
Head Coach Rick Schantz
On what he expects the home playoff game to be like:
"If it's anything like tonight, I think it was a bit of a warmup right now though. Hopefully, we can get seven or eight thousand people for that game. We still have three more to play, and I think our guys have set their sights higher than just one home game."
On controlling their own destiny with three games remaining:
"We'll look at the points, I'll look at what's happened, and we'll talk about the next motivating factor. I told them tonight before the game, all we could do is clinch one game. So maybe next game, we can clinch top-2. It's little goals to achieve, instead of thinking too far down the road. So just one at a time."
On preparing to face Reno 1868 FC next Saturday:
"We'll look at the guys and their bodies, see how they feel and how much time they need to recover. We're kind of getting ready for the playoffs. But Reno's good, and it'll be just like this. None of these teams are going to be easy. I thought the guys that came off the bench tonight were spectacular. Billy [Forbes] getting a goal, and [Chris] Cortez with a free kick, and Devin Vega's energy was fantastic. We know there were three or four other guys that could've come in and done the same thing. So we're set up really well right now."
On Didier Drogba:
"First game back after what, four months? You know, I think he would be honest and probably tell you that it took him probably 20, 30 minutes just to get his legs under him a bit. We were struggling to find his feet. There wasn't a lot of connection with him. But you could see in the second half, that's what superstars do. In the moments that you really need him, he can push himself a little bit farther. Again, he's one of those guys we'll look at tomorrow, and see how much rest he needs. But I mean, it's Didier Drogba. I was a little nervous about subbing him off, to be honest with you. But he's a great guy. He loves the team, he's really proud of the boys. Before the game, he told them how proud he was."
On being held scoreless until the 82nd minute:
"Most important was the zero against us. We've talked about that all along. The back four, and Carl [Woszczynski], and the midfield, they've really started to shore up what they're doing. We know we're going to score. There's so much world-class talent on this team. Solo [Solomon Asante] is one of the most dangerous players I've ever coached in my career, or seen. And then, of course, Didier's free kicks, Cortez. We know we're going to score, so keeping the other team off the scoreboard is the most important."
On why Billy Forbes was the first sub used tonight:
"Shaft [Brewer Jr.] is young, and that guy runs and runs and runs. We were really hoping our wide guys would stay wide, and get 1-v-1 situations, and I know that's what Billy [Forbes] does. We were talking about it, and I said when you get your opportunity, I want you to take advantage of it. He really stepped up. I'm happy for Billy because we had a good talk this week, and he said, just give me an opportunity coach."
On Chris Cortez tying the club's all-time goal record:
"I'm so happy for him. I told him, I'm sorry it took me so long to get him in there. The guy's like the magic boot right now, it's pretty spectacular. I've seen him do that quite a few times in training. He's in good form, and the team's in good spirits right now. We're going to be tough to beat."
On Schantz making the right moves that lead to wins:
"It's been a blast. Thank you so much. It's been a blast. I love it."
Billy Forbes
On his goal:
"Just got lucky, a little bit. I tried my shot and it goes in. That’s all I can say."
On his determination to score:
"I really wanted to play. I prayed to God that I got a goal tonight."
On his motivation coming off the bench:
"As a player, that’s your job. If I start the game, it’s a different mentality. If you’re on the bench, you have to be ready mentally. Honestly, I didn’t expect to play. They called me, I was ready and I stepped up to the plate and delivered for them."
On his success in influencing the team:
"I think going in the coach says we needed a little bit of push going forward, so that’s why they brought me in. I think I had my chance going forward and it worked for us."
On how badly he wanted to play:
"It’s been a while. Last game I didn’t play, so this game I really wanted to come out and bring a lot of energy off the bench. It worked. You can see on the bench I was getting ready to go, so it worked."
On the importance of clinching a home playoff game:
"Big time. It’s going to be the first time in club history to have a playoff home game, so we’re really excited about that."
Carl Woszczynski
On how much pride he has in the team’s defensive record:
"A lot. I think the defending was incredible today. I had one save early and a couple of crosses but other then that I didn’t have a lot to do. Defensively I think we’ve been great. Peter Ramage kind of shored things up. It’s been great, I love playing behind these guys. They all work their butts off for me and the team and that’s all I can ask for as a goalkeeper."
On the race for the top spot in the Western Conference:
"We know what’s at stake. We’re trying to take it one game at a time. It’s tough. Before this game, that’s what we said. We win today, we get a playoff game. It’s the first time in the team’s history. It’s great for us. Next Saturday, we go again and try to get three points. Hopefully, we get closer. The great thing is we control our own destiny. We win the next three, we win the West. We know if we do our job it’s right there.
On facing Reno next week:
"It’s going to be similar. Both of these teams are fighting for their lives. I was proud of the guys who really stepped up and battled today. Saint Louis is 8th and Reno is 7th something around there so both are fighting for playoff life. Saint Louis came out here and threw everything at us. Speaking on our defense, within throwing everything at us and having a lot of offense and firepower, they didn’t create a whole lot. That’s props to our defense more than our offense."
On Drogba’s return and what he provides:
"Leadership. He comes out and he is one of the best players in the world in history. Anytime he is here, we all want to play better for him. We know it’s his last year. But at the same time, he wants to play well for us. He talked about being gone for a couple of months and we’ve got to this point playing without him, so as much as we want to play for him he brings that pride and wants to play for us as well. We’re helping each other for hopefully the Championship."
Head Coach Rick Schantz
On what he expects the home playoff game to be like:
“If it’s anything like tonight, I think it was a bit of a warmup right now though. Hopefully, we can get seven or eight thousand people for that game. We still have three more to play, and I think our guys have set their sights higher than just one home game.”
On controlling their own destiny with three games remaining:
“We’ll look at the points, I’ll look at what’s happened, and we’ll talk about the next motivating factor. I told them tonight before the game, all we could do is clinch one game. So maybe next game, we can clinch top-2. It’s little goals to achieve, instead of thinking too far down the road. So just one at a time.”
On preparing to face Reno 1868 FC next Saturday:
“We’ll look at the guys and their bodies, see how they feel and how much time they need to recover. We’re kind of getting ready for the playoffs. But Reno’s good, and it’ll be just like this. None of these teams are going to be easy. I thought the guys that came off the bench tonight were spectacular. Billy [Forbes] getting a goal, and [Chris] Cortez with a free kick, and Devin Vega’s energy was fantastic. We know there were three or four other guys that could’ve come in and done the same thing. So we’re set up really well right now.”
On Didier Drogba:
“First game back after what, four months? You know, I think he would be honest and probably tell you that it took him probably 20, 30 minutes just to get his legs under him a bit. We were struggling to find his feet. There wasn’t a lot of connection with him. But you could see in the second half, that’s what superstars do. In the moments that you really need him, he can push himself a little bit farther. Again, he’s one of those guys we’ll look at tomorrow, and see how much rest he needs. But I mean, it’s Didier Drogba. I was a little nervous about subbing him off, to be honest with you. But he’s a great guy. He loves the team, he’s really proud of the boys. Before the game, he told them how proud he was.”
On being held scoreless until the 82nd minute:
“Most important was the zero against us. We’ve talked about that all along. The back four, and Carl [Woszczynski], and the midfield, they’ve really started to shore up what they’re doing. We know we’re going to score. There’s so much world-class talent on this team. Solo [Solomon Asante] is one of the most dangerous players I’ve ever coached in my career, or seen. And then, of course, Didier’s free kicks, Cortez. We know we’re going to score, so keeping the other team off the scoreboard is the most important.”
On why Billy Forbes was the first sub used tonight:
“Shaft [Brewer Jr.] is young, and that guy runs and runs and runs. We were really hoping our wide guys would stay wide, and get 1-v-1 situations, and I know that’s what Billy [Forbes] does. We were talking about it, and I said when you get your opportunity, I want you to take advantage of it. He really stepped up. I’m happy for Billy because we had a good talk this week, and he said, just give me an opportunity coach.”
On Chris Cortez tying the club’s all-time goal record:
“I’m so happy for him. I told him, I’m sorry it took me so long to get him in there. The guy’s like the magic boot right now, it’s pretty spectacular. I’ve seen him do that quite a few times in training. He’s in good form, and the team’s in good spirits right now. We’re going to be tough to beat.”
On Schantz making the right moves that lead to wins:
“It’s been a blast. Thank you so much. It’s been a blast. I love it.”
Billy Forbes
On his goal:
“Just got lucky, a little bit. I tried my shot and it goes in. That’s all I can say.”
On his determination to score:
“I really wanted to play. I prayed to God that I got a goal tonight.”
On his motivation coming off the bench:
“As a player, that’s your job. If I start the game, it’s a different mentality. If you’re on the bench, you have to be ready mentally. Honestly, I didn’t expect to play. They called me, I was ready and I stepped up to the plate and delivered for them.”
On his success in influencing the team:
“I think going in the coach says we needed a little bit of push going forward, so that’s why they brought me in. I think I had my chance going forward and it worked for us.”
On how badly he wanted to play:
“It’s been a while. Last game I didn’t play, so this game I really wanted to come out and bring a lot of energy off the bench. It worked. You can see on the bench I was getting ready to go, so it worked.”
On the importance of clinching a home playoff game:
“Big time. It’s going to be the first time in club history to have a playoff home game, so we’re really excited about that.”
Carl Woszczynski
On how much pride he has in the team’s defensive record:
“A lot. I think the defending was incredible today. I had one save early and a couple of crosses but other then that I didn’t have a lot to do. Defensively I think we’ve been great. Peter Ramage kind of shored things up. It’s been great, I love playing behind these guys. They all work their butts off for me and the team and that’s all I can ask for as a goalkeeper.”
On the race for the top spot in the Western Conference:
“We know what’s at stake. We’re trying to take it one game at a time. It’s tough. Before this game, that’s what we said. We win today, we get a playoff game. It’s the first time in the team’s history. It’s great for us. Next Saturday, we go again and try to get three points. Hopefully, we get closer. The great thing is we control our own destiny. We win the next three, we win the West. We know if we do our job it’s right there.
On facing Reno next week:
“It’s going to be similar. Both of these teams are fighting for their lives. I was proud of the guys who really stepped up and battled today. Saint Louis is 8th and Reno is 7th something around there so both are fighting for playoff life. Saint Louis came out here and threw everything at us. Speaking on our defense, within throwing everything at us and having a lot of offense and firepower, they didn’t create a whole lot. That’s props to our defense more than our offense.”
On Drogba’s return and what he provides:
“Leadership. He comes out and he is one of the best players in the world in history. Anytime he is here, we all want to play better for him. We know it’s his last year. But at the same time, he wants to play well for us. He talked about being gone for a couple of months and we’ve got to this point playing without him, so as much as we want to play for him he brings that pride and wants to play for us as well. We’re helping each other for hopefully the Championship.”