NEW YORK RED BULLS 1, CHICAGO FIRE 0
NEW YORK RED BULLS HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On the game:
"It was a difficult game. Chicago came in with a game plan that obviously took on a defensive posture that was difficult to break down. It made it difficult for us and it was pretty predictable from the opening kickoff that it was going to be a 1-0 game. We knew during the week that we would have to create goal scoring opportunities and fortunately we finished off a good opportunity. At this point in the year, it is critical to separate yourself with teams in the conference and that was certainly accomplished tonight."
On the play of the backline:
"I was very pleased with their play tonight. They limited Chicago's goal scoring opportunities, which is a big plus for us. I think (Clint) Mathis and (Claudio) Reyna did a very good job, all of the guys did. We knew that it was going to be this kind of game and to come out with the three points in the end is great."
On preparation leading up to this match:
"We watched Chicago play and the way they have organized under their new manager. They are a difficult team to break down and a lot of their play makes you position for a counterattack. They started the game with a 4-4-2, a change from their last few games, which was probably a part of their philosophy for playing on the road."
On Juan Pablo Angel:
"Juan is an ideal player to have on your team. He brings a work ethic second to none. He produces on game day and he knows how to deal with coaches, players, teammates and press. He has been the perfect package despite not being 100 percent, yet he plays with no complaints. I believe he is tied for most goals in the league. There's no secret that the guys who play next to him do well."
On the injury status of Jozy Altidore:
"Jozy has a lower leg strain which is day-to-day. He is a young kid and he could be back real soon. I would expect to see him on the field this coming week."
On Cuauhtemoc Blanco:
"Blanco is a very good player, the combination of him and (Paulo) Wanchope is pretty good for this league. As the game wore on and when he was forced to come back for the ball, that was good for us because it kept him away from the goal. He is a very good player."
On Dane Richards:
"Dane is a hard worker who stays out for 90 minutes. It was a great play at the end and another good game for Dane."
NEW YORK RED BULLS MIDFIELDER DANE RICHARDS
On improving their lead over Chicago:
"Getting the victory over them and getting some space between them makes me happy."
On defending Blanco:
"The game plan was to stay close to him. If you rough him up he's going to dive almost every time. Just stay close to him; that's our job and we did it."
NEW YORK RED BULLS MIDFIELDER CLAUDIO REYNA
On the game:
"It was a very important win for us. We kept saying to be patient because they constantly had 10 guys behind the ball and it is very difficult to break down. Every time Juan (Pablo Angel) got the ball they got around him quickly. It was tough to break them down. We created some chances. We had Dane (Richards) finally break through. Francis (Doe) came on and gave us a lift. We deserved three points definitely."
"We just had to cut out mistakes and today we didn't do any and we have Juan who is on fire right now. He had one or two chances and he scored one. It was a big goal and big win for us tonight. Throughout the season you have to win some 1-0 games. Tonight was one of those."
On the win and going forward with the season:
"The closer we get to the playoffs, the more relaxed we can get and the freer we can play. When you are just trying to grab points I think you get a little bit tense. A win tonight gives us confidence going into Chivas. If we don't get three points, we go there with a little more pressure. Today was huge because Chicago was one of the teams that was chasing us and now we really separated ourselves from them. Now we need to push on and try to chase the top and not worry about the teams below us."
NEW YORK RED BULLS FORWARD JUAN PABLO ANGEL
On the game:
"We knew that it was going to be a really tough game. At the end I think it was a very solid second half. We were more offensive. It was a good victory for us, we needed it."
"Today it was a matter of picking up the positives of New England. In general, I think we played well. We didn't give up much space to them. We controlled them well."
On the game-winning goal:
"I think it was a good goal, pretty lucky. I think it was a good play from Dane (Richards). He was a threat during the whole game. He kept going and at the end we found one chance and we took it. I just wanted to hit it once because the goalkeeper was on his way out and I just took him by surprise I think."
"I was waiting for one opportunity. I was begging for it and at the end it came and it was good to score."
CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS OSORIO
On the loss:
"It is extremely disappointing that at the end we limited Juan (Pablo Angel) to one chance and it was a goal and we also limited (Dane) Richards to one cross the whole game. They didn't have many goal scoring opportunities so it was disappointing. We know that we can play better offensively and we need to create more chances and just keep working. Hopefully, when we play them back at our place, it will be a different game."
On Chicago's playoff chances:
"We just have to win games, keep progressing and keep believing in what we're doing. We'll take one game at a time and hopefully the next two games, we can get some good results and get back in the race."
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER DIEGO GUTIERREZ
On Chicago's approach to the game:
"I thought the team came out with a very good mentality trying to get three points. We knew it was going to be difficult but I thought we had a pretty good attitude. We stuck together for 90 minutes, unfortunately we had a bad bounce and it cost us three points."
On New York's team speed:
"We were expecting it from them. After all, they were playing at home. I thought for the most part we dealt with it pretty well. We are pretty solid in the back. We didn't really create that many opportunities. We lacked a little bit of consistency up top and creating chances. I'm not saying just the forwards, but as a team we lacked in our attack and that made the difference."
