Head Coach Oscar Pareja
General thoughts on the match…
Well I think I can divide it into two halves. The first half where it took us 20 minutes to get used to the game and the demands of the game. Then we worked it out and we had much more going in the attack and we had a pair of clear chances to score in the first half. We had the game controlled going into the locker room. In the 2nd half, Tauro stood up well and we couldn’t find more ideas, I think we wore ourselves out as the game went on. They had a chance on a set piece in which we know is a dangerous, effective play from them. Aguilar came to the first post, we failed in marking him and they got the goal. Then, the game fell to a dead point where we didn’t have the clarity to move forward and we were left without options. In that moment, Tauro had the advantage and the game became even slower. I think that's the frustration we had. We had 20 minutes after their goal in which we couldn’t react.
On Tauro FC…
The Tauro that I saw is a Tauro that planned. It’s a team that has a direct game with Aguilar up top, I think he played a good game today. Tamburelli and Sanchez played well behind him too. In that aspect, it was a well known how they play and what we saw on the field was that. Despite that know play, we controlled the game the majority of the time. The game changes in one set piece, where unfortunately we lost our focus. In these type of games, like your colleague said, when one loses their rhythm it’s hard to get back into the game. On Maynor and Tesho, I think they gave us a hand in the change of formation and we hoped we could have a bigger impact with Tesho up top and a bit more speed. We achieved to a point without clarity.
On returning home for Leg Two…
I think the series since there is a return leg, is still an open competition. I think it puts us on our toes knowing that the series is difficult as well as the opponent. In the moment that we are in we need to come back strong and go back to Dallas and get the result we need. In a way, like we planned. Today things didn’t go our way but in a week we will have another chance at home.
On finishing chances…
I think the chances that we created needed much more clarity. On the topic of the goalkeeper, today he influenced the game a lot just like we thought. I think we lacked finishing in the final third when we had the ball in the box to finish. By all means, we know he’s a goalkeeper with experience and a goalkeeper that came from not being a starter. But from our side, we need to have clarity and finishing when the chances are created.
Defender Reto Ziegler
On being a game with missed opportunities…
It was a big opportunity for us, but I think we played too soft today. We have to play more aggressive. This is our style. And maybe press them a bit higher up. We were waiting. And I have a feeling they wanted it more than us today.
On the challenge of two games in one week next week…
That’s what we like to play, a lot of games. Especially international games. This is a big opportunity for us and for the club and we cannot miss the second game [of this series]
Midfielder Mauro Diaz
On the missed opportunities...
Well we had opportunities and we couldn’t take advantage of them. We played on a tough pitch, one which was really heavy and the weather was also heavy. Anyways I think we had a great match but they found themselves a goal. We will wait for our home return next week.
On returning to form...
I feel great, each time getting the rhythm I want more. I had some passes towards goal but we couldn’t take advantage of them but
that's
just soccer and now we have the return home and we await the happiness of the fans.
On the challenge of two games in one week next week…
Yes but we know its hard. We are prepared for that and we had a great preseason so
it we
have to take it step by step and think in our next game to give the fans some happiness.
