Portland Timbers quotes
Portland Timbers Head Coach Giovanni Savarese
On his message to the team following the match…
"We need to be better because we were better than Seattle today. We have to make sure that we don't give any space - [Seattle] took advantage of one moment and it changed the game when it was in our hands. We had it. We were completely dominating this match. We were working very hard; we had [Seattle] all over the place. Credit to them, they defended well, but they created nothing until the moment that they scored the goal - we gave it away. We just have to make sure that we're a little bit better to go all the way and be able to win a game that we had in our hands. I was very proud of the work that the guys did. We played basically in [Seattle's] half the entire second half until the goal game - then it became difficult. Until that moment, we played very well."
On what the team needs to improve on in the attacking third...
"The numbers are good to be able to say that we dominated the game - but it doesn't give you three points. We need to score goals but we can work towards that. If we finish 0-0 today, then we're okay. We have to work on finishing a little better and we have to give [Seattle] credit for the way they defended, but we cannot lose a game that we had in our hands like we did today."
On the substitutions made in the second half after falling down a goal...
"The options that we had came into the game and gave whatever they could at that moment; we’ve got to keep on working with the team. If we keep on playing this way, we're going to win more games than we lose, but we have to play the whole match."
On having the team regroup before Wednesday's match...
"These guys are professionals - they know how to bounce back. I was proud of a lot of things that we did today. Now, there's another game on Wednesday. If we do the same thing that we did today and we're able to stay focused the entire match, then most likely we're going to win against a tough Toronto team. In the MLS, every game is tough; everybody is going to bring you something different. From what I saw today, I saw a lot of good things up until the moment of the goal. We have to be better to make sure that this doesn't happen."
On the current run of form…
"It's frustrating because I thought today we did very well, but one moment in the match and we gave it away. We need to be better because we could have gotten three points. Of course, things become more difficult when you're losing and not getting points, but I think sometimes these moments allow you to get stronger to make sure you're a stronger team [in the playoffs]."
On not finding results despite out-possessing opponents...
"I think it's an evolution of what we have to be. While we're becoming that team that can play with possession, sometimes we're going to have hiccups. Today, we had a hiccup in a game that we looked very good in. I thought the energy was fantastic from the players and it's a shame because these are the type of games that you have to win. But soccer is not about deserving, you have to get the job done."
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri
On his thoughts after the loss…
"It wasn’t the result we wanted, of course, and it’s hard to digest, but we need to rest well tonight, because we have a game Wednesday. We’ll [review] the game, think about it, and leave it behind, because we have a game Wednesday. And we have a goal, which is the playoffs.”
On the team’s quality of play, beyond the score…
“I think it makes it bitter, because we did a lot of good things to get something from that game, and this is a special game. And this result is bad. We will take positives, of course, from the game, but when you lose a game against Seattle, it’s something that obviously we don’t want.”
On the keys to getting ready for the quick turnaround for Wednesday’s match…
“Rest well tonight, leave this game behind, and keep building from the positives, believing in our team and our quality now, when we are not taking anything in terms of points from the games.”
Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella
On his thoughts after the loss…
"It’s obviously a tough one, but at the end of the day, the way the schedule is laid out, it’s all about Wednesday (against Toronto FC). We’ve got to put this one behind us as fast as we can and get ready for Wednesday, because we need all three. We know that going into it. Obviously, there are positives we can take from this game, but at the end of the day, we lost. It was a missed opportunity.”
On the quality of the play, beyond the score…
“We lost. You can look at it any way, but at the end of the day, it was three points that we didn’t get that we felt like we probably deserved. But at the end of the day, we lost. The soccer gods can be cruel. It’s a little bit of a gut-check time. As I said, it is all about Wednesday.”
Portland Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell
On the quick turnaround ahead of Wednesday’s match against Toronto…
“We’ve got to pick ourselves up very quickly. There’s a lot of good things come out of the game today. Could have easily won the game one or two nil and we’ve got to take the positives out of it and look forward. It’s been a tough couple of weeks and this is what makes teams. Winning games and going unbeaten is all well and good, but losing three in a row, four in a row, bouncing back is a big thing about the team. This team’s got it, got the mentality and quality in the team as well.”
On if it’s good to have another game following this result so quickly…
“I think so. It’s bitterly disappointing. Everyone around the ground, around Portland will be very disappointed and we’re more disappointed than anybody, but in this game, luckily you get another game to go out there and prove yourself once again and go and win the game and try and put this one behind us. It’s a good thing about football. It’s a quick turnaround and we’ve got to get ourselves mentally right to go and win the game against a very good Toronto side.”
Seattle Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer
Thoughts on the game…
“The guys are pretty happy, I’ll say that. It showed the determination, the fight, the ability to win games in different fashions. I thought there were monster performances in that locker room. It’s what we talk about, we try to collect points and it doesn’t matter how we do it. Give Portland a lot of credit, they came out and they were on top of us, it was their home and it was a derby match, but at the end of the day we walked out of here with three points and a little bit of satisfaction for what they did to us a few weeks ago.”
On the possession swing during the second half…
“I think the mindset of the group coming out in the second half was better. They obviously understood that there were some moments in the first half where we weren’t playing as well as we could, as well as we should have. We gave away a couple balls and I think in the second half you saw a determined group, keep a little bit more possession, get up the field a little bit more, put them under some pressure.”
On the formation change…
“A little bit of ebb and flow on the match. They were overloading the wing channels and the three guys in the middle, they weren’t as in sync as we’d like in that initial change, but when I brought Roman [Torres] on I think that settled things a little bit, put Gustav [Svensson] back in the middle of the field, I think that helped.”
On if he went with a more defensive tactic in the second half…
“In the middle of the field Osvaldo [Alonso] was great. You guys can rewatch and tell me, but he was great. Gustav [Svensson], I shifted him back, then he went back into the midfield and he and Osvaldo [Alonso] did a lot of the dirty work in the middle area of the field. Again, trying to get the best out of Raúl [Ruidíaz], trying to get the best out of this group, each game is a little different, the ebb and flow of the game; we’ll watch the film and make those decisions.”
Seattle Sounders FC defender Brad Smith
General thoughts on the match...
"We could have played a little bit better but what can you say, you get the win away from home and you can't really complain - everyone's buzzing."
On his expectations heading into the rivalry game...
"I didn't know much about the rivalry up until about a week ago when the lads and coaches were explaining it to me. The game definitely lived up to it I thought."
On dealing with Portland's attack...
"[Samuel Armenteros] is a tricky little player. In the first half, I didn't think we dealt with him well enough. In the second half, we got our bearings and were able to deal with him a little better. We just wanted to keep close to him and get the second balls dropping down. In the first half, he kept winning the ball and dropping it down to the two wide men - we had to adjust and I thought we did that in the second half."
Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei
On the team’s defensive effort…
“Yeah, we did great. They had a lot of shots, It’s that do-or-die mentality. Gustav, all guys were throwing their bodies in front of the ball and not many made it through, which frustrated them I think and that’s what we needed to do.”
On winning at Portland…
“It’s a tough place to play. They make it a very hostile environment, but we’re always up for it, I think we played well today. We don’t have to come out here and run the show, this is a difficult place to play so we have to stay compact, play smart, take our chances, force some errors and that’s what we did.”
Notes:
- The match marked the 102nd meeting across all eras (since 1975) between Portland and Seattle. It was the 25th time in MLS play (regular season and playoffs) the teams have faced off.
- The Timbers outshot Sounders FC 22-6 and finished the match with a 17-3 advantage in chances created. Diego Valeri had a game-high eight chances created.
- Diego Chara played in his 19th MLS match against Seattle in MLS play, which is the second-most matches played by a Timbers player against a single opponent.
- Seattle and Portland have combined for 638 shots and 72 goals in MLS regular-season play, both of which are the most of any fixture in MLS play.
- Valeri made his 24th straight start for Portland. He is the only player to start and play in all 24 matches for the Timbers this season.
