Toronto FC 1, NY Red Bulls 1
Q. You must be pleased with the way your team fought back tonight. What did you think of the performance?
JAVIER PÉREZ: I'm happy again with the performance tonight. I cannot be happy with the result because here in this club, I think we strive for three points in every game, especially if we play at home, and the way we played, I think everybody wanted the three points.
But the performance, I like it. I think the first half, we knew it was going to be this kind of game where we find a side that plays with intensity, that they don't really play too much soccer; it's more disruptive the style, the type of style of soccer that they have. And we knew the first half was going to be like that.
But the second half we knew the game was going to open up. Our players were going to be able to play a little more with the ball and display the style of play that we like more.
Unfortunately right away when we started the second half, we concede that goal. We fought back to get a tie. It's one more point. It is five points in the last three games, and then build up for Chicago with the mindset to go there and get another three points.
Q. You mentioned the goal you conceded in the second half. What did you make of the way that it came about? Could Omar have done more to prevent it?
JAVIER PÉREZ: Again, I think like I have to watch it, right. I didn't watch it on TV or on camera. I have to watch it a little bit more. Can you do a little bit more, you cannot do a little bit more. At the end, the goal, it put us in a situation of a disadvantage, and the team fought back, got the tie, confined the team to their own half and we got chances to get the win. But I think result is the result, right.
Q. Just wanted to get your thoughts on Priso's performance tonight and if there's an update?
JAVIER PÉREZ: Yes, I think right before the game, I mentioned that everybody on the game should be ready for a game like today. The chances the players are getting coming out of the bench are going to be limited, but they have to enjoy these chances.
I think Ralph proved today that he deserves that chance, and he earned trust, my trust and the trust of the team. He had a really good performance winning battles, 1v1s in the middle of the field. He scored, and first game I think he plays here at home and he came away with one goal. So I think it was a good night for him.
Q. How close is Jozy Altidore to starting again?
JAVIER PÉREZ: Yes, you can see tonight is a little bit closer than last week. We will evaluate. I need to see the players, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow morning, how they recover, if they are ready for the next game in Chicago.
So I cannot make an evaluation right now. It's a very tight schedule. It's three games in ten days. We have to be cautious, right. I men, when he comes, he makes -- he change the team atmosphere, everything, right. Everything comes up, a player of his quality. The question is: Can he play from the beginning; can he play 60, can he play 90.
I have to discuss with my medical staff, with my staff, if it's something that he's ready for with him, as well. He will start when he will start. We are not in a hurry. We are very happy with the performances that he is doing in the last couple of games, and he takes the time just to make sure that he's 100 percent. At the moment we are very happy with his development.
Q. What did you say to your team at halftime there heading into the break still scoreless?
JAVIER PÉREZ: I said exactly what I think that happened; that we knew we were a little bit frustrated because we didn't play as well as the last game. I say to relax, to take a breath and in the first half we knew it was going to be like that because that's the type of opposition New York Red Bulls is. It's a disruptive team. They don't let you play.
But the second half, the legs, as they get a little bit more loaded, it's more difficult to cover ground and to put pressure. It will be better for us to start touching the ball, stay calm, and the plays are going to flow.
So I think that was the message at halftime, and that's I think what happened in the second half.
Q. Is there any kind of update on Auro Junior's condition?
JAVIER PÉREZ: At the moment I think he's struggling. I have to say, I just saw him after the game. The only thing I can say is that it doesn't look good. But it's unfortunate that he got hurt. Now he's going to be examined by our medical team and we will determine what is the injury.
Q. We've spoken before about solidifying the defense. It seems like the opponent's playbook is to come in and ex-plate the first few minutes; how do you counteract that?
JAVIER PÉREZ: It's just attention, attention to detail. We work very hard in the background to provide the team with the most information possible so we minimize those risks, but these risks, they are always there. I think that we don't have to forget this is the third of the season, and I think those mistakes are going to go away as we progress, because we made that mistake once, but not twice. We have to minimize these mistakes.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports