Sporting Kansas City Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes
On the difference between the first and second halves…
We were in the game. We were actually playing pretty well. They did a really good job against our two wingers. They focused on those two guys and tried to shut them down in the first half. In the second half, we tried to do something different, which started off really well. Cam Duke has somewhat of a breakaway going, which could have changed things a little bit when he got in alone. The two header goals, they're very good from those little deep-lying areas and getting guys into the box and playing balls in behind you. Both goals were headers that we should have had better positioning. On the other goal, it was more of the fact we were pushing at that point to get back into the game and that goal was a little different. It's the two in the air that I was more concerned with, but the other one is just a function of us stepping up.
On the team having played three matches in six days…
I would say that it was very hot on the field today, very hot. I think it would have been different if we didn't have a midweek game. But the fact that we had a midweek game, the guys who played in the midweek game that weren't in today would have had the same problem. It was trying to manage people. Legs wise, it was a little difficult. It wasn't an easy match from a heat perspective. The turf keeps it all in. The fact that we played to your point, three games in six days no doubt had a cumulative effect from a work ethic. But the guys tried. It's not like they didn't try. So, I have no issues there.
Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell
Thoughts on the match…
Obviously disappointing to lose. We've had a good week. Great away win last week, and then obviously the cup game. We came in here full of confidence, feeling the momentum. Just disappointed. The two goals from the crosses we should deal with better. We should stop the cross and we should stop it. We should get to it first in the box. The other one, we're trying to get forward and we knew they're a dangerous side and they counter-attacked us well. It was a quick goal, but we definitely feel like the other two are definitely the ones that we should be able to cut.
On Sporting’s possession not turning into chances today…
There were times in the game where we controlled the game and controlled possession, but it didn't really result in anything. Something we spoke about, was keeping the ball for periods of time because it was a hot day. Obviously trying to keep the ball moving around, keep them tired, but we didn't really do it to any great effect or where we looked dangerous in any aspect. It's just disappointing, the way we came out of the game and with what we hoped to achieve in the game. We're a possession-based team, but there's no point in keeping possession if it's not towards goal. That's the main aim and today we just weren't good enough in that aspect.
On Seattle’s defense closing down the wings…
Just denying the space, really. When they were getting the ball to us, the three guys were quick to get out and they were quick to double up as well, so it kind of cut off the space. The only passes, we really had were going back where it came from or inside. We didn't really have much opportunity to get a ball and turn and get at them, which is something that we've been really good against them at in the past. They've obviously worked on that, but it's up to us to find different ways around that, and today we just didn't have the answers for it.
On playing three matches in six days…
I don't feel like the games are getting to it. We're used to it now; we’ve done it enough. We're a fit bunch of guys, we're a fit team, so I'm not going to sit here and look for excuses and blame the amount of games we've played. It was hot today, but it was hot for them as well. We weren't good enough in the key areas today and that effectively won them the game and lost us it.
On being subbed off late in the match…
I never want to come out of a game, but at the end of the day, it's the manager's decision. Whatever he sees on the field, if he feels like something's going to change, then that's entirely his decision. I'm going to want to play every minute. I can probably understand it. I don't know what it's been this year. I don't feel that maybe one of my yellow cards have been merited. I don't feel like the other ones have been. I've never missed a game in my career with yellow card accumulation and for whatever reason, this year I seem to be getting them quite a lot. If that’s the decision and it's tactical it's his decision and I'm not going to fight that.
