D.C. UNITED 1, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On playing three games in a week:
"If you play three such good games in this kind of weather condition, I need to be proud of this team. We got nine points in a week, in very difficult weather conditions. Our defensive posture was very good in the last three games, and we scored the goals. We cannot expect them to go 90 minutes in the rhythm we had in Kansas City and against Columbus. I'm very proud of this team. They did everything I asked for and they did everything right. It's easy to win 3, 4, 5-0 and it's very difficult to win 1-0, and to keep playing and carrying the situation."
On Jaime Moreno and Christian Gomez getting fouled:
"The beginning of this game was difficult - we knew that was going to be a hard fight against New England. My message is very clear: I think Jaime and Christian got abused tonight, and I have a message for the other teams: it's not going to work this year like it did last year. We have enough guys that can take the responsibility and do something about it. Because Jaime got abused, and all over the field Christian got fouled - people were kicking them every time they touched the ball. I think they're supposed to play soccer. I was very proud of them. They kept their heads in the game and they still kept playing."
On the game:
"We were the better team and we won 1-0. It doesn't really matter. We have 24 points, we won three games straight, and we're going to keep going. We have a couple of days off right now, the players are going to rest, and we'll have another game on Sunday."
On the jobs of Brian Carroll and Clyde Simms:
"Clyde and Brian Carroll do a lot of dirty jobs. So we had to make sure that Clyde came back from the injury, and he is really connecting with the other players. Sometimes it's difficult to play forward because of the two defensive midfielders we have there, so it's a responsibility for him and Brian to also move the play forward. I think both of them did a great job today."
On the physical play of New England:
"We expected it to be like that, but it's not going to work any more. I think if you look at the game, Jaime got fouled by maybe ten different players - except for Reis. You have to think about that. As I said, it's not going to work. Try to play against us good soccer, fair soccer, and don't look for this kind of stuff, because it won't work."
On the team's similar playing styles:
"The teams are not different. Steve Nicol kept a whole team for three years and we actually didn't change a lot but a couple of new guys. We know what to expect before this game."
On the fans:
"I just want to thank also our fans, because they were fantastic today. It was a tough game, winning 1-0, and the whole crowd was fantastic."
"I will look at every option possible. We have great depth, and I think today Dominic Mediate, and Lucio [Filomeno] especially, kept us in the game. They created good opportunities for us and also kept the ball. We'll see how the next week is going to go. That was a tough week for a lot of us, and coming out of this kind of week with nine points is always beautiful."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER CLYDE SIMMS
On the game and the week:
"We played good. It was a tough week, definitely. You know, Kansas City was my first 90 minute game, before that I was coming off of an injury. So I'm a little tired, but I feel good."
On the injury:
"Yeah, it's kind of moving around on me now. Certain parts of the muscle are compensating for others, and I'll be sore - like today I was a little sore in the lower part. But it's fine - once I get warmed up, it's fine."
On playing in the middle with Brian Carroll:
"It's going great - BC and I are pretty much the same player. With two defensive midfielders, I think it works perfect."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD JAIME MORENO
On the game:
"It definitely feels better scoring and also winning. Definitely we showed that we're pretty consistent right now and that's what we care about. We've just got to keep working the same way."
On being continually fouled:
"Yeah, it's part of the game, but sometimes when you get hit on the mouth, you're very disappointed that the referee missed a couple of plays - we're human and we make mistakes. We're just happy that we won the game."
On if the team was tired:
"We were trying to keep the ball in the second half, and our legs were kind of bummed. We kept playing, we put a lot of heart in there and finally we got the three points."
On the game:
"They're always trying to play and they're a tough team to beat. Tonight was one of those games where we could've scored another goal and the game was over. But you've got to give them credit too, because they worked hard. That's a team that always gives you a battle, but we're just happy that we got the win and the three points."
On the fouls in the game:
"I've just got to do my job. That's the referee's job if people start kicking me, but it's not the first time and it won't be the last. So I guess that's part of the game and we've just got to keep working."
On his 101st goal:
"It was a through ball by Christian [Gomez]. I don't know if I was offside, some people said that I was, but when I didn't hear the whistle I kept playing. I dribbled [around] the 'keeper and I was lucky that the defender missed the ball. We'll count it."
On being fouled by Jay Heaps:
"He was saying that I hit him first, but in that moment he was just trying to cover what he did, because he was scared - he could've got sent off if the referee was closer. But that's part of the game."
On the fans:
"It's definitely something special. It is difficult to explain, but they know how much I love this team, how much I love the fans. They appreciate the work that we put on the field, that's why every Saturday and Wednesday they are there, jumping for 90 minutes. It's just incredible."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER FREDDY ADU
On playing for D.C. United:
"I get to be at home, I get to play for the best team in MLS, I get to be around the best players in MLS - I can't ask for a better situation. So, hopefully my development keeps getting up there and one day I get to achieve my dreams."
On not yet having scored:
"I can't believe how unlucky I am right now. This has never happened to me before. And what I hate the most out of this whole thing is, I get to go back to practice and Josh Gros and [Alecko Eskandarian] 'Esky 'are just going to make fun of me the whole time. It sucks. But you know what, the team is winning. The team is winning and everyone is so happy right now. We feel like we're the best team in MLS right now. Everybody's confidence is high, and it's a great ride right now, so hopefully we can keep it going."
On his second-half volley that went off the cross bar:
"The first thing I said to myself was, "if it was Esky it's in the back of the net." Why can't I get just one bounce? But hey, it'll come, it'll come in time. I worry about it a little, I'm not going to lie to you. But, that's life. You've got to deat with it, and you've got to be a pro about it. The team is winning, that's the most important thing."
On the team teasing him because he hasn't scored:
"Man, you don't understand - even Peter [Nowak] clowns me in practice. He's like, "When?are you going to score, man? Eleven games, zero goals, come on man!" Put me at forward, maybe I'll score - stop putting me on the wing [laughs]. But we're winning right now. At the end of the day that's the most important thing. We're winning, and it's just a great feeling."
On switching sides with Josh Gros:
"Sometimes my side gets overplayed, so he [Nowak] tries to get me more room, more space on the offensive side. Sometimes other teams try to play the ball up my side and make me play a lot more defense than maybe Peter wants me to and I spend a little too much energy playing on the defensive side. So he likes to switch Josh and me and try to get me a little more offensively. That's great for me, because I love going at people."
On where he most likes to play:
"I'd still rather be playing in the middle - that'll never change. Right now, I'll do whatever it is this team asks me to do. As long as I'm on the field playing, I'll do whatever. At the end of the day, the team is winning, everyone's playing well, we're playing with a lot of confidence, and it's just a great feeling right now."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER BIRAN CARROLL
On playing with Clyde Simms:
"Clyde is a solid player. He's been good for us in the past, and he's good for us now. I don't think he's changed his game at all, he's played well, played solid and gotten better. He's great to play along with in the middle there - he's a solid player defensively, offensively and keeping the ball."
On the differences between Ben Olsen and Simms:
"Ben's a little bit more in between, a little bit more going forward, but still pays attention to his defensive role. Clyde and I just rotate a little bit defensively and keep the ball, more focused on the defensive side of things, and keeping track of runners going through from the midfield, forward into our half."
On Simms' more defensive-minded play:
"It definitely helps with some of my defensive responsibilities, and I can take a breather from time to time out there. I know I can't do it for too long out there, but I don't have to be focused on two guys running down the middle, I just have to focus on one of them. It makes my job easier as far as keeping the ball and going forward. He prefers that, and it's supposed to help us gain the midfield and keep possession, and from that possession build good opportunities. We've been doing it for the past couple of games and we just need to keep getting better at it."
On the three games in eight days:
"I think three games in a week is tough for any team. We're just going to take our Sunday off and relax, and be ready for our next opponent, which is out in LA. [We'll] get our legs back under us and get back to work. I think on Tuesday or Wednesday, we'll see [how we feel]. We need to get a few days' rest and then we'll be ready to go back to work."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the team's performance:
"Coming in here and going a goal down, and under the circumstances as well, you know, it was alright."
On team dynamic without Noonan:
"It really just changes the whole thing. The boys stuck together again, especially in the second half. When you're one down you have to push the envelope. And that's what we really tried to do, push the envelope and catch the breaks."
On Jaime's goal:
"Well, when we showed the replay after the goal it was offside."
On lessons to be taken away:
"Yes, the effort and the commitment from the players in the second half was great. And you know, you can't ask for any more than that. Sure would have liked to have taken a couple of the chances we did have. No complaints really about the players. It does seem that we can't really get a break at the moment."
On adjustments at half time:
"[We were] just trying to go forward - we had to tell them to not leave too many holes in the back. You know, you're always leaving yourself open. We were really just trying to take it to them."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION MIDFIELDER STEVE RALSTON
On Moreno's goal:
"I asked the referee who had kept him onsides and he said he didn't know. I asked the referee, and there are only three defenders - pick one. It's pretty frustrating to have to give up a goal like that. I was looking straight down the line down on our right side. I'm looking down the line, I'm toeing the line and he took two steps offside. He was in offside position, I saw him getting ready to play the ball and I just stepped on the line. There's no way he could have been on and he was on the right of me and I was looking straight down the line."
On Pat Noonan:
"It's tough for us to come down here. It's just frustrating with Pat Noonan coming down with another hamstring [injury]. I think it changed the game as soon as he left it. I think him and Taylor [Twellman] were doing well and combining quite a bit and doing well. As soon as he left the game I think we lost something there. He was in the midfield possessing the ball and just had nobody at the top. We were just trying to dump balls over the top too. It's just frustrating to give up a goal like that."
On what can be taken from the game:
"I think there's always something to be taken away, we got to get better passing the ball, we gave it away way too easy. But, we had a few chances too and I think we got to be a bit more eager in the box, a bit unlucky I guess too, but we all got to look at ourselves in the mirror and see if we gave it enough, but I think we all know we can play a little better than the last couple."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION DEFENDER JAY HEAPS
On the goal:
"Clearly offsides - no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It was a blown call and it's tough. We haven't been on a positive side of a call for a couple years. I can't remember one. It's tough - it's tough when you come to a place like this. Obviously they get penalty kicks here, they get calls here, and it's an uphill battle-we knew that coming in. I'm proud of our team, they fought hard after [United] was given a goal. Some teams would fold, but we fought hard and losing Pat Noonan was tough; it hurt our chances to create opportunities, but at the same time, we fought, we played well, and we did create some chances."
On the call:
"I watched it on the replay. He ran three, four, maybe even five yards offsides. That's unacceptable as far as I'm concerned because he's offsides and the call's got to be made. It can't keep happening where they're going to call us this week and apologize that they made a mistake. It really hurts our team. That's four points that we lose right there."
On the collision with Moreno:
"It was just a fair challenge and both of us got broad-ended on it and I felt like he was about ... I was challenging the ball. He stopped dead in his tracks so I ran into him. Again, another first-half yellow card is something that needs to get looked by the league."
