Sporting Kansas City head coach Raphael Wicky
Thoughts on the match…
I believe it's not a 3-1 game. Obviously, 3-1 is a bit harsh. Again, it's very disappointing because we had them with a very disciplined first half. I think the biggest difference in the second half was that they were way more aggressive. They won a lot of duels. They pushed us around and that is disappointing. And that started from the first minute in the second half. With that said, we still had enough chances to kill this game to score two or three goals and still to win this game. In the end, it's 3-1 obviously, which, again, I don't believe it was a 3-1 game. That was disappointing. They came out more aggressive in the second half. They played a bit more direct. We struggled with that. We struggled in the duels then and didn't score our goals. We had enough chances to score three goals today again.
On the game-winning goal that came from a goal kick…
It was the right decision. It's a bad execution. There's no need to lose that ball. There's no need to run away, Jacob Bartlett there. You just come over and you support. Owen (Wolff) can play with the ball. I don't think it's a situation where we don't have to play. It's the execution which is not right. Jacob knows. We spoke. He has to learn from that. You're a number six. You have to support, not run away. He runs away and we open up the whole center. I don't think this is a moment where you don't need to play. We've had moments where we didn't play and where we played long. In that moment, you can still play. It's all okay. You just need to not run away from the ball. Because if we now stop playing when something like that happens, then we will change all the time because those things happen in football. You cannot stop playing due to a mistake. You have to do better. And that's an easy fix in this moment. But of course, it hurts a lot today because in that moment we were still in the game. We had enough chances, again, to score goals. But I don't think it's a situation where we don't have to play or where I have to tell them, ‘hey, you don't have to play.’ If (Stefan) Cleveland takes the decision in that moment to play long and push everyone up, that's his decision. But if we play short, we have patterns to play out and we have movements we want and then that shouldn't happen.
On conceding 80 goals this season…
It's obviously very disappointing that we concede so many goals. I've mentioned it many, many times. For me, it's not about a record or not a record. For me, it's about that you cannot win games if you concede two or three goals every single game. It's very, very difficult to win football games. As a team, we have to, in the key moments, do less mistakes. Because all the goals are not just defending, it's also doing mistakes. We have to defend better and stronger in those moments as a team. Otherwise it's very difficult to win games.
On the choice of right backs…
If I would have a right back who can play 90 minutes, believe me I would play a right back who can play 90 minutes. I don't have one right now and that has been a problem the whole season. I'm not just putting a player there because I want to put the player in problems. I just don't have that position. That's the fact and that's the reality. Jake Davis is on minute restrictions. I had to take him out. And even him, he is not a born right back. He helps out since the first game of the season. But I'm not trying to put people in positions they're not, but I also cannot put a striker over there so I put a center-back over there. That's the reality of where we are right now.
On Andre Luiz’s defensive responsibilities…
We brought in Andre as a winger. I've been in this game now for 30 years as a player and as a coach on a pretty high level. I was lucky to coach in Champions League and everywhere. These wingers defend. That's the game. So Andre has to help defend, period.
On potentially playing with five in the back…
But then you need wingbacks. I don't have a right wingback who can play 90 minutes. Believe me and I understand your questions, that's okay, I don't think that the system is a problem. I don't think it's a tactical problem and I'm not trying to put players in positions where they don't belong. If I would have a right wing back, it would make things easier to go in a back five but I don't think a back five would solve it. I don't think so. We were in a back five earlier in the season sometimes and we conceded also four goals in games. So it's not a tactical problem.
Sporting Kansas City forward Taylor Calheira
Thoughts on the season…
It's hard to find words. I just personally want to say sorry to the fans and everyone supporting us. We had some fans here today. Sporting deserves better. Like I’ve said before, I feel like we're trying and we're giving our all. But we've been saying the same things over and over again. It's hard to find the right words, but we need to turn it around. Even with two games left, we have got to find a way to win the next two games.
On his goal…
I was just trying to stay alive. I saw Jake (Davis) driving with the ball and it took a nice deflection. I was just trying to stay ready and it was perfect into my path. I kind of knew where I was. I knew I didn't really have to look and I just tried to score.
On adjusting to MLS…
I think it's a testament to my teammates and coaches as well. I feel like they've trusted me since I've gotten here. For me, I feel like it's easier to kind of settle in when you have that trust and belief in you. The guys around me are very good players. I am just trying to grow in my game and get better. Most of all, we need to get results and that's what's most important. I've enjoyed every minute. I'm trying the best I can. We'll keep working to get better.
On learning from Dejan Joveljic…
Dejan is an amazing player and I learned a lot from him while he was here. I loved playing with him. He's a great teammate, a great player, a great guy. He helped me a lot when he was here.
On covering for Andre when needed…
Andre is a super high-profile player and he makes our plays. Sometimes if I have to do a little bit of extra work, I'm willing to do that just to help the team. I don't want the gaps to be open. It's not really something we talk about. It’s just if he just makes a big run and he's up top and the space is open, I just work hard to get back just to try to help out on defense. His quality going forward is amazing so I’m just trying to help.
