Sporting KC II Head Coach Benny Feilhaber
On the difference in performance from last week...
The mentality of the team right from the get-go was different. In order to get performances like this where it's a full 90-minute performance, things have to go well in the beginning and then you can build into the game. You see things working. One thing I challenged the guys on the field with when things aren't going right on the field, from pregame planning and the week leading up, you have to figure it out on the fly. I give them credit. Colorado had a good 10 to 15-minute period in the first half when they were on top of us and we weathered the storm We figured it out, and became the aggressor in the game. A lot of positives from minute 20-25 through the rest of the game. We saw a lot of goals that we worked on for nine months now. A lot of positives and I'm really happy for the guys and they deserved it.
On what clicked tonight...
I can't tell you what clicked tonight. I've seen moments in games where passes are being played the right way, the wights are correct, the movement of the runs and pockets we find are good, but I felt like today it was a more holistic improvement. It wasn't just one area that we improved. We defended in our defensive third and did not allow anything to get broken down. We've had games where we've been good at that but then we lack in the offensive third and creating chances. Today we put it all together and it was no doubt our best performance. Why it all came together tonight, I don't know. I've tried to simplify things for the guys and they have taken those things and made the changes necessary on the field. They deserve a lot of the credit
On the flow of the game as a whole...
They kept figuring it out. One thing that can get taken for granted sometimes, even with the best teams, is things that are working need to be continued in that direction. If you're able to take advantage of the left side of the field, keep going in that direction, or if you're taking advantage of the right, etc. One thing that we realized is that when we were able to break through their midfield we needed guys running off the wings. The outside backs with the outside wingers, they were able to overlap, they were able to create overloads and they were able to create situations where their outside backs didn't know where to go. We had a lot of chances and goals off of overlaps, crossing the ball into the box, cutting the ball back and passing the ball as opposed to crossing it blindly. These are things we've been talking about and we really put an emphasis on this week and the guys were able to apply it.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jake Davis
On scoring the first goal of the match...
It was great. I've been looking to score more goals this season and today, my teammates helped me. From the beginning, we had a lot of energy and it clearly helped me get off to a good start and help the team to get off to a good start. It was a nice spark to get four more the rest of the game. I'm really happy with the performance.
On going on the attack after a dangerous spell from Colorado...
Last game against San Jose we lacked communication. In training this week we talked about communicating with each other instead of just being negative, and being positive. What we need to do if it's not going our way and get back on the ball. We had the energy in the game and we went and pressed. That was the goal for this game. With the weather today, playing at 7 p.m with shade, we all had the energy to keep going and press. It wasn't just for the 15-minute spell where we sat back and began to push up the field. For the rest of the game, we pressed and found moments well. We made it hard for them to play out and that's how we scored five goals in the game.
On Bakary Bagayoko's brace...
He had a great game. He was all over the place. He was working his tail off and I think he deserved it. Definitely deserves it.
On his goal...
I'm usually good at those shots but this season they haven't fallen to me. I have a good strike. I saw the ball in the lights and I just tried to hit it and hit it on frame. I think it kind of took a touch on the way in but a goal's a goal and I'm really happy with it.
Sporting KC II forward Bakary Bagayoko
On his brace...
It really started in training. Guys came in with the right mentality from the jump. The way we train throughout the season really brought it together tonight. Some games we come in with different mentalities but tonight we came out putting it all together. All of us put it together and enjoyed it. With every goal, you see guys jumping on each other. That's the kind of mentality we had. Everybody was happy and ready for the game. My two goals are nothing compared to what we did out there. Everyone was great.
On the team's mentality building...
We are trying to consistently go forward. Building every game. A different mentality every game but the goal is always to take the next step toward something bigger. Whether we want to have a career in soccer, somewhere else with the first team or something like that it's about us trying to build ourselves up to become better soccer players and have a career for ourselves.
On figuring things out on the fly tonight...
It goes back to last weekend's game when we played San Jose. They kept playing over us in the first half and we dropped off a lot. Coach wanted us to figure it out and when we got to the locker room he adjusted some things and then we came out way better defensively and attacking. Today it was about us doing the dirty work for each other no matter what. I could go or somebody else could go, but we all have to go together and have to commit together and do our job and we all have to trust each other. That was the process throughout the game today.
On playing against St Louis City2 on MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day...
I've been trying to improve myself throughout the rest of the season. It will be another game for us to get up on as a group or as an individual. We're going to be up for it. We have good coaches that will prepare us for that.
