportunities when and if they come.”
On what he’s seen from Wilfred Nancy with the Columbus Crew…
“I think he did a great job at [CF] Montreal. They’ve had a lot of turnaround in Montreal and within six to eight months, you could see a clear identity of what they [Columbus Crew] wanted as a team and he’s done that. They’ve [Columbus] given him some good pieces to work with but he’s worked really, really well with them. They’re pleasing on the eye: they play on the front foot, they play really good football, got good players in good spots. It’s going to be a difficult but one I’m looking forward to.”
On the counterattack as a vulnerability of Columbus…
“We’ve proved that if we have a good defensive base to which to start from, with the players that we have – the likes of [Emanuel] Reynoso, the likes of Bongi [Bongokuhle Hlongwane] and [Teemu] Pukki now who’s smart – we will give ourselves a chance through certain areas like every team that you think, ‘we can maybe exploit that.’ Having enough of the ball to do that is one thing. I’m looking forward to it. It gives us another gauge of where we are.”
On the formidable pieces of the Columbus attack like Cucho Hernandez and Christian Ramirez…
“It was [Lucas] Zelarayán who was playing really well, it’s Cucho [Hernandez] who is playing really well, and Christian [Ramirez] we know is as good as anybody in the box. I think like most of us here, we’re all pleased for Christian. He’s a great kid. He’s had a couple of moves since he left here, but he always looks dangerous, every game that he plays. I know that if we fall asleep, that will be the moment that he’ll be ready to pounce and invariably he does. It’ll be nice to see him, and [I] hope it’s not one of his better nights.”
On Kevin Molino…
“He looked lively last night when he’d come on. It’ll be nice. I’ve known him since he was a 17-year-old kid, so it’s always nice to meet your old guys.”
Defender Michael Boxall
On how the Leagues Cup stakes and atmosphere differ from the MLS regular-season…
“Obviously I only played a little bit of the first game. I think the atmosphere that the Mexican supporters have brought has made it a bit different. [They’ve] made it a bit more colorful. When you’re playing against teams from different countries, it’s a bit of a challenge that we’ve risen to for the first match, and then we found ourselves going to Columbus [Crew] this week. It’s going to be a tough matchup but [if we] prepare well this week, we’ll be alright.”
On the key to getting a positive result against a historically difficult opponent…
“Like we have on the road for the last six years, defensively, we have to be good. The Crew are a great team with the ball. I watched a bit of them against Club America; they moved the ball really well, confident in what they’re doing right now, so we need to be very disciplined and make the most of what we have with the ball.”
On approaching the match facing former Loon Christian Ramirez and knowing his playing style…
“They’re [Columbus Crew] a difficult team, it’s never just about one person. [Lucas] Zelarayan has moved on but between Christian [Ramirez] and Cucho Hernandez, I think we’ll have our hands full at the back. Just a lot of communication. Christian makes a lot of smart runs, always ends up in your blind spot. So, we just need to talk things through and hopefully, we can live with those chances.”
On a returning to a similar backline after two changes in the Group Stage…
“When you’re playing well and defending well, it’s because you’re familiar with those around you. The way myself and Micky [Miguel Tapias] have grown together this season - I’m super happy with what he’s done since he’s been brought to the team – if we can continue with where we left off a couple of weeks back, then that lays the platform to allow Rey [Emanuel Reynoso] and our special attacking players, Teemu [Pukki], to get on the ball and give us a couple goal lead to defend.”
