MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2004 - D.C. UNITED 1, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On removing Jose Cancela from the game:
"In the first half we didn't turn up, we weren't there. If we're going to play that way (3-5-2)
than we have to get Pepe (Cancela) the ball. We clearly weren't going to do that. The second half
was about playing with heart, because we didn't do it in the first half. We didn't turn up until
halftime. We played with heart the second half, but we didn't turn up with a brain."
On Felix Brillant's play:
"As I've said before, he has got pace, he scares defenders, but we have to get him the ball and
we didn't do that. We had plenty of possession, but we have to use our head and get the right
people the right ball in the rightplace and we didn't do that today at all."
On the service:
"We have to get the ball wide at the right time. There is no point getting the ball wide when we
have given everybody a chance to get back. Everytime we got the ball wide, they had two guys on
whoever it was that had the ball wide, whether it was Joey (Franchino), Felix (Brillant) or
(Steve) Ralston. We have to make better decisions and make better passes, so that we are getting
guys one-on-one. One-on-two is always difficult."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
On the goal:
"Earnie Stewart broke in on my left side and looked to pass the ball to (Ronald) Cerritos for a
score. So, I dove for Cerritos' feet but the ball actually deflected off of (Brian) Kamler,
behind me and into the back of the net. It was unfortunate. It happens, but it was an unfortunate
goal."
On Freddy Adu's play:
"He looked like he fit in to the game. He didn't take over the game. You can tell he's only going
to get better."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION MIDFIELDER CLINT DEMPSEY
On the loss:
"It is disappointing. It was a game we needed to win, and we didn't. It is frustrating."
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On the game:
"The first half was pretty good, soccer-wise. But, I am not happy about the soccer in the second
half. We didn't do well. We didn't play the way I wanted. The Revolution put a lot of pressure on
us. The penalty kick ... again we got lucky. Today the soccer part wasn't good, but the result
was all right, so from this point maybe something will change."
On Freddy Adu's play:
"Freddy did all right. He got kicked a couple of times in the first half. We don't want to risk
anything. We know with the injury situation, we want to make sure he's going to be ready for the
next game. That's why the substitution comes in."
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER TROY PERKINS
On the game:
"After two games, I feel pretty comfortable. As a team we stuck together and didn't lose our
heads too much."
On the penalty kick:
"I didn't get a hand on it, but I had guessed the right way and thought I had it covered."
On his first shutout:
"It's great, but I expect to get one every night."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD RONALD CERRITOS
On the game:
"It was a good win. We played hard and fought every battle. As a team, we won a lot of second
balls. The early goal put us on the right track and we held on from there."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD FREDDY ADU
On his ankle:
"I am fine. It will be fine. It is one of those minor ... I just twisted my ankle on a play. The
one where I was going at (Jay) Heaps from the corner. I just twisted it on the play. My left
ankle."
On the Revolution defenders:
"It's a little harsh. It's a little harsh. I am not going to stand here and complain about taking
shots and all that stuff. I guess that's just a part of the game. You do whatever you can do to
win the game. I am not mad at anybody, just this game I didn't get any calls. I didn't get any
calls, but we won the game. That's all that matters right now. It seemed every time I touched the
ball, I had two guys around me. And even if I would try to pass the ball off or anything, I took
a shot. Hey, all props to them. They got away with it, so I guess they were doing their job."
