D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen
On how he would explain tonight’s result
"Midway through the first half we started to solve some of the extra numbers in the midfield and their overlaps, and then I thought it was fairly even. They had some good chances, we had some good chances. To come out and give up that second goal puts us in a bad spot. They are as tough as they come in this league to chase and that’s what can happen. I take sole responsibility on this one. I didn’t prepare this group properly this week; I didn’t prepare them enough tactically and that was evident tonight. This one is on me. It’s an ego shot and a punch in the face, but we have seemed to respond over the last two years when we have moments like this. My message to the guys is 'pick your heads up, let's go catch a flight and get back home, all of the focus and mindset goes on New England.'"
Does the margin of the defeat concern you?
No, if you are chasing the game in this league against a team like Columbus you could potentially eat it. It’s that simple. I thought we weren’t disciplined enough in our shape and in how we wanted to defend against them, and that is solely on me.
How confident are you that the team will be able to recover psychologically?
You could go two ways with this: It could fuel you, piss you off a little bit, which I’m sure most of these guys are feeling right now, or you could let your heads down and let this affect you. I’ve known this crew now for two years, and I know there is enough character and enough experience in that locker room to understand that in some ways this may be a get-out-of-jail-free card, and now we’ve got a new lease against a very good team in New England. They have to come to our building and play in RFK, where we have been pretty successful.
D.C. United Midfielder Nick DeLeon
On if tonight’s result was concerning as D.C. United move on to the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs
It’s over. It’s a short turnaround, so we have to move forward and focus on New England now. You don’t have time to dwell on it.
On if it is difficult to move on psychologically
Maybe right now, yeah. It is a little difficult. We have a couple of days to totally get it out of our minds and [it’s now] win or go home, it’s a big game on Wednesday, so that’s the main focus now.
D.C. United midfielder Markus Halsti
On what went wrong
It’s pretty hard to say, because [Columbus] did score five goals. I think we started to play more individually than as a team in the last twenty minutes of the first half. If you give too much space to Columbus, that is usually what happens. That is probably the easiest way to put it.
On if it is difficult to move on psychologically
Of course it is not that easy, but we are a mentally strong team. That is one of our things, we have to be a mentally strong team t
