Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter
On why Pedro Santos is a good signing for Columbus Crew SC
I think any time you bring a player in there’s a risk. So what we’re looking at is – what type of level is he playing at? Typically the Portuguese are good at adapting to foreign countries. Portugal is a league that produces a lot of exports, so he had a desire to come play here and he’s quality. When you add all of those things up, there’s always going to be a risk with a transfer, but you want to try to minimize your risk with these extenuating factors.
On what he saw in Pedro Santos
He’s a very smart soccer player, very smart, very good technically. He’ll be able to change the rhythm of the game, to slow down the game at times, to bring other players into the game. Then he has – around [the] goal – when you talk about making the final pass, making the final shot, he has that ability.
On how long they’ve been scouting Pedro Santos
I watched him last fall when I was over in Portugal. We monitored him. I think at the time, the asking price was way too high and now in the summer window we were able to do some work on it and do what we thought was good for the club.
On his expectations of Pedro Santos
We’re expecting a lot from everyone. I think he’s going to be a key contributor for us to successful, I think he can contribute. I think when you start adding some of these pieces to our attack, we start becoming more dangerous.
On the significance of the club having a third designated player
Well I think it speaks volumes to the commitment of Mr. [Anthony] Precourt. He was pushing me to get this done, he was pushing me to make this signing. We wanted to bring in a high quality player and he wanted to move the needle on it, so that says how much he’s committed to this club, that says how much he wants to win.
On how he sold Pedro Santos on making the move to Crew SC
There’s always a sell, that’s the thing. When guys are playing at that level, there’s always a sell to get him over here. For us it was demonstrating our style of play, demonstrating how we play the game, demonstrating how we like the game to be played, Columbus the city, what Columbus has to offer, he has a young family, it’s a very nice community for a family and then MLS. MLS speaks for itself with all the international signings that have happened, all the high quality players that are coming into the league, people want to be part of that.
On if he sees Pedro Santos as a winger
Yes.
On how Pedro Santos will fit in with the team and make an impact
We envision him being able to give final passes and create opportunities for himself as well. He’s very good at side stepping a player and getting a shot off, we expect to see some of that in the games.
On why MLS doesn’t have too many Portuguese players yet
I think traditionally, It’s [Portugal] been a market that sells really high. When you look at the history of Portugal, the top three teams are selling at extraordinary prices every year, the lower teams sell to the top four teams and the top four teams sell from there. [S.C.] Braga is the fourth team in Portugal, so they either sell to the big three or they sell elsewhere in Europe. Traditionally it hasn’t been an affordable market. I think when you see guys like Gerso [Fernandes] from [Sporting] KC coming in, Joao Pedro from L.A. [Galaxy], they are coming from a different tier of club and they are more affordable.
On how long the visa process may take
Weeks. It’s not going to be a week, I can tell you that.
On if he expects Pedro Santos to be available for Saturday
No. It would take a lot to get that [visa] done in a week.
On Pedro Santos being older and more experienced than most of his team
That was key. We had a number of candidates that were high potential candidates. The way we looked at it is we have a lot of guys with high potential. We need guys that are able to perform from day one, so that had a lot to do with it. We weren’t crazy about the age, but we also see a positive in it. The positive is that he knows how to play, he’s been around, he has experience and he’s performed at a high level for a long time.
On whether Pedro Santos can be a catalyst for a turning point this season
We’ll see. Our game is not built around one player, our game is built around the collective and I think when I look at some of the results that we haven’t gotten, San Jose would be another example of that, I thought we conceded goals too easily and we didn’t capitalize on our chances. That was a game in my estimate, taking nothing away from San Jose, was winnable, especially the way that we started the game. We let it slip, so we need to do a better job of that.
On how he convinces Pedro Santos to be patient as he adjusts to MLS
I think it’s also leaning on the other guys that the other guys keep playing at a high level. I think that’s going to be important because we know that when we have guys playing at a high level, it’s a number of guys that can hurt you, it’s not just one player and that’s what we want to focus on.
On returning to MAPFRE Stadium to host the Chicago Fire
First of all, it’s a huge game. It’s a game that hopefully we’re going to get all of the fans out for this game. We need them. I know that when MAPFRE Stadium is full, we are a very difficult team to beat at home, so we’re going to need that support. Also with Chicago and how they’ve been playing this year, they are a formidable team. It’s going to be a tough game for us. They are second in the League overall and a tough opponent. We are going to think of ways to hurt them, we’re going to come with a lot of energy and make it a fun game to watch.
On whether his team is in a precarious spot in MLS standings
Absolutely. We want to climb. We don’t want to be in sixth at the end of the year. We want to get higher. It starts by winning your home games and we are going to have to take care of business at home.
On the Chicago Fire when they play on the road
They’ve been exceptional at home this year and it’s hard to mirror that type of record. Not only have they won games at home, they’ve been blowing teams out, a lot of four goal games and just some really convincing wins. Again in MLS it is hard to replicate that kind of form on the road. I think they’ve picked up a couple of wins. How many wins do they have? Two, two in a row? So they have the ability and it’s just going to be up to us to stop them.
On if his team is also disappointed with previous performances
Part of it is, is that we have a young group and I hate to keep saying that, but when you look at the mistakes that we are making it’s inexperience. That is up to us on the training field to work on those things, it’s up to us to keep the guys focused and hopefully eradicate some of the stuff as the season goes on because you know that when it comes to playoff time, mistakes like that will eliminate you quickly.
On Harrison Afful and Federico Higuain’s training abilities today
They were both limited in training today. Actually Harrison [Afful] was full, full participation, limited volume.
On when Federico Higuain will return to full training
Maybe this week.
On Pedro Santos’ training session today
He’s getting his legs. He hasn’t trained in four days since his game. I think the last time he’s touched a ball was his game on Thursday and he had the travel, but he looked sharp. There was sharpness there and there was ability there. You can see that he’s smart and that he has a good feel for the ball.
Midfielder Pedro Santos
On how his first day of training was
It was good. I got to meet the team, got to meet them for the first time and training went well I thought, so I hope that it continues that way.
On how the guys welcomed him to the team
They were very good, they were very friendly and they tried to speak Portuguese.
On his experience over the last 48 hours
It has been good. It was very positive and I did my medical tests. It has been going well.
On why he chose Columbus Crew SC and MLS
I liked the offer and what it meant to my family to come live in the U.S. It looks like a good club and overall, I liked the offer.
On how he would describe himself as a player
I would describe myself as a fast player, I like to play 1v1 and I like to score.
On if he and Gregg Berhalter talked about the style of play for Crew SC
Yes. We spoke about the style and the team. Gregg [Berhalter] took the time to speak with me and how I would be fitting into the team. I liked what he had to say and I saw myself fitting into it.
On how aware he was of MLS and if he knows any other players in the League
Yes, I knew a little bit about the League. I knew some of the players that were previously in Europe and play here now, so I was familiar with it.
On whether he was familiar with any Crew SC or its style prior to speaking with Gregg
No, I did not, but after speaking with Gregg [Berhalter] I tried to do some research on the club and learn more about it.
On if he had previously hoped to move to the U.S. in his career
Yes, it has always been a dream of mine to live over here so when I was given the option to come to the U.S., I didn’t think about it twice. I’m happy because my family is happy and they’re here with me.
On if he can make an impact this season
Yes, I think I can still help. I will do my best to give everything to the team and help them out in what’s left of the season.
On if it is helpful to have Artur, a native Portuguese speaker, on the team
Yes it helps. I didn’t know Artur before, but he speaks Portuguese so he’s been helping me out.
On if he knows about how playoffs work in MLS
Yes, I knew about the playoffs and they explained a little bit more about them when I got here. Any team that makes the playoffs has a chance to win the cup.
On how far along he is on the process of moving to the U.S.
The most important thing is here, which is my family, my wife and my son. The rest will take care of itself.
On his current level of fitness
I feel pretty well. I had been training with my previous team and have played a few of games with them, so I feel that I’m in a good spot.
On why there haven’t been too many Portuguese players in MLS as of yet
Yes, there’s no doubt about that, interest in MLS is growing. Every day you hear more and more about MLS and pople are talking about it with more frequency.
On if he needs to be patient to adjust to MLS
Obviously there is a difference and I am still getting acclimated, but if I am patient I will take to it sooner rather than later.
