Sporting Kansas City head coach Raphael Wicky
Thoughts on the match…
I don't think that the full 45 minutes in the first half were completely bad. I think it was a bit of a slow start, where they moved the ball well and I think we got a bit passive in certain moments. But then I think we had moments where we cleared it up. We had a few shots and a few chances. And then we just gave up pretty silly goals, goals out of nowhere. But of course then we come back. The penalty right after for us is obviously very helpful that you go down only 2-1 into halftime. We were trying to do some adjustments in terms of out of possession and in terms of in possession with more runs in behind, not just only in to feet. Then you're actually having an open game. It's 2-1 then you concede again a pretty easy goal out of a throw-in. Then the energy I felt in the stadium and from the team was great. I felt like the subs came in really, really good. Everyone brought lots of energy. I think, in the end, we deserved this point. We could have won this game with the big chance of Calvin (Harris). I think that showed a lot of character from this young team. When you look who was on the field, lots of players who are pretty young. We brought in Ian James, we brought in Seymour (Reid), Ruben (Ramos Jr.). They're young players. (Jacob) Bartlett is a player who doesn't have much (experience). We bring all these guys in on the field as well with Taylor (Calheira), with Kwaku (Agyabeng), with guys who don't have a lot under their belt. They're doing a good job. So I think the team has improved a lot and deserves tonight this point.
On the comeback…
Well, if I would have all the answers, it would be way easier, right? But your assessment is right. I think early in the season, before the World Cup break, probably at 3-1 down we have seen games where then the guys started chasing, losing their shape, losing their heads, and then you get the fourth one. Maybe it's learning. Maybe it's being more confident because, to be fair, the last two and a half months, the performances of the team have been way better and have been, at times, really good. We just cannot turn it into results. Also, when you feel like you have a good performance and you're competitive, it gives you confidence. Of course, in the end, it's always the win that gives you the most confidence. But if you see that you're actually playing well and creating a lot and scoring in every game and able to move the ball, I think that gives you confidence. I hope that that is giving this team confidence and we can keep growing together.
On Andre Luiz…
A player with his quality and the start he's had here is obviously the engine of this team, right? I mean, if you have a player like that who in every moment can make a difference, can beat a guy and curl it into the top corner, that is obviously great to have. He shows this. He shows this in training. He's a good teammate for the guys. Obviously I'm pleased with what he has but I think there is still improvement as well for him and we're still integrating him. Physically still, I don't think he's at 100 percent where he should be. There is not much time left and the summer is hot and it has been expected, so we just need to be careful with him. Hopefully it's nothing bad other than cramps. And in terms of his position, I think there is a relationship right now with Justin (Reynolds) and him. They can both be wide, but not on the same line. Justin can be inside, Andre can be out wide or vice versa. I think that is a little bit of the freedom they have. I think Andre needs to have a little bit of freedom and make decisions, as long as if something doesn't go well he counter-presses.
On Kwaku Agyabeng…
Young is not always the age. Young is also your experience and Kwaku is young. Kwaku has had a really, really good year but that's not a surprise for me or the staff. If he keeps working hard and stays healthy, I think he can be a very good player. Not only him, I think Taylor Calheira is in terms of not maybe the age, but he's young. He comes from the USL. Stephen Afrifa hasn't played much last season. For me, players like that now take their chance. They play. Wyatt Meyer hasn't played much in Nashville last year or in MLS at all. Justin Reynolds has not played many games, even though they’re not 17 or 18 but they're still young in their experience. And I think they're doing a good job and they're learning and they're growing and it makes them better for their future. Obviously, bringing in today Seymour (Reid) who's a young kid, Ruben is young, Bartlett is from our own academy here, Ian James. I think they all brought really good energy. Like I've said many times, young players need to go into something which works and then it's easier for them. And I think right now, in many games, it's easier because the team seems to have found a way to play together and that makes it easier. If as a young player you're thrown in in something which doesn't work, it's quite difficult.
On Shapi Suleymanov at left back…
Shapi has proven this since I'm here that I can trust him 100 percent in any position I play him. He has played, early in the year, many, many different positions. He has played really well. He sacrifices himself for the team. He tracks back, runs back, is very disciplined. I knew that, maybe not for 90 minutes, but for a few minutes, that I can trust Shapi there and he will actually accept it and that is really, really important.
On the club’s captains…
We initially had three to four team captains, but many of them are not here anymore. Some others are injured. Lasse (Berg Johnsen) is injured. And then, obviously, I knew that I had to sub Zorhan (Bassong), because Zorhan is still on a minute restriction so I knew I have to take Zorhan out between 60 and 75 minutes. Then you had to change the armband and Zorhan gave it to Jansen (Miller). Jansen, by the way, is doing a really, really good job as well in these games. We are having many captains. At the end of the day, he gave it to Jansen. That's okay to me.
On Justin Reynolds…
Justin was 16 years old when I was his coach in Chicago so he was a little bit with us, but he didn't really train every day with us. I think he shows that he can be a very good MLS player, that he can be a very good right back. He needs to stay healthy. That's the only question mark. He hasn't been healthy for much of this year. I believe when Justin stays healthy, he can be a very good right back in MLS for Sporting Kansas City with lots of potential still. I see a really good player, but you need to be healthy. You need to repeat 30 times or even more. That's how your body needs to work. Hopefully, and we're all doing our best, we can bring him there. He needs these games and then he will be very good.
Sporting Kansas City defender Justin Reynolds
On his goal…
I trust Taylor. Obviously, he's a great player so I know that he can find those passes. I was kind of like, just get in a spot where I'm able to be dangerous and trust that he'll make the right decision even if it wasn't to me. But just give him the option and then he gave it to me and I just took a shot.
On his role…
It was just doing what the coach wants me to do. I think being able to adjust to different roles is important as a player. (Kristoffer) Velde a good player. I knew that when he got the ball and I'm there, I have got to close him down and be tight to him. But I also trust Jansen. He's a great defender. I know that he has my back and he can cover from me.
On the comeback…
It was amazing because obviously there's been times where we go down a goal and we completely shut down. So to see everybody fight back and crawl back to get the point is good. Of course, you can be happy with the comeback, but you have got to be hungry for more because we want three points, not one. It's important to take it, I guess, in a way with a grain of salt to be proud of how we reacted, but to know that we want more and not to get complacent.
On his partnership with Andre Luiz…
It's nice. You can kind of give him the ball and let him do his thing. You have got to be able to support him and give him the option to pass. It definitely opens up space for me because he draws so many defenders towards him. You know that they're going to bring a lot of people towards him so if something does go wrong, the counterattack is there and it challenges me defensively and it makes me better. He helps me a lot. I try to help him as much as I can. It's nice.
On his physical condition…
I’ve been working with the trainers, taking these down days more serious. I'm going in and doing some stretching and being serious with working with them to get my plan together with ice baths, saunas, all the stuff that I can do. We have a great training facility so I try to use it to the max and make sure I'm taking care of every little piece that I can get to because my body is my business so I have got to take care of that.
