Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match…
I think we were dangerous throughout the course of the game. I think we had very good possession for most part of the game. But at the end, we can’t give up goals like that. It’s hard to always just score more goals than the other team. At some point, you’ve got to be able to get a clean sheet or give up just one goal. We gave up way too many.
On the team’s defensive performance…
We can’t give up goals like that. They were easy goals. They were too easy. You can’t give up three goals in any game, let alone home, like that. Right now the inconsistency in whether you want to say it’s lineups, trainings, everything has had a major effect on that piece of it but it’s something we have to figure out and get right. Those chances, honestly, they were nothing. We gave up three goals that came out of absolutely nothing. They were three soft goals. That’s the difference in the game. We scored two goals. I know we scored one late. But it’s not a matter of scoring goals. It’s a matter of keeping the ball out of the back of the net. We knew exactly what they were going to come in here and do, and at the end that’s what the game wound up being.
On the team’s health…
There’s not a guy that after the first day of preseason doesn’t play with some type of pain somewhere in any sport. First day after preseason you play hurting the whole year…Right now we have to try to continue to get healthy and get some consistency in our team and stop leaking goals the way we are at the moment…When we have our full team, I think we’re a very good team. Right now, we’ve got to try to batten down the hatches a little bit and not give these silly things away. The goals that we’re giving up are too easy.
On the MLS debut of Gianluca Busio…
I actually think he played really well when he came in, I really do. He didn’t play like he is 16 years old, that’s for darn sure. He’s got great understanding of the game going forward, what the game needs, where to play the ball, his decisions on the ball. I actually disappoint myself not bringing him on earlier. He was a really good spark when he came onto the field. For a 16 year old, a tremendous performance for sure.
On the play of Gerso Fernandes…
Gerso was very good. He played really well in the game. He was dangerous. I think he caused them a lot of trouble. His movement off the ball, he was really good.
On the play of Felipe Gutierrez…
Having not played for three months, he’s got to get his form back. But he was good tonight. The biggest thing is I’m trying to push him from a fitness perspective because he’s not 90 minutes fit for sure. He gave a hell of a performance tonight in the fact that it’s his first game back and he playing as long as he did. He has things that are really going to help us down the stretch.
Sporting Kansas City forward Gerso Fernandes
On the result…
We knew the game would be difficult for us because they have a good team and we knew that. But we didn’t expect to suffer the goals the way that we suffer, but it’s okay, now we have to keep working because you can’t do anything. The game is over, we lost, we have to think about the next game.
On his goal…
Felipe (Gutierrez) talked to me and gave me some confidence to go more, I was a little bit shy to go one-versus-one but he talked to me, gave me confidence and that was what I did. But it doesn’t matter if I score, the team lost anyway so that doesn’t make me happy.
On rebounding against Houston…
We have to win. We work for that and the only thing in our mind is win, win, win, win.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gianluca Busio
On making his MLS debut…
It was great to get my MLS debut, it’s a great feeling, sad that we didn’t get the result but nice to get out there for a couple of minutes, adjust to how it is – quicker and everything – the atmosphere was just crazy, so it’s a great step for me.
On what Peter Vermes told him as he was entering the match…
He just told me be confident, go out there, be strong on the ball. He’s putting me out there because I deserve it, it’s not just to get out there. He just told me be confident on the ball, be strong and just go out there and play.
On his performance…
I had a little bit of time but I think I did alright, couple nice little touches in there but, of course, your debut is (about) getting used to the game. So nothing too crazy, but simple, nice little passes from me so I thought I did pretty well.
On the team’s performance…
I thought we fought, we fought pretty well and unlucky we didn’t get the result but it shows that we never stop fighting. Even when it was 3-1 in the 90th minute, we didn’t stop fighting, we got a goal and just unlucky result for us.
FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja
Thoughts on the match…
It was a big challenge to come and play against a team who is a good team in the league and obviously we have had difficult results here. We faced that challenge with a lot of personality and determination and character. I thought we did an excellent job. To get three points puts us in a good spot and we’ll keep on.
On the play of Michael Barrios…
It is great to see him on the scoreline. It is great to see him giving us the opportunity to get these points. Michael has worked very hard to get those goals. He’s been playing well but he hasn’t found the net. And today the game rewarded him. He was disciplined on the job and at the same he was very generous with his teammates. An excellent job for him and obviously with his teammates that work intensely all the time.
On the team’s tactical approach…
We know that Michael creates on the counter, especially against a side that plays out of the back and they try to play a lot of sequences in the middle. We knew that we were going to have some counter options and the creative player to do that was Michael up front. Maxi playing underneath, he sustained the game for us defensively too. Maxi’s job there is terrific and he can free Michael. The plan worked very well.
On the team’s run at the top of the West…
We have said since the first game of the season, we were going to manage one game at a time. We are not looking back. We are not looking forward much. We are just being in the present.
FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges
On the team’s road win in KC…
Massive. This is a place that we haven’t won in a long time. We haven’t really gotten good results in the past so coming here and getting three points is big for us.
On the hat trick by Michael Barrios…
I think everybody is super happy for Michael. He’s had some games where he has struggled and is trying to find his form. To get goals like that here is huge.
On his selection to the All-Star team…
It’s always fun to be involved in that kind of thing with all of the players from around the league around you and playing a great team like Juventus. It’s always a fun experience with everything going on.
On the All-Star experience…
It’s a fun thing to go do in the middle of the week in the middle of the season to take your mind off what’s going on with your team. But at the end of the day I’m going to go there and have fun but still be focused on Saturday.
On preparing for next Saturday…
It’s an extra couple trips of traveling flying to Atlanta and back and obviously an extra game. So trying to rest up and that’s basically it.
FC Dallas forward Michael Barrios
On his hat trick...
I’m happy to score my hat trick. I credit it to my hard work and my team, as well.
On scoring his first goals of the year…
Everything’s been good. Just the hard work and the trust that my team has given me has got me here.
On earning the team’s first win in KC since 2011…
Very happy. We knew that we had the team to do it and we had the confidence to do it. We’re all really happy about it.
