New York City FC made it two wins in a row on Bronx Borough Night against the Chicago Fire, here are some of the soundbites from Dome Torrent and the team after their first home victory...
Domènec Torrent
On current winning streak...
“I think the players are feeling more comfortable and I also feel comfortable as coach. I think the prior matches before the winning streak went well. I think we have a system that the players enjoy. We have good quality players. It does not always mean that we will always use the system of play. It all depends on the opponents we are facing. However, the matches where we have used this system have been successful.”
Thoughts on facing Orlando City SC on short rest...
“We have a chance today to recover. I think we are ready to play against Orlando. They usually play with the same system. It is not easy to recover when you have another game in two days, but we feel ready. My opinion is that it will be a tough game. Orlando plays with intensity, but right now our team is playing with intensity as well.”
Sean Johnson
On having back to back clean sheets…
“Yea I think it’s obviously important to get a little bit of momentum. Two wins in a row after a bit of a rough start to the season, we haven’t lost many games, but we haven’t won many, so it’s good for the confidence of the group to be able to get wins together back to back and now having another game at home I think that stretch is important.”
Thoughts on switching defensive formation and leading to three shutouts in the last four outings...
When playing three-back to five-back, whatever you want to call it, it gives guys the ability now to use their ability, use their talent, to not only go forward but also defend. Now we have a lot of cover as well so we should be getting better just playing the system in the past few games. I’m happy with the boys defense, it’s been a good couple of games, this one’s a bit more of a fight. You need to win the games like this sometimes, and I think we did a good job of that tonight.”
On players feeling comfortable in NYCFC’s set up…
“I think we’re all comfortable. We’re three games into the system and I think if we’re not comfortable now, then we have a problem. But we have talented players, talented group - an intelligent group as well that’s able to take on principles rather quickly, execute them and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that.”
Valentín Castellanos
On winning at home…
“We are very happy, also making our fans happy who always support us and honestly it was very much needed.”
On his second goal of the season…
“It’s a very positive thing especially if it’s to help the team and play for the fans. It’s important for me to do what I have to do to make sure I do things right.”
On the quality of the goal…
“Honestly it was a very good attack, we did everything good and luckily it went in.”
On the mood during the weekend prior to winning the game…
“There’s always going to be pressure surrounding all the players and the Club because we have to win and we want to always win as well. We tried to be calm during the weekend and try our best to do everything right and thankfully we are able to win.”
Chicago Fire Goalkeeper David Ousted
On his thoughts on the game…
“I’m disappointed. I thought we could have gotten more out of it. We came here with an idea of getting points away from here but the way it shaped up tonight, it wasn’t to be. I think we put in a lot of work but we fell shy.”
On looking ahead to the next match against Montreal…
“I’m looking forward to it because we need to get back out there and get points on the board. I still believe that this team has a lot of firepower going forward and I think we can create chances. We need to be a little bit more solid in the back and the results will come. But, it’s still a good group, it’s still a positive group in there, and we just need to move forward.”
