D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen
On getting a point...
“Not the result we came for, but satisfied to come from behind and pick up a point. I think it could have gone either way there in the second half. And the elements certainly were tough tonight. Overall, I'm pleased with the way the week went after the adjustments we had to make. It was a new formation, and we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. The guys looked after each other and it was a gutsy group effort.”
On Patrick Nyarko scoring in Chicago...
“Yeah, it is kind of how soccer works, isn't it? You know he’s going to come back and get something…just like I am sure Pontius will get ahold of a goal against us. It seems like that’s how this league goes. I’m happy for him. I know he’s really proud of his time here in Chicago and I know the people have a lot of respect for him. But overall, a good night and looking forward to next weekend.”
On attacking strategy...
“We give them the freedom, Patrick [Nyarko] and Lamar [Neagle] to mix things up depending on the match ups. I thought Harrington did a pretty good job marking Patrick in the first half. We found a little bit more success on the other side in the second half. Patrick keeps guys off balance and he creates set pieces. Acosta and Rolfe had to get out of their comfort zone a little bit, and played selfless, and did a good job of that.”
On dominating possession in the second half and getting out of there with a point...
“With a few key guys out and a new formation, and the elements, I think we go home with a sense that this was a real group effort, and a gutsy performance. Yea, we would’ve liked to get three points on the road, especially against a team that is still trying to find themselves. And they will. I know [the Fire] have a very good coach and have a lot of respect for him and I know he is going to get this place where it needs to be.”
D.C. United goalkeeper Travis Worra
On the [cold and wet] match...
“I mean, to grind out a result in those weather conditions, it was something we can really piggyback on for the next several weeks and maybe even the rest of the season. That’s just a testament to our character as a team that we can come [back from a deficit] on the road. Honestly, I think that was one of the worst [weather conditions] games in I’ve ever played in in my entire life, and mind you, I went to the University of New Hampshire. So I dealt with snow and crazy stuff up there but windy, rainy, cold; it was just a testament that we are grinders and we are fighters.”
On his distribution in the weather conditions...
“It was really tough to deal with, especially in the first half. The wind was behind us so it was easier to spray balls around. But in the second half, it wasn’t really the wind in our face but it was really tough with the rain. I had to cover my eyes and try and use my hand as an umbrella and of course that didn’t work too well. You just have to try your best to fight through it and see as much as you can.”
On Jonathan Campbell’s first half goal...
“It was a good finish. It was a close shot and got a deflection from about six yards out. [I] got a fingertip on it, but I think with every goal you give up as a goalkeeper you have to be a perfectionist. So there’s things I will be able to look at, things as a team we’ll look at defensively. Mainly, how can we prevent this goal from happening again.”
On what he’s looking from his team in the next couple of weeks...
“It’s a new formation, and some guys are out with injury and suspension so we will get a few of them back and we’ll have more time to really work together. We’ve only worked on this new sort of set up for two, three days. I think beforehand, we were all very confident and excited about it. Even to just get a tie on the road in these sort of conditions with this new set up I think is a positive step in the right direction for us.”
D.C. United midfielder Patrick Nyarko
On being back in Chicago...
"Aside from the result, it was a little emotional. I spent 8 years here and to play against them in a game that mattered...obviously I started my career here and you can't predict the future but it felt good. I was proud of my teammates in how we played given the circumstances and the weather and all that...we'll take the point on the road. It felt good to be back."
On if he thought about scoring against his former team...
"Not really. I just wanted to come here and do well, not over implicate things, play simple, play my game...Luckily I got my head on it. We needed [the goal] because we were down one and we needed to get back in it. We started playing much better after that...at that point we would have liked to go on and win the game but it didn't work out."
Chicago Fire head Coach Veljko Paunovic
On building momentum...
“No doubt that we wanted to win this game more than anything. We had the opportunity, it was there but still we have to understand we’re a young team, a team in process which requires a lot of effort to win games. I’m happy with our playing, of course, good opportunities to win the game and I think that’s where we are at this point. We have to build that momentum that we had in the game against New York, where we were close to getting the next level after that game and the game against Montreal that broke us a lot but now we are recovered from that and I think that at the end it was a fair game and fair result.”
On the poor weather conditions affecting the match...
“Absolutely, we’ve had to adjust to the conditions of the weather. In the past games, the way we want to play and the style is not always possible so we have to adapt. In this game I think that was good. In the first game we didn’t play we wanted out of the back but we knew how important it was to win the game first and we had that opportunity for us to win points and keep on growing.”
On losing possession in the second half
“I think we wanted the game to finish as soon as possible. We lost the patience, we lost the control of the game. Even though at some points in the second half it was better, but still that’s normal, I say that’s normal. Of course I would love to see our team playing the best possible way and winning games but I’m very confident and very, very happy with our guys because they are working hard and doing the best they can do in order to get to that next level which is improving in all phases of the game and most of all with winning it.”
On the performance of Jonathan Campbell
“I’m very happy, he knows that. He and I spoke yesterday about it. I advised him to keep his feet on the ground, just keep on working hard. I’m very transparent, I think we have a player for the U.S. National Team here but he has to work hard, he has to understand that every game is a challenge for him, he has to improve and we will give him all the support that he needs.”
Chicago Fire defender Jonathan Campbell
On scoring his first MLS goal...
"It felt great, but all credit to Arturo [Alvarez] playing that ball in behind. I just had to flick it on. It was a great feeling."
On the playing in rough weather...
"It's tough, but we're getting pretty used to it. Obviously, it's something that they have to deal with in Chicago. We're trying to make it almost an advantage for us; when people come in to play us, we should be used to the wind, the rain, so we're ready."
Chicago Fire midfielder Arturo Alvarez
On coming away with a draw...
"I think it's a bit of a disappointment. We had some chances that we could have finished out the game with, and we kind of let D.C. stay in it. From the last game against Montreal at home, that last minute goal they scored on, and now this tie at home, we'll take the point, but at the same time we're at home, and we want to start winning games at home. We need to."
On the difficulty of getting results...
"It's been difficult. We have to make sure we close the games. I think that comes with us scoring the second goal, because being up only one goal gives the other team confidence to come back into the game. I think we need to make sure that the opportunities that we have, we have to finish them. I don't think we need to dwell on it too much. We know we're capable of winning games, we just need to make sure we just keep focusing on that, and they will come."
On the struggle to finish games...
"It's tough. It's a new group. I think the guys are up for the game, they want to win. Goals are scored by not just one mistake; it has to be one, two, three mistakes that costs you goals, and we have to get better at that. Defensively, we've had some really good games, so it's those little moments in the games where they have a chance to come back and tie it. We have to keep working on it, but it's a little bit frustrating. It's early in the season, so I think we definitely have to work on that, and we will."
On playing the forward position...
"I've played there before. I play on the right or as the second forward, behind the main striker. I just try to get involved, try to get the ball as much as possible, try to connect. I think today, we had some good passes, but unfortunately the goal wasn't there."
