COLvSKC Quotes: “This was a great point for us”
Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes
Looking for the team’s first goal of the season…
I’m not worried about that. It’s very difficult to be on the road because we have two games in a row and then the one gets postponed while we were already gone. We didn’t have a good preparation for this game this week because of the short week and the trip home. We had to change so much of our itinerary. It was excellent for the lads to concede at least that point in two games, which was good. We could have done something in Portland too. The good thing is that it’s good from a performance perspective. We build. It’s early in the season and we have a few guys who have yet to get back into the team. We’re missing eight players.
About the play by John Pulskamp…
Especially early in the season you will suffer in situations where things are happening and your keeper has to make saves that will keep you in the game. In these moments you don’t break. The first save he made and then the other where Cole kind of came in, this game was a tough ball for him because the space closed very quickly. John did a really good job anticipating the room so he quickly closed it so there was no way around it. John made it big in the game when he had to and that’s what your goalkeeper has to do.
There are times they don’t get shots and then they get one and they have to make a save to keep us in the game. There are other times like tonight when there was a lot going on. Also the other thing, the physicality he had to stay in the game. There were a few situations he got into where bodies were colliding all over the place, and he found a way to stay in the game. He sure is a tough young goalkeeper.
On the challenge of playing in Colorado…
It was just difficult because of the shift that we had in Portland and the fact that we were still in Arizona preseason trying to prepare and avoid the bad weather and then we were faced with the shift . Then we have to stay in Portland an extra day for the charter and everything else. It was just difficult from that point of view, but the guys did a good job of keeping their focus. That was a great point for us and the fact that we were able to push through a lot of things and still manage the guys with their minutes.
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy
They were good in the first half. You had many chances. They made it difficult for us to play offensively and defensively, but as the game progressed we got used to it. In the second half we created our own chances. We have to score. But the point is good. It’s okay for everyone, for both teams.
About the team’s game in the second half…
We made small changes at half-time. But in the end we tried not to play with too much risk during the game. In the second half we waited for our top places and our chances. We got our chances. If you end up with a bit more luck, we win the game. But the point is okay.
To adapt to weather conditions and MLS requirements…
It’s different, because here in the USA you have to travel 2-3 hours by plane and in Germany you have 2-3 hours by bus. It is different. Today, especially in the first half, we felt that. The air was missing. But each of us has the same conditions and therefore we have to get used to it. I like that. I feel good here. We have to keep going.
On the excitement for next week’s home opener…
Each of us is on fire right now. We need a good training session during the week and to be prepared for the next home game. I know our fans will push us and give us energy on the field like they did last season. We are very curious.