Portland Timbers Quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese
General thoughts after the win at home over FC Dallas...
"First of all, it was important to get a win. These three points were huge for us. We knew that a win today would put us in a better situation in the table, and I thought we had some very good moments. In the first half, we had control of the game. When we came into the second half, we came with a lot of intensity. We pressured well and we won the ball constantly. We just needed to be a little bit more simple inside the box to get the second goal that would have given us more tranquility. We left the game at 1-0 and at some point in the second half, I think after the 75th minute, [FC Dallas] were difficult. They went at us. We weren’t keeping the ball. We were giving the ball away, but still we had a few good moments. We suffered at the end, but overall a well-deserved win and a lot of sacrifice from the guys to make sure that we got these three points.”
On Brian Fernandez setting an MLS record for the most consecutive matches with a goal scored to begin his career…
“We said it from the beginning that he’s a competitor. He’s hungry, he wants to score and he wants to help the team. Not only does he score for himself, he wants to be important for the team and that’s why he runs the way he does, sacrificing for every ball. In every situation, he wants to make a difference and he’s been great. He wouldn’t achieve this without the other guys around, but today they did a good job to make sure we got a win that we needed at home and we didn’t give up a goal. Credit to Dallas, they were pretty good, especially by playing a game last Thursday. It was important for us to get this victory.”
On dealing with FC Dallas’ attack late in the second half…
“I think we did a great job of starting the second half in pressuring the ball, winning every ball, controlling the ball, creating opportunities. At some point, the guys paid for that pressure in not finding the second goal. Then we started giving the ball away in some bad areas and we had to sacrifice, but the guys did a great job to make sure that we managed the match. We did everything to make sure they didn’t score. They were difficult the last few minutes of the game, but credit to the guys. They performed well and we were compact towards the end. Yes, [the game] opened up because we were tired, but I thought the way we started the second half was great.”
On the results of the rotation and lineup decisions over the last week and a half…
“There’s no doubt that we did the right thing. We needed to make sure that we got through these four matches rotating players. We almost earned a result in Montreal, and unfortunately I thought we should have come back with at least one point for the performance that the guys put together. We left the group resting here. We knew this game was going to be tough and we did the right thing because you saw at the end, also, that our guys got tired. So imagine if they would have traveled to Montreal after so many matches. It was important for us to rotate and I’m glad we made the decision.”
On Diego Chara’s performance tonight …
“I think this was his best performance since I’ve been here. I think today he brought the level of play a lot higher. He defended in a way with sacrifice, with quality, being smart and offensively he was the one that started a lot of the counter attacks. Chara is very important for us and he was incredible today.”
Portland Timbers forward Brian Fernandez [Translated]
On scoring right before half time...
"I think going back to the locker room with a goal is very important for any team so you can talk to your teammates about how to approach the second half of the match. I think we talked it over in a really good way and we made our very best effort to keep all three points and I hope we continue like that. We feel very happy about the match.”
On scoring in five consecutive MLS matches and setting a new league record...
"It’s something beautiful. After a bad moment I had to face in my life, I am thankful with my family, my children and my teammates who have supported me since I got here. I am trying to do everything the best possible way, giving my best effort so I can be productive during all the matches. It’s very important to build a name of your own in this league.”
On playing in front of the supporters at Providence Park…
“It’s very nice. I feel the love, and for a player it’s very important to feel that kind of love because it gives us more trust to perform. When I see the crowd before the match starts and my face on TV as we get ready to hit the pitch and the way people cheer for me, it motivates me more to score goals and repay this club with goals for everything they have done for me.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Chara
On the importance of tonight’s win against FC Dallas…
“I think it was really important to win the three points tonight. We played against a tough team and I think we did a very good job.”
On the difference between the match against FC Dallas and last week’s game against the Houston Dynamo...
"I think the difference is that Dallas wants to keep the ball. That was a little bit tricky for us, but we were patient in the opportunities that we created. We did a very good job and we deserved the win.”
On Brian Fernandez’s performance tonight…
“He’s a different player. I think that was the right moment for him to come to Portland. Now I think we’re creating a lot of opportunities and he’s the guy who scores.”
Portland Timbers defender Julio Cascante
On earning an important victory tonight...
"I think we worked together the entire game and that’s the most important thing for us, keep the balance in all the lines. So I think it was so important to get the win.”
On tonight’s defensive performance...
"It was a tough game. I was talking with Larrys [Mabiala] and we said it was a tough game because at the end of the game we lost a little bit of the possession of the ball and that’s hard for us because we have to run back to defend. But I think we did a great job. The keeper, the defenders, the midfielders and all the guys did a great job.”
On helping the team achieve clean sheets...
"I’m so happy. I feel the support of the fans, that’s a big deal for me, actually. I think If we continue doing the same thing, I think we’re going to get good results.”
FC Dallas Quotes
FC Dallas Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez
General thoughts on the match...
"I thought the first 10 minutes we were good. And then after that, the first half...we were reactive. We didn't press together, we didn't attack, we had some possession but we weren't finishing plays with attacks. So then we would lose it in possession and transition, they would counter and that's how they scored. So, we shared some things in the half and I thought the second half was fantastic. I thought we pushed the game, I thought we went for it. We created much more. I thought we put in the effort to tie this game. The details weren't there to actually do it. So, you know disappointed in the overall result, but I'm proud of the group to push it and to come here in an environment that's not easy to play and create more, in the second half, and control the game more in the second half. So I thought our back line, I know we gave up a goal, but they kept us in the game and some of the pieces that came off the bench pushed the game, helped us push the game. It's good to have Acosta back in there. Santi showed energy to get forward and attack. We get a little more quality on those crosses, a little more conviction and you know, a harder cross, earlier potentially, harder run, we get on the end of something, that can change the game. So we'll carry this lesson into the next opportunity that we have in four games with not too much time to dwell. We got to now build up and get the points back at home against DC on Thursday.
On Bryan's Acosta return to action...
"Yeah, Bryan is an experienced player. He's dynamic, he's in that six/eight role. He helps us recover the ball, closes things down and then with him he has a lot of quality. He switched the ball a few times early when he came in and we were able to isolate on that opposite side and get forward, so, and he's comfortable with the ball. He has technique, it's great to have him back in our midfield and we integrated him today and he's only been with us for two days and we look forward having him continue to be ready to push through the next opportunity."
On how the quick turnaround helps the team move past this result...
"It’s an experience. We were not happy with the first half but we have to be proud of the second half. It wasn't enough overall and that's the lesson. We're not going to get too down about it and we have to maintain an even mentality to be hungry and respond against DC and that's a game we want really bad."
FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal
General thoughts on the match...
"Yeah, it was kind of a tale of two halves in a way. I felt the first five minutes were really positive from us and then the rest of the half was poor, awful, myself included. It was really, really poor half from me and I know that I have to be better and the whole team has to be better and we kind of regrouped in the second half, came out and kind of went out there with a different mindset and I thought we were the better side in the second half. But ultimately, if you win the first half and tie the second half, that team wins so, that's how it worked out."
On the atmosphere and playing against the Portland midfield...
"Yeah, the atmosphere is great. Obviously, this is a really cool place to play. Stadium was packed, really loud, it's hard to hear. So that's unfortunate for us when we're trying to communicate, talk on the field. But Portland has a really talented midfield. They try to overload a lot of guys in there and even [Sebastián] Blanco on the wing coming in, kind of creating four in the midfield it was hard for us at times. But other teams in the league do that as well so we needed to adapt to that quicker and figure out how to play against them quicker."
Notes:
- Brian Fernandez scored in his fifth consecutive league appearance to begin his Timbers career, setting an MLS record for the most consecutive games with a goal to begin an MLS career.
- Fernandez has scored in all seven of his matches for Portland including the U.S. Open Cup. He has nine goals in those seven matches.
- Fernandez is the third player in MLS this season to score goals in five consecutive matches, joining Carlos Vela and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
- Sebastián Blanco delivered his seventh assist of the season in the match, which is tied for sixth-most in MLS in 2019. Blanco now has 26 assists for his Timbers career.
- The Timbers are the only team in MLS with multiple players who have tallied seven or more assists this season (Diego Valeri – 10).
- Portland is 6-3-1 over its last 10 league matches and 8-3-1 across all competitions, with a two wins in U.S. Open Cup play.
- With the win, Portland improved to 6-1-3 all-time at home against FC Dallas.
- Steve Clark recorded his third consecutive shutout in all competitions.
- Dating back to last season, Jeremy Ebobisse has now played in 34 consecutive matches for Portland.
