Post-match quotes: Sounders 2, Tijuana 2

Here are post-match quotes, provided by the Sounders after a 2-2 tie with Club Tijuana.

Sounders coach Sigi Schmid

Opening Statement:

“Obviously we are pleased with our ability to come back. I thought we played fairly well, especially in the first half—I thought we had really good spacing; we moved the ball around and made some good opportunities…  I thought the goals we gave up were a little soft, some mistakes on the counter. We got the equalizer in the second half, we pressed for some other opportunities, and we got a lot of our young kids the opportunity to play some significant minutes, so we are happy with that.”

On players getting experience:

“Obviously there are some guys who didn’t play tonight because of injury concerns, so we held them out. When you get into those stretch of games you have to rotate your squad a little bit, so it gives you an opportunity to see who can step up to that level of competition, who can hold his own. I thought Aaron Kovar had some really good moments in the game tonight, I thought Cristian Roldan played well tonight in the wide right and middle of the midfield, I thought Andy Rose came off the bench [and did well]. We wanted to keep guys who we knew were playing in Dallas around 45 minutes, 60 at the max. I thought Oneil [Fisher] had a good stint at right back for us. Those are going to be guys who will be important as you move forward into that rotation, because they are either going to be playing in CCL or they are going to be playing in MLS games, so you want to know they can do the business.”

On the club’s ability to perform at a high level:

“I have good confidence in this team, I have good confidence in every guy we put on the field. For them, it helps their confidence to step onto the field and do well. Obviously Tijuana doesn’t have a game this weekend because of the international window, and as a result they probably played their starters more minutes than they would have had they had a game this weekend, so it was a really good test for our guys.”

Sounders FC Forward CHAD BARRETT

On the performance from the young guys:

“I thought a lot of them played really well. It’s just a good opportunity, it’s better than coming out and practicing on a Tuesday, you get to play in a game—except for the traffic; the traffic was terrible.”

On the opportunity to step up during Clint Dempsey’s recovery:

“When he went out for the national team last year, I was able to step in and do a pretty good job. Hopefully Sigi has that same faith in me—if he trusts me to do that, we will see what happens here in Dallas. He could switch the lineup—you never know what he wants to do—so it’s kind of weird, I know Lamar (Neagle) can play up there, but I hope to play up there with Oba on the weekend. “

On the team’s performance:

“It’s good to just come out—unfortunately we gave up another two goals, obviously we are trying to tighten up in the back—but those are just kinks we are trying to work out. I thought going forward we did very well.”

Sounders FC MIDFIELDER GONZALO PINEDA 

On the performance from the young guys:

“I think they were really good. (Cristian) Roldan, (Aaron) Kovar, and all of them did a great job. We train with them every single day so we know their potential, and we know that when they have the chance they can do a very good job.”

On the potential of the club in Champions League:

“I think we are going to be better [at full strength]. I think we can do a little better in the Champions League, with better football in a better style.”

SOUNDERS FC FORWARD VICTOR MANSARAY

On his first appearance with the First Team:

“I think it was alright—my first appearance in CenturyLink, didn’t know what to expect—but I think everything went well. I tried to do everything my coaches told me to do.

On his game’s progression:

“I think I am making progress, but at the same time you don’t take it for granted. You perform and focus on the next one; I am trying to perform on the First Team, of course, but if S2 is a second option, I am happy also to play down there.”​

club tijuana Head Coach daniel guzman (VIA CLUB TRANSLATION)

 

On the match:

 

“It was as very intense game. We had a hard time in the first few minutes, but then I made some changes and they made a result and that’s how we were able to turn the game around and get two goals ahead. Then the game balances a little bit, but I liked the way that we played and I’m very proud.”

 

On the objective of this game and how it’s useful for playing in the league back home:

 

“For the players, it’s actually more fun to play games than to train so it was good for them. For me it was good to see players that I don’t usually see on the regular schedule and to try new things so we don’t become predictable. Then we can apply that back when we go play against Monterrey.”

 

On if they’re leaving CenturyLink Field happy:

 

“Yes, we’re leaving very happy. We liked the game that both teams played. I leave very happy about the players that I got to see and the game that I got to see them play.”

 

On it being a physical game for a friendly match:

 

“You know it’s always a very intense game and a rivalry between Mexican teams and U.S. teams, but it was not anything we did with bad intentions. It was just the intensity of the game.”

 

On if the climate affected Tijuana playing on the back side to start the game:

 

“No, I think the first few minutes was about not being able to find ourselves on the field, but after I made some tactical modifications, we were able to overcome that. Then the team performed better on the field.”

 

On if there were any injuries or if everyone is okay after the game:

 

“Everybody is okay.”