NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1, D.C. UNITED 0
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On how the team played:
"I think we all know that we played one of the best games in a very long time. The team should be really proud how we entered the field and how we played today. It just wasn't meant to be. So many chances, creative play, everything was in place except the goal. A couple of years ago I played the same kind of game. It was here in Washington, the MLS Cup Final. It just wasn't meant to be. It's disappointing, but you have to move on. It was an unbelievable year for all of us. I just want to thank you guys. We have a great relationship, and I think we have to move on."
On how he views the season:
"We set our goals before the season and want to play in [CONCAF] Champions [Cup] soccer next year in international play, so we achieved this goal. Even though it was in the middle of the season, it doesn't matter. Still it was a hell of an effort from everybody today. They were excited, and you can see how they played tonight. We need some experience, and I hope the international play is going to give us enough experience to compete for a [MLS Cup] championship next year."
On replacing Freddy Adu:
"Freddy did a pretty good job in the first half. We just felt like we needed to have some spark on the right side. We know it's difficult when they bring on Khano Smith. We knew sooner or later they will bring Khano Smith, so it's going to be difficult to cover the right side for him. We talked about the other options, and I think it was the right choice."
On New England's goal:
"We always said you have to prevent the service from the wings. I think Bobby [Boswell] went to double-team. It was a great strike from [Taylor] Twellman. It was the only shot on goal they had the whole game. Sometimes the game of soccer works this way. It's frustrating because it wasn't a happy ending."
On the team:
"I believe in this group, and we made a lot of progress. If you see who played last year, who played as a rookie or a first year or second year, we still have a lot of stuff to learn. It's definitely going to help us like the friendlies we played this year. I think it's going to make us stronger."
On whether Freddy Adu will be back next year:
"You'll have to ask him and our president and maybe the commissioner, too."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER BEN OLSEN
On the result of the game:
"It's a disappointment, a little bit unlucky. Soccer's a crazy game when you can dominate for 90 minutes and walk away a loser. That's how it worked today. It seemed like every time we had a chance there was one of their guys to get a foot in. Matt Reis did a great job. It's unlucky, but again I'm really proud of the way we finished the season with this performance."
On the season:
"Soccer is crazy. It's a cruel game sometimes. Again, I'm proud to be a part of D.C. United today. It's been a great season. There were ups and downs. It's been a long season, and I think there's no way these guys should have their heads down. We're going to get back to it, take a couple weeks off, unwind and get back to it because next year we have CONCACAF, and it's very important to this club, the international tournaments. We have a lot of work to do next year."
On United's play:
"It seemed like we just kept getting better and sharper. They [New England] were scrambling. We had them on their heels. There was some good stuff put out there, and a little bounce here or there and the game goes a different way. It's soccer. You go through these games where you're on the other side."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD ALECKO ESKANDARIAN
On the result of the game:
"I said before the game it's about making the most of your opportunities, and we gave them one chance on goal, and they put it away early. It was a little bit unacceptable, [but] that's how it goes. We let the other team get an early goal and push back into defense -- especially on the road. We were unlucky not to get a goal out of it. I think we had a lot of chances and created good chances and played good soccer. I think that was one of our best games in a while, but that's how the game goes sometimes. You can't allow the other team to score and then expect to get back in the game right away, especially in a playoff game. They're just going to defend and pack it in. It's tough to go through 11 guys to score a goal."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD JAIME MORENO
On the game:
"It's very disappointing, losing at home and losing in the [conference] finals. On the positive side, sometimes you can't do anything else - it happens. You know that you did everything and it didn't work."
On whether the foul on him before the half should have been a penalty kick:
"I didn't see where it was, but I thought it was. I didn't see where he fouled me. I don't know. You can't do nothing about it."
On what was missing:
"A goal. Basically, we dominated, I don't know what was the percentage [of possession], but I thought we dominated most of the game. They had one chance, and they put it away. They were very effective tonight. That's how it is sometimes."
On what the team needs to do to get better:
"This team, to get better, we just need to go back to work where we were in the beginning [of the year]. We have a great chance now to relax a little bit and then think of CONCACAF. We have a great chance again to go back to the international level, and we'll see how that goes."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game:
"It was tough all afternoon. We probably scored too early. Obviously getting the goal meant that they were coming forward: they really put us under pressure. We ended up with six guys in the back at one stage. We really had no choice. But we defended magnificently. I don't remember a chance where you say they should have scored. We had a couple of other chances as well. Defensively, we were fantastic."
On Matt Reis:
"I mean, he's fantastic. As I said, I don't remember a chance where they should have scored, but I think a lot of that comes down to Reis. His positioning, his anticipation, the way he reads the game. Obviously, the three in front of him are doing well enough as well. He just exudes confidence."
On his team:
"Well, we were happy enough once we got things settled down. We were happy to go ahead. We were definitely under a lot of pressure before we made the change, but we settled it down again after that. Really, in the second half, we defended like we had to do. They are the home team: they are always going to come forward. We had to just keep our heads, make sure we defended properly and try to get another one on the break. I'm surprised we didn't get a penalty for Bobby Boswell's handball. They came out with some nonsense about hand to ball and all that nonsense. It's a penalty, but we held on."
On putting another forward on in the second half:
"We felt as though if we decided to hang on and hang on, percentages tell you that eventually we are going to get a chance. We thought if we had some legs and try to shove them back a bit, it would put some pressure on them defensively, and maybe we'll get another goal."
On Taylor Twellman's goal:
"It's a fantastic finish. The ball's been cut back across the box. He is running toward his own goal, and he swivels and swings it back into the top corner."
On beating D.C. United in October:
"I think it was important for the fact that we came in here today knowing that we can win here. I think that's something that stays in your mind. Subconsciously, you know you can win here. I think there's no doubt that was an important result for us."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION FORWARD TAYLOR TWELLMAN
On the goal:
"Pat [Noonan] did a good job down the line - Jay [Heaps] played a good ball, and he put the ball in the box. It's just a matter of me trying to put it on goal."
On how important his goal was:
"Every goal is a big goal in my eyes. You are as good as your last game, and a goal is a goal. I don't rate one goal over the other, or say this one was more important that another. My goal is to be a good target player for my team, be a good teammate, start the defense, and then if goals come, great. If not and the team wins, fair enough."
On the team not having won an MLS Cup:
"In fairness, how many teams would love to say they have been to the final three years out of five. You can take that for what it's worth. Obviously we have one game left. We had a goal to get back to Dallas, and we did it. Now, we have a goal to win it."
On beating D.C. United in October:
"That was big. This whole year it's kind of been one of those situations where we've had guys suspended and guys injured. This team, in the five years I've been here, has come together at the most important time. As I said earlier, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. The St. Louis Cardinals will tell you that, too."
On his grandfather's passing earlier this season:
"My grandfather died three days after the World Cup roster was announced. To be honest with you, ironically, my grandfather took a lot of me. It made me realize that it was just one team, just one tournament. Unfortunately I didn't make it [onto the U.S. World Cup team], but the way I view it, it was the U.S.'s loss with me not being there. My grandfather and my pops are very instrumental in my life. They told me that you are as good as your last game: don't look in the past, dwell on the future and take care of the present."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
On making big saves in the game:
"Well, that's my job. Luckily I got to see all the shots really well, and was positioned in the right spots. I had a good look at them. Freddy [Adu] had a good shot, but it was one that I got to see all the way. A lot of the crosses and the little dink balls that they played, I got to see a lot of it."
On the season:
"They got off to a great start and were playing some great soccer, but it seemed like after the All-Star break they kind of faltered a little bit. We had a lot of injuries, a lot of different people coming and going, and the World Cup was definitely something new this year. Stevie [Nicol] is good with us about giving us time off and making sure we are ready and fresh for this late season. It really doesn't matter what you do during the year as long as you get into the playoffs. Once you get into the playoffs, the season really starts."
On his team's performance:
"I can't give our guys enough credit. They hustled out there. Guys came in: Daniel [Hernandez] went down with injury and Jeff [Larentowicz] filled in that spot. [Pat] Noonan, who hasn't play a game in so long, came in and gave us a full 90 minutes. It was just a big boost for us, and this is what we wanted all year: to get back in the final and now we are here."
On the defenders in front of him:
"They've done it all year. They don't get enough credit. You've got guys who have logged a ton of minutes over the last two years: [Michael] Parkhurst, Jay [Heaps], Avery [John] has come in and out a little bit with the World Cup. They've all done great. Everyone that has been back there, we have really got on the same page and really worked well together."
On the MLS Cup Final:
"Until the game is over next week and until we've won a championship, I don't think this team will feel that we've really got where we want to be."
