Midfielder Russell Canouse
On playing in the match...
"I told Ben that after that it was a good run in to get back, obviously I didn’t train these last 2 weeks, just trying to use the time this week to make sure I get it right."
Overall thoughts on the match...
"It’s tough, obviously we had a good start with the 1-0, it would have been nice to go into halftime and hold that lead. I think we got stretched a little bit during the last 15 minutes of the first half and we got punished for it. I think the intensity was there, this was an open cup game, guys are tired, it was a humid night and it was unlucky we didn’t get the second goal which was frustrating. We had chances where we were countering but we didn’t play it out clean enough. Obviously, we got stretched at the back because we were not disciplined and tried to get that second goal. So tough result, would have nice to move further in the cup."
On the second half of the season...
"Its nice that we have 17 games now to continue to build and get to where we want to get to this season, we want a playoff spot but we also be a top team in the East and build on from the first 17 games and learn from it and then hopefully we can have a good second half of the season."
On the team mentality...
"We knew we wanted to win, that was there; just unlucky we didn’t go out and perform the way we wanted to in order to win this game."
Captain Wayne Rooney
On the match...
"First goal, the team had two chances and we had some deep runs but they did well in identifying the space in making runs and good passes. It was disappointing to be down going into halftime. The second half, they sat out and had one chance, but we weren’t threatening enough to take back the game and get the goal to tie it up so probably a fair result."
On focusing on the MLS season...
"You always want to be in the competition and you want to try and win this tournament so it always feels better when you these competitions and fighting for everything so it’s a disappointing result and we are all hurt but we have the game next week against Orlando and we have to win and its clear to us that we have to win."
New York City FC Head Coach Domènec Torrent
On advancing to the next round...
“I’m very happy because when you are here you have to try and win the game. Not just for the result but because I think the players played really well. It is not easy to play here at Audi Field because they are a good team and we knew that but we played the last month with personality. I’m very happy because we played again five in the back, when we don’t have the ball and the reason why is because they play wide all the time and I thought it was the best way to defend. Then we get the ball for attack and I am very happy for that.”
On personality of team...
“It doesn’t mean the way you play take the ball pass the ball. I like to have the control, it is much better because I am used to working in that way with my former teams and why not here because we have the quality to play that way. When I say personality, sometimes when you play away some players play a different way, a little bit scared. They have personality when I say take the ball and pass the ball. You have to control the game, if not you are in trouble, especially when they have the ball with the connection between Acosta and Rooney. They are dangerous, in fact the first goal they recovered the ball and one pass and Wayne Rooney is quality and he scored. I’ve said many times, the best way to defend is to keep the ball, pass the ball and control the ball. You have to defend with the ball if you try to defend without the ball you are in trouble 100 percent especially against this team.”
New York City FC Goalkeeper Brad Stuver
On the match...
"Yeah, I mean, we switched into a five back today which definitely eliminates some of the dribbling through the middle and all that type of stuff. D.C.’s a good squad and they try to get crosses in. They are trying to find Rooney and Acosta. A lot of credit to Ring like I said on doing a great job and limiting the amount of chances that they had and at the end of the day they did have a lot of chances. We probably made it a little bit harder than we needed it to be. If we put a couple in the first half, credit to Chris Seitz, he made some great saves to keep us off the board. But I mean if we bury a couple of those it would make the second half easier."
On the defensive shape...
"It’s mainly just in the attack. So when you play with 5 in the back you’ll always have three guys that are staying back a little bit more. When you play with 4, you only have the two so you have to bring a midfielder back if you get overloaded. So, it’s just one of those things that as we go into the attack, me and the center backs need to figure out where the attackers are and if we’re going to get overloaded or not."
On the U.S. Open Cup competition...
"It’s been important since day one. There are some teams that take Open Cup and use it as a time to get guys minutes they don’t normally play. I think our mindset from the very beginning was we have a deep team, we are going to rotate some guys but we’re also going to go out and win this because it is if you look at it on paper that you win 6 games and you win an Open Cup final and it’s a way for us to get into CONCACAF Champions League. So, if you look at it like that you just go all out for 6 games and see how it goes."
On Keaton Parks...
"Keaton was great. He covered a lot of ground tonight. He was in the attack and he was combining. He was dropping deep trying to play out of the back. For him it was another good performance and it just shows how good our depth is right now."
New York City FC Midfielder Keaton Parks
On the match...
"Yeah this game we played with two in the middle instead of three like we did last week. I mean yeah but it’s the same formation as we have been playing in all year so we have been training in it all year and like I have been training in it as well. Just based on the opponent and based on their formation we switch it up a little bit today but yeah I have been ready all year to play, to play in this formation. We came out in it today and it worked out."
On the system they played in...
"Yeah I mean, it’s always important to be able to play in any formation because depending on the opponent, whatever they’re playing, whatever key players they have, we switch our formation to fit that. It’s not easy to switch all the time but we train all week in whatever formation we are going to play in so we ready and used to it before we start."
