What was said following Atlanta United’s 1-1 tie at Portland on Sunday:
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“It’s good to have played good soccer. But we go with our hands empty. We were the better team.”
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On starting Julian Gressel on the right:
“I wanted to put more numbers in the midfield. It was a success.”
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On halftime adjustments:
“The only thing I told them was to continue what we were doing in the first half because it’s a bit of shame we weren’t winning at that point.”
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On Yamil Asad getting hit in the head, not leaving the game and then a discussion taking place a few minutes later:
“I don’t know the rule. We’ve proven it all season with (Jeff) Larentowicz that we look out for the best interests of our players and make sure they are protected.
“When it comes to the opposing team’s doctor checking a player, it was unknown to me and I was a bit confused what was going on.
On Asad not leaving the game:
“It was something that was authorized by the fourth official. It wasn’t by Asad or my call. They let him back in.”
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On Alec Kann’s performance:
“I want to focus a little bit more on the amount of chances Portland had, which weren’t many. Aside from whether it’s anger or passion toward the end of the game, we were able to do a very good of making sure they didn’t get opportunities.
“The most danger for them was on set pieces.”
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On his team’s road form:
“Considering the types of teams we’ve played on the road we’ve done well. We’ve only had three games on the road compared to how many we’ve had on the road.”
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On getting back to playing out of the back:
“Excellent.”
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On Mark Bloom’s performance at left fullback:
“He did very well. The sub was just to get some fresh legs.”
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On the game not featuring more goals:
“I think both teams were guilty of not being more determined in the final third. That’s probably why you saw a low-scoring game. On both sides they would get to the final third and not capitalize.”
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Alec Kann
On facing so many long shots:
“It’s a different kind of ball. We knew they were going to shoot from distance. They’ve got guys with the ability to do it. I was working on my positioning all week to put myself in a good spot to make saves.”
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On the goal:
“Make the decision whether to come or stay. I’ll have to watch it again. It’s a tough ball to deal with with the flight. Oftentimes goalkeepers can get frozen in that spot. It’s tough. It’s one we have to look at and improve on.”
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On saving Adi’s shot at the end:
“I saw it the whole way. I was tracking it off the turf. Sometimes it skips, sometimes it holds up. I was positioned well to put it in a good spot with the rebound.”
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On playing out of the back:
“I think it’s the best we’ve done all year. We are comfortable playing out. We knew they weren’t going to press us super-high like New York did. We picked our moments to be a little more direct and our moments to play out. I think we did a good job with that.”
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On getting one point instead of three:
“This is a tough place to go. We would have loved three points. We arguably had the better of the game. We controlled the game. It’s disappointing to get a point when we should win. At the end of the day a point in this stadium is a good result.”
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On coming home:
“We’ve been good on the road. We need to come home for these next two games and pick up six points.”
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“It’s nice to go home and unpack for the first time in a couple of months.”
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Julian Gressel
On if he told Hector Villalba to let the pass go on his first goal:
“I think he just couldn’t reach it. I’m not too sure. I haven’t seen the goal yet. Just in that moment the ball comes to me, I took a good touch and just bounced to my left.”
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On getting a shot on goal after having several misses this season:
“Those were to the right. This was to the left so this was a little different.
“You try to hit the frame every time. This was just inside the post and not reachable for the keeper. It went in.”
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On starting on the right:
“I’ve played it before. I knew what I had to do out there. Coming in, I’m a versatile player that can play multiple positions. Coach knows that and he trusted me in that role today.”
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On playing on the road:
“Our mentality has been pretty good on the road so far. You wish to pick up another win here or there but it’s been pretty good and we’ve been in games and grounded out results. That’s what you have to do on the road and still be lucky here or there to clinch three points.
“Now, we’re excited to be at home two games in a row. We have take care of business at home win our home games.”
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On playing from the back:
“It’s been the best we’ve done all year. We worked a lot on it coming out of the game last week. We did a long video session about it. We knew what we had to do today to accomplish that. Overall, it helped us. We were possessing the ball very well and creating chances through that.”
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Leandro Gonzalez Pirez
On the battle with Fanendo Adi:
“He didn’t score. But he’s very tall, very fast, very strong and very technical. I think (Michael) Parkie and I did a very good job limiting his opportunities.”
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On his role on Portland’s goal:
“My job is to cover the guy in the middle and keep a high line. It was a great cross and it was one of those things that happens so fast that I think he (Liam Ridgewell) may have been offsides.”
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On who sets the line:
“In this case it was Yamil (Asad). The first man.”
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