MLS CUP PLAYOFFS QUOTE SHEET
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2007 - NEW YORK RED BULLS 0, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On the game:
"It was pretty obvious that New England came in here with a plan that a point was fine and if a goal came, they would take it. They were hard to break down and they defended well tonight."
On the two game series:
"You don't need to win the first game, but it certainly would have helped the cause to win it. We will go to New England and we have to win, it's simple. Last year, we lost the opening game here, so it's not an impossible feat."
On the team's forwards:
"New England did a good job on them and Juan [Pablo Angel] didn't drop the ball. We told the team at halftime that we needed to drop more balls at the feet of our forwards. Juan could have done a better job making himself available as well as [Francis] Doe. Again, New England plays them tight and on a turf field, you have less time to pass under pressure. We didn't pass to the feet of our forwards or cross well to them. In the game tonight, there were plenty of crosses available and we didn't do a good job on those."
On the defense:
"They played well. I'm not sure how many good chances New England had. Next game is a different game like always and we'll see how each team comes out."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JOZY ALTIDORE
On not being able to bury chances:
"Personally, it's very frustrating. I thought we controlled the flow of the game. They had bits and pieces in the 2nd half. Still, we came out pretty well, and personally, it's a little disappointing, but we did well enough and we didn't lose. It's a do or die game now in New England. The way they played, the demeanor, the way they were moving the ball around, they weren't trying to go for it at all so you could tell that from the beginning, but credit them, they did what they had to do."
On next week's series deciding match at New England:
"It's win and go home, there's no cutoffs and no shortcuts. We have to win."
On the difference between this year's playoff team and last year's:
"It's a lot more frustrating believe it or not. This year, I felt we were working so more for each other and we have come a long way. We didn't get the victory but we still did well enough to not let them get the win and be under going into New England."
On the Red Bulls' record in New England:
"Stats are stats. It's what has happened before this present day. Who cares how many times we haven't won there? We can beat this team. We showed it today and we have showed it throughout the year. But now, it's time to prove it. We have talked about it and it's time to go do it on the field."
On the team's offensive strategy:
"I am buying into the way his team wants to play. [Head coach Bruce Arena] wants to be very attacking minded so that's fine with me. Whatever I can do to help this team is good for me."
NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER DAVE VAN DEN BERGH
On the overall performance:
"Hunter Freeman and I would get a lot of space on the flanks and you know, the question was how far we could get up the field to get those crosses. It was a little tough to get balls in the area close to our offensive guys because they play with three guys right there against our two, so they had to be very precise today and it's tougher to cross from a specific distance, but we did a good job defensively. I don't think we made any mistakes tonight and they did not have a chance that I could recall. We did a great job defensively and offensively, we had the better of the game, and they aren't going to change their attitude in Boston. I think if we're going to play the same way as we did tonight, we are going to have a good chance of scoring a goal and forcing them out of their shells."
NEW YORK RED BULLS DEFENDER JEFF PARKE
On the team's defensive effort:
"It was good, but it could be better obviously. You're a little disappointed because you want to get at least a goal, and I think that overall, the team play was good though. It's something to look at, move forward and get some confidence on it and go out there and get a win."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JUAN PABLO ANGEL
On the first game:
"I think it was a good game overall, and it was a typical way of the game and that's the way you play these types of games. We had the better chances of the game, but it was only game one, and if we play the same game we'll have chances to score there."
On getting a tie instead of a win:
"You want to win sure but it's still game one and there's 90 minutes more to play and we're going to be ready for it."
On New England in general:
"I think it was a good game in general. We defend well and they're a good team and you cannot hide the fact they are one of the best teams in the league and that they are used to playing these types of games so they came here to get a point and they are happy for it. But we know that we still have a chance and there are 90 minutes to play and we have all week to work for it and be ready for it."
On the Red Bulls' offensive strategy:
"We didn't really play much on the floor. For some reason, we were playing long balls most of the time so it was a hard game to create chances, but it was one of those difficult playoff games."
On being in the playoffs:
"It's great just to feel a part of something big. We still have a great chance to win something and we have 90 minutes more to play for and it's game on and we are looking forward to it. They think they are going to win the game in New England and we know we have to win up there. I think it was a pretty even game where the best chances of the game went for us."
On whether the Red Bulls can be as aggressive as in New England:
"I think that we played to win today and we have been doing it for the whole year the same way. We have some times we make mistakes and expose ourselves in the back, but we have to play the way we have been playing the whole year."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game: "I think it was exactly what we wanted with them, but we didn't get terribly much for ourselves either."
On adjustments after the half:
"It was about not making mistakes and concentrating."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION FORWARD TAYLOR TWELLMAN
On next week's game:
"We are very excited to go home and make sure that we take care of our own business."
On the game:
"For us, I think it's experience because it's the playoffs and experience showed tonight with us making sure that we took care of the defensive side of the ball and creating chances when we could."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
On the game:
"We came in here tonight mentally focused and to get the result that we did is big for the team."
On New York:
"They fizzled out a bit in the second half and didn't pose us with as much of a threat."
On the second leg at home:
"It's the reason you position yourself, to get that second game at home. We always seem to play more attacking soccer at home."
