United Goalkeeper Bill Hamid
On making the playoffs...
“We had a task in our hands. A few of us arrived in the middle part of our season and it almost felt like a new season when the stadium opened. Thankfully we have accomplished that, it took a lot of hard work and a lot of grit, it took the whole team from number one to number 30. We accomplished something very, very good to go from last to a playoff position. With just a little more and we can secure homefield advantage and I think that is the talk of the locker room right now, how do we go get homefield advantage?”
On Luciano Acosta’s performance...
“[Acosta] was outstanding. The second half of the season we have seen him really come alive. It is not easy for him because he gets kicked a lot, he gets zoned in on a lot but he keeps fighting. Even when he is not doing too well, he keeps fighting and pushing. He has those moments where he just produces brilliance and today was one of them. It was a great run to feed [Wayne] Rooney and then the finish was outstanding. Hats off to Lucho, hats off to all of our attack, it has been fantastic.”
On his thoughts upon rejoining D.C. United...
“I kind of took a look at the team and I had a few players to get used to, a couple new signings, like Joseph Mora. I did not have that many reps with Fred (Brillant). We had Oniel [Fisher] at right back so it was a new system and it was a new style but I saw so much potential in the team. It is never easy playing every single game on the road so I know what they were going through but the potential in this team from number one to number 30 is good. Hopefully, we can continue to build. I think the feeling right now is we have a new season on our hands.”
On if he thought it was possible to make the playoffs...
“Yeah, definitely. Home field advantage is huge in this league and if you take advantage of your home matches you can definitely climb up the table and we did that. We did that fairly well. A little bit of a hiccup in the beginning with the loss to Philadelphia, it was a little bit of an eye-opener but we quickly turned things around and put our best foot forward and we are in a good position now.”
United Midfielder Luciano Acosta
On making the playoffs...
“It’s really emotional for me especially and for the whole team but for me in particular. I have had a couple years here fighting and trying to get us into the playoffs so it is very emotional.”
On his chemistry with Wayne Rooney...
“Honestly, I don’t have to say anything about it. It shows itself on the field how well we connect. I have said it many times before but he is a great player, a very easy player to play with. He makes everything easier and makes us better as a team.”
On his emotions at the end of the game...
“I have lived in really good moments and I have lived in some bad moments here. I have been through it all so hard moments. That was kind of a culmination of all those moments together and also my foot, I have a little pain in my foot. It was just releasing everything I had onto the field.”
On his level of joy playing these last few months...
“It should show in how I have changed as a person, on the field and off the field. Just my attitude, that has made me happier and everybody happier. We have put together a pretty good group here. We are really close and together and we are living through this together and lets keep going.”
United Captain Wayne Rooney
On Acosta’s ball work on the first goal...
“Yeah it was incredible. I think that’s what he can do he is a fantastic player and there is not many players who can do that and for a striker it’s easy to put yourself in a position knowing that he is going to create something like that. I think he is a fantastic player and today in a big game I think we needed him to produce for us.”
On if there was an immediate connection between Luciano and himself...
“I think we just enjoy playing with each other. We both play to each other’s strengths, he’s the one who is going to get the ball and run at defenders. For me it is quite simple, he comes in a bit away from the goal, give him the ball and then get in the box. It is great to play with players like that because you know they are always going to create your chances and create chances for themselves.”
On the importance of beating Chicago to gain home field advantage...
“Of course it can be important, obviously our form here is great but if we host a game or we don’t we have to be confident in whoever we play, where ever we play that we can win the game. We are in great form, whether it’s a home or away we have to take that belief into that game and be ready whether it is here or away.”
