MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER QUOTE SHEET
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2005 - METROSTARS 1, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0
METROSTARS INTERIM HEAD COACH MO JOHNSTON
On the game:
"Obviously, I'm delighted with the result. But we haven't done anything yet. We still have to go to New England and win or tie. I'm very pleased with the way we played."
On Guevara's play:
"(Amado) has skills that other players in this league don't have. And he can do that every game. It's a challenge because you need to challenge him each game."
On the team's aggressive play:
"Right now I don't care if (Guevara) picks up yellow cards. I want us to be nasty as a team. And tonight I got a feeling on the sideline that New England kept bitching at the referee, and that was a good sign because we were playing tough."
METROSTARS MIDFIELDER EDDIE GAVEN
On the rough play:
"We knew going against New England that we had to be hard. They have some guys who are very hard players, so we had to match that and go one step higher, and I definitely think we did that tonight."
METROSTARS DEFENDER CARLOS MENDES
On the defense:
"Collectively, we did a great job defensively. Everyone played hard and we took some good fouls. It was a good game overall."
On coach Mo Johnston:
"He's a great coach. He just basically comes with the attitude that it's all about the team."
METROSTARS FORWARD YOURI DJORKAEFF
On the pressure on New England:
"I don't care about pressure. There's enough pressure on us without having to think about New England."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game:
"We were giving them time to get people behind the ball and with the amount of possession we had, especially in the second half, we are a lot better than that score."
On playing the ball into space:
"Whenever we sent the ball in the middle, it was all clogged up and when we sent the ball out wide, we did not have enough time. We needed to send those balls earlier."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
On the team's performance:
"I think the way we played all year, compared to coming out tonight and playing how we did, was nothing like we played all year. I do not know if it is credit to them or bad on our part, but we did not do the things that brought us success all year."
On the goal:
"He [Guevara] was kind of far out, moving towards the far post, but he brought it back. The ball skipped on the turf. Of course I would like it back, but we cannot be giving guys open looks from 20 yards in."
On the game next Saturday:
"I expect us to come out with some more fire, playing the ball quicker, getting the ball wide and being more dangerous. I do not think we did any of that today, which is why we lost. In the end, it is only 1-0 at halftime and we have definitely come back from worse deficits. We just have to keep our heads up and put in a better effort."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION DEFENDER JOE FRANCHINO
On the team's performance:
"I do not think it was the best effort and I think we fell asleep on the goal. We gave one away early, but we did not get blown away. We are going to go home with confidence that we can get right back in it."
On the weather and field conditions:
"I think the turf and weather had a major effect. Both teams did not plan on it, so you cannot really use that as an excuse. It is a different game on this field so we are looking forward to playing at home."
On the transition into the game on Saturday:
"I think they sat back and tried to counter. They are dangerous when they have Guevara and Djorkaeff on the ball out wider. If you give them time and space, they will create things and get dangerous, but they just sat back, even at home. I think on our field we will be a lot better because we are still confident. We fell asleep on that goal, but we will not put our heads down."
