CHICAGO FIRE 4, D.C. UNITED 0
(FIRE WIN SERIES 4-0 ON AGGREGATE)
D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH PETER NOWAK
On the first half:
"I don't even want to go into details. The way we played, it's all
about tactics [and] it's all about the substitutions, about heart.
I think if you are in the game like that thinking that everything is
going to be fine because we play at home, you're wrong. But, that
is the lesson to learn. We're disappointed, but we wish Chicago good
luck. It was a long season a good season [and] there were some good
things and some bad things, but at the end of the day, the whole
thing is kind of disappointing."
On whether or not Christian Gomez was frustrated the entire season:
"He was frustrated the whole season long? He scored 11 goals --
how can he be frustrated? I know for you its difficult losing a
couple of years before with not having success. You got to see that
the glass as half full. Give him some credit."
On Gomez's red card:
"It's a very emotional game and everyone has to keep they're heads in
the game. I don't know what C.J. Brown told him or why he reacted this
way. We will have to analyze that in the off-season."
On his lineup decisions:
"The guys worked very hard all year long during this week to prepare
for this game -- we've been working for this game. I know everyone
wants to show their best face or the best that they have [and] I
think there were a couple crucial plays in this game. As I said it's
about the tactic and who plays and who's not. [You] talk a lot about
the excuses, [but we have to] find the way. Mr. Goff wrote this
great article today in the morning to give the players some boost
before the very important game so this is how it ends."
On whether the was over-confident at home:
"No, not really. Like I said, we worked very hard. Everything we
have we did it - we went for the Cup and every single scenario that
came to face us. But we didn't think we were going to be 3-0 behind
in the first half. As I said, it was crucial plays in the second
half and as I said it was a long season. We just have to appreciate
the fact that even though the result wasn't that great ... I know how
disappointed they are I'm sure they are disappointed like all of
you. It was 90 minutes - they gave us everything they could give
us. I feel bad for them. I'm sorry because we didn't give back to
them what they deserved."
On the offseason and the team's leaders:
"We have a lot of time right now to see the things. Follow the path
there were no distractions whatsoever from anybody I think role
models of our players - I think are much better affiliated the team
and put some pressure on the young guys. Right now its a little
different - the structure is different and if you cannot find a
leader on the field you have to have a leader on the bench."
On pushing the team:
"Sometimes, I push them too hard. I don't look back, I think were
supposed to play better - I think that this is what I expect from
every team I played for and will coach in the future. And they're
going to give everything they have any given day and they are going
to be successful. But, if you try to find different ideas different
mindsets going into a game I have the talent I have the potential
than freaking show me. That's what I expect from every player if
they are not going to do it than they are not going to be successful."
On Freddy Adu's playing time next season:
"Maybe you're going to finish that story - I just sick and tired of
this."
On his coaching philosophy:
"I've been around great players, the good guys and the bad guys. I've
been around great players and been around the guys that make the
difference every day. There is one in the locker room right now -
his name is Hristo Stoitchkov. He plays the game with everything
because he has heart, he knows what to do with that. With that said,
every single game you learn something new your reactions your...I
don't know how to say, [your] feeling about the players, what
everyone needs. But, I don't have the opportunity to satisfy
everyone. I will go my way even if sometimes its wrong, or you
thinking it's wrong. I think it's the right way because we have
success and we're not going to stop and I've done it for a long time
and I never said it was the bad way to do it. Is it the hard way?
Yes. We're going to start again in February [and] we're going to make
sure we do what's necessary to make this team better. And whoever is
going to show up in the first eleven is going to be the best players.
I don't care what their names are going to be."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER JOSH GROS
On the game:
"It's one of those days - I guess you know it's frustrating for the
guys that were playing. I'm sure it's frustrating for everyone that
was watching. So, I don't know how to explain it. They just came
out and they wanted it more - every second ball they were winning.
There are no two ways about it, it looked like every ball was going
their way and they beat us, that's all."
On the offseason:
"It's going to be a good session of therapy to see what we do on the
offseason. We can cut back [or] we can train on our own to get
better. Personally, I know I have stuff to work on - better touch,
better punt. But, personally I just think we need to learn from our
mistakes. If we don't come out to play harder, especially in the
playoffs."
On taking a vacation:
I think I might take a week or two off and go home, go hunting
enjoy the offseason and then start back working out in
the gym stuff like that."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD JAIME MORENO
On the game:
"We just didn't deserve to win today. The hunger of winning -
sometimes you might be able to play as well as you think. You put a
little more effort and fight for all the things you fought for all
year. You might come out of the game and say, "okay, we did all we
could." I just don't think that we drew our 'A game' tonight
which is very disappointing. I don't know why I think everybody has
to think about it and see what we did wrong. Like I said, it's too
late now to think because its gone now."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER BEN OLSEN
On the game:
"Maybe at the end of the season we did let off the gas a little bit.
It carried on into this game - it's kind of unfortunate because the
season's done. Give Chicago some credit. They took advantage and
they were ready for playoff soccer - we weren't. We put ourselves
in a hole against a team that was disciplined and hungry. That's
what your going to get - your going get 4-0. We weren't hungry
enough. I don't think we were prepared for the battle. We're always
prepared for soccer it's just what's so disappointing that's the
battle that's going to haunt D.C."
D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER DEMA KOVALENKO
On the team's performance:
"Well, I think there was an anger about us last year and a little bit
of that anger is gone [this year]. In playoff soccer, you have to
give that little something extra that mentality that we didn't have.
We defended certain spots and we showed that that's what they were
meant and, give them credit, they came at us and put us under
pressure - they did a good job. As bad as we performed tonight they
were equally as good. Sometimes that happens andyou get a 4-0 result."
On the season:
"We were trying to have a great season - we had 55 points so you know
last year we made 42, but today we lost opportunity, we lost
everything. It was not a great season. We need to go back and look
at whatever the coaches wants to fix and change some things. But
it's not the end of the world. We can go back to work and try to fix
things we have to definitely do something to make a difference."
CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH DAVE SARACHAN
On the game:
"What I would say is - in my three years here, that was the most
comprehensive of a team performance as I have ever seen my team play.
From start to finish, the concentration, commitment and the belief
we could come here and win was evident. I don't know what else I can
say."
On whether or nor he was surprised at the 4-0 score:
"No, I am not surprised at all, absolutely not. We knew we could come
in here and win, and we proved that pretty resoundingly. And it
proved that with the team commitment that we had, we had forwards,
mids and defenders who take care of business."
On playing D.C. United:
"I am not sure about the past history, but I feel we rise to the
occasion. D.C. United, we respect the quality they can bring but we
have never feared D.C. United. Sometimes, you have an edge over
certain teams and to come in at RFK and win is pretty good, but to
win 4-0 is a pretty resounding performance and I am pretty very, very
proud of my team - very proud."
CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD CHRIS ROLFE
On the team's performance:
"What it comes down to every guy on the field is working so hard for
each other. There wasn't one guy not working. When you do that, you
play well as a team, you feel good as a team. Everyone's working for
each other, and when that happens, good things happen with your team."
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER JACK STEWART
On the game:
"It was a good game for us - we did everything we said we wanted to
do. We could have kept possession of the ball a little better, but we
played very, very hard defensively and made it tough on their key
guys and came out with a good result."
On his goal:
"We have been working on set pieces for the past couple days - that's
been my run to the back post, and I just got it behind Santino
[Quaranta] and Jimmy missed the ball. Jimmy would;ve had the goal as
well, but he missed the ball, it skipped on the back post) and i just
headed it in the goal so ... somthing we work on everday at training,
it finally paid off for us."
On facing New England:
"We hadn't had much success down in Boston, but I mean our focus the
past couple of games - we got Nate [Jaqua] back, we have the forwards
working hard for us and defending, and we will pretty much get on
their key guys, bunker down, work hard and hopefully get a goal -
finish a chance or two."
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER IVAN GUERRERO
On the game:
"We never expected we would score so many goals, but we did believe we
could win the game. It was an unbelievable night for me and the team.
Scoring a goal and getting an assist was huge but we still have
another big game against New England and we'll go back to Chicago
and prepare for that big match."
