Toronto FC 2, New York City FC 2
Q. Very much the proverbial game of two halves, what did you see from the side, and where did that burst come in the second half come from?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, what you see. In the first half, we have two good goals. I think the difference between the first half and the second half, the second half we did not have too much to lose, so we go to press higher to be one-on-one on the pitch.
So we tried to force. We know we are strong here at home, so I think this is the way to win the game and to play, and we tried to play with the heart and we go forward and we try to win the three points or almost do it.
Q. Can you comment on the difference, the young fellas, Achara and Priso, in the second half what they brought to the game?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, we try to help the young guys. We know they have quality. We know Ralph have power and he have quality to play behind, so give control of the ball.
We know Achara, he fast, he can play, he can run behind and he can play with us. Yes, he show in the second half that he can play on this team. So we are proud of the young guys. Also he need to help the team and he show in the second half he can play in the team, and so we are happy for them.
Q. It's nice to see you playing and smiling and scoring. How frustrating a season has this been? Last year you were always playing; you were healthy, and this year it seems like little things have been getting you down. How frustrating has it been for you?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, a difficult time. We come here and the COVID, after we go to or an low, like three months alone in the hotel, we come back and I'm injured in the qualifier for three months, and after we come back in Toronto, and again in the groin; difficult time for me.
But I try to change something. I try to change to eat better, to sleep a little bit better also, to do something to go forward, and now I feel very good. I feel very good today. I try to -- going forward, because we know these last two, three months, it's important for us and for the league, and we know we have a good team. We try to go to the playoff and after the playoff, whatever can happen.
So I'm here. I go forward. I start to play. So I hope everything goes better. But I feel very good.
Q. You mentioned you had injury concerns earlier this season but to get a goal and an assist, do you feel like personally you're going to start rounding into form as the team gets into the second half of the season?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, personally I feel very good today. Like last year, I feel good with the ball. I feel faster. I feel good with my teammates. So I try to keep going. I try to train good, to work hard and that's it.
I know I have quality to give to the team, to help to my teammates, to give like power to this team, and I'm proud to go forward and try to help the team. I want to win a trophy with Toronto. Everybody knows -- I'm working to do this, so I hope we can win in the future some trophies. This is my dream.
Q. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that may have been the first time you're wearing the captain's armband here at BMO Field. What does that mean to wear that in front of the fans, the captain's armband?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, I'm very proud to have the captain. You know, I was captain in my old team. I know it's a big responsibility, but I like it. I like to show I can give power to the team. I can give, I don't know, my work, my quality on the team. Everybody knows, everybody respects me also in this way.
So I want to help to the team and I feel very proud to represent Toronto and Spain in Canada. I like -- I like this responsibility; I like.
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