Portland Timbers Quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
On the takeaway from the match…
“We wanted to build more match minutes. We were able to play seven guys for 90 minutes, so that was a real positive. I thought our attacking play today was a real positive. To start the game it’s 11v11 and they sat deep and that’s the type of game we will see more here. We saw that last year and we saw it in this game and it’s not easy. It’s not easy to break a team open. It takes width, it takes combination play central, it takes cleverness, it takes precision, but I thought we were excellent in breaking down their block. Even when they lost one guy and then two guys, you’re still breaking down eight players in two lines of four. If you look at every game, pretty much that’s what you’re going to have to break down, so they obviously lost their ability to attack. We weren’t threatened much defensively, outside of the start of the game when they were even numbered, but even then I didn’t think we were challenged too much. I thought we got better today in the attack. I thought we were excellent there and we showed what we’re capable of doing on that side of things. For me, it's hard to really evaluate the defending very much, but you can only play the game that you have in front of you. I thought we played the game, we were professional and we got out of it what we needed to get out of it in terms of physical minutes, in terms of attacking play. I know we’ll be threatened a lot more on Wednesday and Saturday, defensively, and we need those games to get ready because we didn’t get pushed and challenged much on the defensive side but I thought early in the game, when we were even numbers, we managed that side of things really well.”
On what he can expect from midfielder Darlington Nagbe…
“Well you saw that middle three play 90 minutes today. We also played kind of the three backs that we know for sure are going to start also 90 minutes and, obviously, Adam [Kwarasey] 90 minutes. That group is set. We wanted to be able to get those central three central mids together because we haven’t had Darlington the majority of preseason. That’s going to be one of our strengths, that middle. I thought those three guys were very good. Darlington showed what he’s capable of playing in that role. He was probably on the ball more than anybody. A lot of our rhythm and tempo went through him, our possession and buildup. Overall the passing game, possession game was going through him and [Diego] Chara and [Diego] Valeri. He really becomes our rhythm player in there and he showed what else he can do in terms of driving forward from deep positions. I think he didn’t miss a beat from last year and you can say even, maybe, a notch more comfortable in that spot because he’s had a little more time to play in it. I thought today those three were very good and [Fanendo] Adi as well, holding the ball up. You start to see the dimensions that we talk about coming to fruition. We’re a team that’s explosive wide. [Dairon] Asprilla, [Lucas] Melano, bring that penetration wide and we’re a team that, when we come central, we have a player that can bring Nagbe and Valeri into the game. So we can work left, right and center channel. When we get all three of those things going, we’re really tough to stop. I thought we showed that today. And even though, like I said, we were up a man, the numbers were still, in the back half, relatively the same as what we’ll see in any game.”
On defender Liam Ridgewell not playing…
“He had that calf that he came out of the Brighton game with but when he came back he was fine. We trained him two days ago and he was fine and then yesterday it got tight on him again. We’ll see. We’re hoping Saturday but if I’m guessing he’ll be out for that game but fine for the start of the year."
On the performance of defender Zarek Valentin…
“We were on the ball the majority of the game and with that I think you see how sharp Zarek is on the ball. He’s a really good passer and even though he’s right-footed, he’s pretty two-footed. He’s able to find a lot of balls through the lines and he’s really comfortable and composed in possession. I think he was able to highlight that side of his game. Defensively when he was called upon I thought he was pretty good. When [Andy] Thoma went in I thought he was good as well but late in the game, down two men, it’s hard to tell. We’ll continue to look at those two guys. Most likely on Wednesday we’ll flop the two, we’ll put Thoma to start the game and then bring Zarek on and then we’ll see where Ridgewell is at for that Saturday game. If Ridgewell is out again then I’ll pick one of the two to start at that left back position and might even rotate Taylor in to get ready for the open weekend but really that’s the position up in the air right now.”
On if defender Jermaine Taylor has inserted himself into the starting center back position…
“He’s been excellent. He’s calm. He’s tough. He can read the game well. He’s hard to get by. He’s very strong. He’s good in the air. He looks really comfortable with the team. He’s bought in. If Ridgewell is healthy, those four guys, that’ll most likely be the back four, whether it’s Ridgwell at left back or Taylor at left back, either one will work. Both of them have played left back. You get different things with each guy but that gives us a strong back line to start the year and because Taylor and Ridgewell have both played left back that’s why I’m convinced that that’ll be the lineup. But disappointing to not be able to see that group together and to tinker a little bit with Taylor and Ridgewell in that left back spot but either way we go if Ridgwell is healthy to start the year, which I think he will be we’ll be in good shape.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri
On being involved in all four goals and hitting a stride heading into the regular season…
“I’m happy because the team had a good performance. We created a lot of chances, we played as a winning team and I’m happy about that. We performed really well.”
On if the team feels like it’s getting closer and closer to opening day…
“Yes, of course. It’s the first time that we played 90 minutes today, some of the guys. That’s good. That’s the goal. To be healthy for the first game of the season and have rhythm. To be ready, we have to play more minutes.”
On how it felt to be back out on the field with his fellow attacking players…
“This is a team, 11 players defending, 11 players attacking, so I think we are playing good soccer. Playing compact, defending well as high as can and then, when we have the ball, we have to be creative. I think we did well today.”
Portland Timbers forward Fanendo Adi
On if it felt like the team picked up where they left off at the end of last season…
“It feels good. It’s just preparation and of course, it’s good to win. Our mentality is to always win. The coaches always talk about that. We have to develop that mentality of always wanting to win and that’s just what we did.”
On what the Timbers can take away from the game…
“I think we take a lot out of the game. Basically we knew it was going to be a game we have to play for ourselves. We have to try to make combinations, try to do the things which we are looking to do in preparation for the start of the season. We did that. Our combinations up front were really amazing. The defenders didn’t get a lot to do, but of course, we look at the offensive part of the game a lot, so our combinations worked really well.”
On what’s allowing the team to play flowing, one-touch soccer…
“I think it’s just the mentality. We’ve been playing together for a while now. The two wing players, the really fast players, they run in behind and check in for the balls. Sometimes we can find them in behind and it’s pretty amazing. We play in training and try the combinations and of course, it’s looking very good. We just have to keep working on that.”
Notes:
- Sunday’s match between Portland and Minnesota United FC marked the second game of the 2016 Simple Invitational. The Chicago Fire registered a 3-2 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the opening game of the Simple Invitational.
- The Simple Invitational, Portland’s annual preseason tournament, kicked off its fifth edition on Sunday. The round-robin style resumes Wednesday and concludes Saturday.
- Fanendo Adi, Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri registered their first goals of the 2016 preseason on Sunday.
- A total of five different players have registered goals for the Timbers during the 2016 preseason: Asprilla, Adi, Nagbe, McInerney (2), Melano (2).
- There were two red cards issued in the match to Minnesota United FC, in the 45th and 62nd minutes.
