Quotes: Portland Timbers vs. Norwich City FC
Portland Timbers Quotes
Head coach Caleb Porter
On facing Norwich City:
“They are in the preseason, so we have to keep that in perspective. We knew physically that we would have the edge, because obviously we’re in midseason form, and even tactically in our organization, even technically in our sharpness and precision, we knew that we’d have a bit more quality play, but at the end of the day, they’re a premiership team. They beat Manchester United and Arsenal in the league, and they’re still getting their legs underneath them, but I think it says a lot about our club that we’re able to get a result, especially considering we had six regulars that didn’t even dress. I think it shows our depth and shows our quality from player one to 26.”
On using international friendlies to develop the team’s depth:
“We want to be a club that is successful year in and year out so we’re certainly focused on winning games and hopefully trophies this year, but we need to have a succession plan and to make sure that in future years we have depth. You have to make sure that you’re developing your younger players, bringing them along even though they might not be playing as much. We really try and do a comprehensive job with every player, making sure they develop, making sure that they’re ready to be plugged into our rotation even if they’re not starting. If they’re not in the rotation, we still want players to be eventually in the rotation or eventually starting. Every single day we try and make sure that every player is being prepared and being developed. For some guys it’s this year, for some guys it’s future years. I was very pleased with that tonight. Again, we had a large group of guys that don’t dress or don’t play much, and it didn’t look like we missed a beat. What else is amazing is you could still see our style, you could still see our identity. That’s when you know you’re really getting through to the players with regards to the philosophy, with regards to the system. You can see that the identity is taking shape and it’s not just the starting guys or the guys that play, it’s everybody.”
Goalkeeper Milos Kocic
On the team’s performance:
“It’s a good shutout for the team, and I think everybody showed up and played very well. I think we possessed the ball better than them, to be honest, and all over the field I thought we did very well.”
On playing an English Premier League side:
“It’s always good to come out and show that MLS is growing as a league and that the teams can beat anybody that comes here. In the United States, there are a lot of good teams with good players.”
Norwich City FC Quotes
Manager Chris Hughton
On the result against Portland and the overall feel of the game:
"We're disappointed with the poor goal that we conceded defensively, but this is the reason why we're here. The Portland Timbers are a team that are very much going their way this season in their division and I think they've got high hopes this season. Some elements were against us, of course, it's a surface that we're not particularly used to and they are. It was great to be here in such a magnificent stadium. They've got a real good atmosphere and that's the reason why we're here."
Goalkeeper Carlo Nash
On the club’s preseason tour to the United States:
"Obviously, that's why we've come to the U.S., because the MLS teams are partway through the season and it's a good test for us. You know, you don't want easy games, you want you to test yourself, and we've been tested over here so it's great."
On how Portland looked:
"They looked quick and sharp and, obviously, that's what we're trying to be and that's why it was a good test for us."
Notes:
- Portland captured its first win over an English Premier League side as an MLS club. The Timbers played host to West Bromwich Albion in 2011 and to Aston Villa in 2012.
- Norwich City wore its new 2013/14 away kit for the first time Wednesday in the friendly against the Timbers.
- Returning from national team duty with Costa Rica for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Rodney Wallace played in his first match with the club since June 23 in the win over Colorado. Wallace started and played all 45 minutes of the first half.
- The Timbers are 10-1-2 across all competitions – MLS, U.S. Open Cup and friendlies – at JELD-WEN Field in 2013.
