SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On how the second half turned out
I look at the match as a whole and I’ll say we’re disappointed. I think the effort was certainly there. No question the guys are exhausted, everyone worked as hard as they could. The execution wasn’t there, both on the offensive side and the defensive side and we’re disappointed. If you go up 3-0 at home, you expect three points.
On how the game changed after going up 3-0
It wasn’t that. It wasn’t at 3-0, it was the whole game. I didn’t think we were brave enough, I didn’t think we wanted to play. When we did, they couldn’t get the ball. But when we stopped moving and we stopped offering to get the ball, it was over. And it didn’t matter if it was 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, it was going to be difficult for us.
On how to address the lack of movement
We work on it, we train, keep training. Every game we do is about keeping the ball so we keep training.
On what he saw from Toronto FC’s goals
I’ll go back and review it. It’s not fair to comment right now without having seen replays and stuff, but there’s certainly breakdowns. If one of their forwards drifts wide, you need to be aware of where he is. If the guy’s timing the ball you need drop the line, so we’ll see, we’ll take a look at it.
On Steve Clark’s performance
He was good. He made some big saves. Their goalie did as well. I think if we’re a little more clinical in front of goal we could’ve had five or six goals as well. So it was an odd game, not the type of game we like to play, but it’s over now – move forward.
On the defensive performance against Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco
I thought it was decent. Like I said, we knew he was going to get opportunities. I think the goal, obviously that disappoints me because all the other work we did on him was good. And he still had a couple of chances and we’re around him, we got guys around him and preventing him from making the difference, but the goal, to me, is a lapse. You have to be aware of where a player like that is on the field certainly.
On if tonight’s draw is disappointing
No, not at all. Obviously we’re not happy with it. I can’t rank losses because you’re disappointed in every single one of them. I can’t rank ties that you’re up and you think you should win the game. All of them are bad, I’m not happy with any of them.
On if the draw particularly stings given the three goal advantage
No.
On if Crew SC gave Giovinco too much space throughout the match
I don’t know. Like I said, I think we did a decent job on him at times. The goal, obviously, wasn’t good enough, but he finds his own space. It’s like if you ask, ‘did they give Federico Higuain too much space?’ Players like that, they find their own space. They’re very difficult to deal with and he’s one of those guys. I tell you, I think the best in the League.
On if Crew SC’s mentality is a cause for concern
Not at all. I don’t think you can draw any conclusions about the team, any broad conclusions about the team, from one game. I know you guys love to do that, but you can’t. You look at the body of work over the season and that’s when you look at the characteristics of your group, and I wouldn’t say we lack in character at all. I’d say it’s the reverse of that.
On if Toronto’s 3-5-2 lineup caused any tactical adjustments
Well, we did change the way we play … if you watch it, you can see it. I thought it was effective at times. Like I said though, I thought it could’ve been even more effective with more movement. But we certainly created enough chances.
On what went in to making the decision to substitute in Cedrick
You need to test these guys, and I think this is a good example of putting a guy in a difficult situation, where we’re going to have to be defending, we could possibly get some counters, and you saw it – he’s got pace, you can see that. I’m happy that he got to play in a game that was that close when we’re taking some fire.
MIDFIELDER JUSTIN MERAM
On how Crew SC processes a result like this
We’re all extremely devastated. You go up three to zero against a good team at home, and there is no reason why we should have given up three.
On how the club felt when the game changed/on if they felt a change in the game
To be honest I can't even tell you. Those three goals happened like boom-boom-boom. I don't know about the [penalty kick] call. I don't know if you guys saw, but that's the referee’s decision. It's just a tough one to swallow.
On how Crew SC moves on and rebounds from this
We put up three great goals so there are obviously positives in this game and there are obviously some negatives. We’ll definitely have to regroup. We didn't lose and we felt we should have won but we have to move on.
On if this game feels like a loss
For me, it hurts. I'm just speaking for myself, this really [stinks]. When we’re up three to zero we have to control the tempo and make them chase. When we’ve put up three goals there is no way, collectively, that we should be giving up three goals. I'm going to keep reiterating it, but it's tough.
MIDFIELDER WIL TRAPP
On the different formation in tonight’s match
You try to draw their outside [midfielders] a little forward and isolate our wingers against their centerbacks. Ethan [Finlay] and Justin [Meram] versus, I think it was [Eriq] Zavaleta and [Justin] Morrow. That was our game plan and all of our goals were off transition opportunities and I thought it was good at times but it just wasn’t consistent enough.
On the slow movement during Toronto FC’s goals
I think we didn’t do a good enough job when we did give a couple balls away. Being brave and wanting the ball back and continuing the movement. At the end of the day, if we’re not moving, if we’re not wanting the ball, then we’re an average team.
On Sebastian Giovinco’s performance
He’s always dangerous. He’s a wonderful player. He gives you headaches. You know that at any moment he can hurt you and he scored a great goal. But, I thought we did a pretty good job of trying to crowd him out and limit his touches.
