Head Coach Ben Olsen
On the performance against Atlanta…
“It was our most complete and disciplined performance of the season… it was a full group effort from the beginning to the end. Against teams like Atlanta, if you don’t give that type of effort and aren't in-sync the way we were for a majority of the match, you can see how they [Atlanta] have the points they have.”
On the defensive plan against Josef Martinez and Atlanta…
“We wanted to crowd the center of the park as much as possible. If the ball comes out wide to their outside backs, that’s the lesser of two evils. They [Atlanta] force you to give somewhere on the field. We also defended the box very well. I don’t know how many times a guy laid out to make a block… that’s how you beat a team like this."
On Russell Canouse’s performance…
“He keeps making these little plays that we were missing in the first half of the season. It’s a little knick or a bump and slowing a guy like Almirón down. He finds himself in the right spots at the right times to be a consistent defensive player. On the ball, he’s improved. He’s now starting attacks more effectively than he was last year. He’s more calm on the ball and understands how vital possession is against all teams, but in particular against teams like Atlanta.”
On getting the three points…
“We played two very good teams [this week]. To get three points out of two of the better teams in the Eastern Conference right now is something that we can build on.”
On the Acosta and Rooney partnership…
“I saw more of the same tonight and that’s a good thing because it’s been at a very high level from the jump. The second Wayne [Rooney] got here, they created a good bond on the field and they’re both very good soccer players. It’s been fun to watch them."
On the saves from Hamid in the final stages of the match…
“Each game that he gets out here, he’s going to get better. Tonight showed why we brought him back… to bail us out with one or two big saves. We’re a good enough team that we’re going to continue to score goals and if he can save us one or two times a night, it’s a huge boost.”
Midfielder Luciano Acosta
On the result...
“We knew it was going to be tough. Obviously, against a tough rival that was going to play well like Atlanta. We figured out how to defend in the moments that we needed to defend, and attack in the moments that we needed to attack.”
On finding extra motivation to score against Atlanta...
“The times that I have been lucky enough to play against Atlanta, I have been lucky enough to do well and score some goals. It could be motivation to play against the team but it’s not necessarily the individual players.”
On his growing relationship with Wayne Rooney...
“I have said it many times before but he is a very intelligent player. He knows where he is at, at all times and we have to play off him. We are lucky enough that he is on the team and we can learn from him.”
Midfielder Russell Canouse
On his consistent minutes...
“Anytime you have three games a week it is tough on the whole team. I think having three days in between a game helps the team a lot more than having two. It is tough when you have a quick turn around like that, that extra day helped us today. I think it gave us a little more energy. For me, in terms of just getting a lot of games under my belt it has been good for my fitness. It has helped me in the last 20-25 minutes of the game, grinding the result out and helping the team in those tough spots, right when everyone is getting tired. So it has been good. We have a had a good stretch here with those six games in the last two weeks, we got some points under it. We had two tough games earlier in the week. Today was a good team performance where everyone worked until the end.”
On playing alongside Júnior Moreno...
“It is really good. I think we have had a good connection so far. Even off the field, Júnior and I have been really close. I can’t speak great Spanish, he can’t speak great English but we are trying. You can still develop a good relationship and Júnior has been one of those guys I have been trying to get close with. We are on the field together and he’s just a great guy off the field. So, that partnership and pairing is important to develop off the field to and it translates into the game.”
Forward Wayne Rooney
On the big win and his relationship with Luciano Acosta...
“Obviously, it is a big difference from the game on Wednesday. You could see we were all disappointed after last game. We changed a few things today tactically and it has worked perfectly for us. We allowed Atlanta to have a lot more of the ball but we were solid and we had to be. We knew we would get chances on the break and we punished them with the chances that we had.”
On the impact that Russell (Canouse) has had on this team...
“He has been great for us and tonight he was really good. He was making good tackles and good blocks. I think he is getting better. Tonight he showed character and had a good performance.”
On the importance of the win...
“It was a massive result for us. I think with Montreal winning yesterday, we knew it was a game which was not a must win but it was almost. It felt like that. We knew we were in a position at halftime where we could go on and get the three points. The lads have responded great and it was a big win for us.”
On Luciano Acosta scoring five goals since his arrival...
“I think everyone can see the talent and the ability he has. I think he has just been clinical. I have said to him a few times that he should have shot when he hasn’t and tried to do something and when you get into that position to be clinical, be hungry to score goals. I keep asking him after every game how many goals he has scored and I think he is starting to enjoy scoring goals and you can see that again tonight. Two great finishes from him. You know it is not easy sometimes from that position but he is a fantastic player with all the ability. We just need to keep on top of him and keep him performing like he is for us. He will be an important player for the next nine games.”
