Portland Timbers quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese
Overall thoughts on the match…
“When you’re disappointed after you tie a match away from home against a good team, it means that you did a lot of good things because it felt like we could’ve gotten this win today and the first three points. I thought the guys did a fantastic job but we have to continue to work because leaving this game disappointed and tying 2-2 is a good sign.”
On the improvements that he saw from his team…
“I saw a lot more defensively and offensively and I’m very, very proud of the effort that the guys put in today.”
On the positives that he saw from the team in the first half..
“I thought we were very disciplined. Defensively, I thought that we handled the ball very well. I think we found good areas to be able to be dangerous offensively and I felt we had a very good, not only first half which I felt was the more dominant half, but also the second half. Unfortunately, when you come away from home and you feel that a tie is not the result that you want, it means that we’re on a good path.”
On if the five-game road stretch shows how strong the team is…
“Definitely. I see a team that is a growing. A team that is becoming stronger. I saw today a bigger team than last week, and last week I thought that the guys did a very good job. So, I think we’re on a good path. It’s difficult these games away from home, but we have to make the best of it and we felt today that we were going to get those three points, but unfortunately they found that goal.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco
On his third goal in four games…
“I’m very happy for that, but it’s not enough because we’re very disappointed to lose two points. We had a very good first half but in the second half we lost the ball and we defended more than we attacked.”
On the team’s goal for next weekend’s match against Orlando City SC…
“I think we need to take the three points. We deserve this. Today, we showed much better. The team is more compact, with better connection. We controlled the game. In the second half, it was tough with the wind but I think we need to continue to work hard and repeat what we did today in the first half for 90 minutes.”
On the team wanting to play a complete game for 90 minutes…
“Yes, we controlled the game, we played simple and our connection was very good in the first half. In attack and in the defense, we were compact but we need to continue to try and control the game for 90 miunutes.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara
On the team’s performance in the first half…
“I think the first half was very good for us because we kept the ball and created opportunities to score. In the second half, I think we made some little mistakes by giving them the ball and I think Chicago was getting some confidence to create and I think that was the critical part for us.”
On finishing the five-game road trip next week and returning to Providence Park…
“This start to the season has been very hard for us because of the five away games. But, I think the team is trying to create our best performance and now we have one more game away and after that the home opener. I think we’ll be ready for that.”
On the team producing results in recent games…
“I think right now the team is gaining confidence. That’s the best part for us. Today, we got a point from Chicago. Now, we have a difficult game against Orlando but I think the team is looking very good.”
Full quote sheet to follow...
Notes:
- With the 2-2 result, the Timbers are unbeaten in their last two league games, recording back-to-back draws away from home.
- Midfielder Diego Valeri scored his first goal of the season in Saturday’s match.
- With the goal, Valeri has scored nine goals away from home, dating back to the start of the 2017 season, which ranks as the second-most in MLS during that stretch.
- Additionally, with the finish, Valeri has either recorded a goal or an assist in every calendar month he has played in during MLS regular-season action, dating back to March 2014.
- Midfielder Sebastián Blanco recorded his third goal and first assist of the season in league play.
- Blanco has scored three of the Timbers’ first four goals to start the season.
- Midfielder Andres Flores recorded his first career assist in his first start in MLS in Saturday’s game.
- Defender Julio Cascante made his Timbers and MLS debut in Saturday’s match. With the appearance, Cascante is the 100th different player to feature in an MLS match for the Timbers.
