REVOLUTION HEAD COACH JAY HEAPS
On his takeaways from Sunday’s draw versus Orlando City SC:
“In watching the film back, there was a lot in the game that we liked. I think we really liked the way we played in that first half and into that early second half, but there’s a lot from that game we have to get better at. I think we allowed them to make a couple of changes that we weren’t able to adapt quick enough to; it took us a little bit of time. I thought we did eventually adapt well, but it was a little bit late. Overall, it was a pretty hectic game and a pretty fair game in terms of two teams going at it. I feel strongly there were two very good teams battling it out. You’re going to make tactical moves within the game. I thought we did a great job adjusting, and then they did a nice job switching things up. That’s what you’re going to get when you’re playing against two good teams.”
On Je-Vaughn Watson filling in at center back against Orlando City:
“I thought Je-Vaughn was excellent. There’s not too much talk. I said, ‘Je-Vaughn, you’re going to be playing center back,’ and he said, ‘Okay, boss.’ He’s just one of those guys where you have a few words with him and he understands exactly what we’re trying to do. Very intellectual player in that his soccer IQ is pretty seamless whether you put him at left back, center back, or right back. He can also play defensive mid and attacking mid. That’s what you get with a guy like Je-Vaughn, is just versatility and performance. Not just that he can play those positions, he can play those positions well.”
On the status of JoséGonçalves:
“Good. He’s coming along. It was a little bit precautionary. It was a little bit late. We thought we might be able to get him in, then we thought long and hard about the next few weeks and how many games we have coming up. We’ll see as this week goes on. I think he’ll be ready, if not this week, at least for the [next] week.”
On the status of Juan Agudelo:
“Juan is further along into training already this week, so we’re expecting him as an option as well.”
On getting points in three of the team’s first four road games this season:
“Good mentality. Two of them were comebacks in the 90th minute, so we feel like we have a good mentality. We go on the road to get points. Now, we just have to be a little bit more clinical. We’re still talking about it seven games in, but we have to be better in front of the goal. There were chances for us to win that game. I think our guys know that. And there were chances to lose that game, so the game was open, but I think we’re a team that if we do get those breaks and we get those opportunities, we want to be able to finish teams off. It’s about getting that confidence. I think once we get a full performance start-to-finish with goals and the entire package all the way through, I think you’re going to see us take that huge step forward.”
On what he expects from D.C. United in their second meeting of the season:
“They’ll be a little bit of a different group. They’ve had changes to their roster. They’re much better in terms of their injury issues. When they played us [on March 12], they were reeling a little bit from some injuries, but now they’re back to full strength and they’re dangerous. They’ve got players that can play in terms of [Fabián] Espíndola and [Chris] Rolfe linking up top, and [Àlvaro] Saborío being dangerous off the bench. We have to be very mindful of what they’re going to do in the attack, but at the same time look to play our game when we can in their half.”
REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER BOBBY SHUTTLEWORTH
On what to take away from the draw with Orlando City SC:
“I think there were long spells of the game where we were really in control and played a lot of good stuff. We did well. We were an organized group. It was a bit of a crazy ending, but to go on the road and get a draw is okay and we will try to keep moving forward.”
On Je-Vaughn Watson’s performance at center back:
“Je-Vaughn is a good player and I think he can play anywhere on the field. He could probably play goalkeeper. So there wasn’t much of a transition playing with him and I think he did really well and he was solid.”
On the team’s ability to get points on the road:
“I think other than probably the Houston game, we were pretty organized behind the ball. I think if you look up and down the field everyone was putting a shift in and really grinding and that’s what you got to do when you go on the road. You got to be able to get in your blocks and defend and I think we have been able to do that pretty well this year.
On the next step to turn draws into wins:
“Winning, I think it is contagious. We’ve dropped points at home already so we’ve got to start turning these draws into wins, especially at home. I think once we get one, we’ll start getting more and more.”
On facing D.C. United on Saturday:
“We dropped points at home against them and I think everybody thought that we should’ve gotten three. We’ve got a lot of players that have played in D.C. a lot. They are a very organized group. [Fabián] Espíndola is very dangerous, so we have got to be wary of him at all times and have to put in another good shift, stay organized and try to get three [points].
On if last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs loss to D.C. United is on the mind of players:
“No, I think [with] a new season, guys have moved forward. Obviously, everybody knows how last season finished and it wasn’t good enough, but I think that is kind of out of our brains and we’ve got to step in there fresh and try to put on a good performance.”
REVOLUTION DEFENDER ANDREW FARRELL
On what to take away from the draw with Orlando City SC:
“I think building on how we have been playing the last couple of weeks, to take a point in a tough environment against a team that was, before losing to Philadelphia, having a good string of games. I think some of the guys played really well. Other than the first minute and the last minute, I think there were some good things that we showed. Obviously, some things didn’t go our way, but it was good to get a result on the road against a good team like Orlando.”
On Je-Vaughn Watson’s performance at center back:
“I think he did great. He is a guy that you can probably throw him anywhere and he’ll do great. It was obviously different, because he is not necessarily as vocal as José [Gonçalves], because José has been here for a while and the past two years we have been growing our partnership. It was fun playing back there with him. Like I said, he is a great player. He has done well for us and right back and now he has done well for us at center back. It’s good to have him on our team.”
On the team’s ability to get points on the road:
“I think we just want to battle in every game. I think some of those games that we’ve gone away, we thought that we could’ve been able to get three points. When you go into a game against a tough team, tough opponent, in a tough environment, when you can get out of a game where we thought we maybe could’ve gotten three, but obviously only taking one point is okay. But like I said, we’re looking to build on what we’ve done. There were some good things in the first half, in the second half, that I think they did a little bit better than we did, but we’re building on that and looking forward to D.C. this weekend, another good rival.”
On picking up wins instead of ties:
“We definitely want to win. It’s tough in this league. It’s crazy how some games you can go a full 90 minutes, kind of like the last time we played D.C., when we thought we could’ve gotten three points. Now, we’ve just got to finish our chances, and we’ve got to keep them off [the scoreboard] and limit the mistakes. It’s being 100 percent focused throughout the whole time. If there is one lapse, maybe they will get a goal, or a call, or a PK against you. But if you keep the 11, the goals will come, the results will come, and the three points will come.”
On playing D.C. United for the second time this season:
“They’re a good team, a lot of veteran guys on their team. I think the last time we played they didn’t have [Fabián] Espíndola playing, but he’ll most likely be playing on Saturday. He’s had a couple of good games these past two games. He’s going to be a threat. He has always been a tough guy to play against, and they’re a good team. They’re solid and they play great defense. [D.C. United Head Coach] Ben Olsen makes them work hard and they defend well, so it’s going to be a tough battle for us, but we’re looking forward to Saturday and hopefully three points.”
