Toronto 0, Inter Miami 3
THE MODERATOR: Thank you for being here, Justin, and congrats on appearance number 250 for the club.
JUSTIN MORROW: Thank you.
Q. You stole my thunder. I was going to wish him congrats. Congrats. That's a great big accomplishment. Just from your perspective, how did things play out tonight? How would you rate the team's performance against a Miami side that was struggling, it has to be said, coming into this game?
JUSTIN MORROW: Yeah. I mean, obviously, there were some unfortunate errors. And when you give that up early in the game and you're facing a team that is fighting for the playoffs, it's going to be tough.
But like all of these games at this time of the year, you try and take the positives out of it. Getting the young guys some minutes was a positive tonight. Jahkeele did really well. Nice to see him do what he's been doing in practice and put that on the field tonight. I thought it was a big step forward for him. So that was a good positive for them.
Q. Congrats on the milestone, Justin.
JUSTIN MORROW: Thank you.
Q. What does that mean to you? There's only like four regular season games left and whatever happens in the championship. But a tough game for the team tonight, but what does reaching that milestone mean to you given that you're going to be retiring at the end of the year?
JUSTIN MORROW: I mean, it means everything. It's, I think, a big story of my career being here, spending so many years trying to be a guy that's always available for the team each and every game no matter what the situation is or what the position is and just trying to be a good role model for the younger guys.
Still throughout my career, I was trying to be a leader, you know, trying to find my voice. And that was difficult at times because I'm not naturally that type of guy. So I'd always just try and lead by example. And if I can be a guy that's consistently out there every day doing the right things, giving the game the proper respect, then I think that's a good lesson for these young guys.
Q. Congratulations, Justin, on the milestone.
JUSTIN MORROW: Thank you.
Q. Injuries are obviously part of the game. But do you ever wonder about whether this team has bad mojo when Soteldo comes off just after you get Josie and Pozuelo back?
JUSTIN MORROW: Yeah. I think injuries are difficult to deal with each and every season. I feel that after COVID and the way that the schedule has been adjusted and now with World Cup qualifiers, it's just really, really congested. So it seems at times we've had different lineups, guys in, guys out. And that's just what it is right now.
I think we've shown that when we've been able to put a consistent 11 out on the field, that's when we've had our best moments recently. So hopefully we can get a good strong lineup out for Saturday and get ready for a big game against Montreal in front of our home fans.
Q. Justin, you know, there's not a whole lot of games left this season. But, you know, the team has put that semifinal against Pacific as sort of the next goal you guys have ahead of yourselves. What steps do you want to see the group take through these matches? And what did you see tonight that tells you it's going in the right direction?
JUSTIN MORROW: I think that there's something to take away from every one of these games. And I just want to see -- like everyone else, want to see the team compete. Like you said, this championship match coming up is big. But we have another one on Saturday. And I think that's the good thing right now that the games are coming quick and fast. So there's always a chance to rebound, to have a better performance pretty quickly.
And we need to show for our fans on Saturday, like, there's so much on the line even though we're out of the playoffs. So I'm looking forward to that, the team is looking forward to that. And then we have the championship to think about as well.
THE MODERATOR: Do we have another question for Justin?
JUSTIN MORROW: Did the Ravs win? Is it over yet?
THE MODERATOR: They're currently trailing 15 points with 24 seconds on the clock.
Q. Hey, I was recording that game.
JUSTIN MORROW: Sorry, Neil.
THE MODERATOR: Really sorry, Neil.
Q. You mentioned, like, trying to be a good role model for the young guys on the team and that kind of thing. Even though you guys played tonight, like, what did you think of the way 17-year-old Marshall-Rutty played, Shaffelburg played, Noble played tonight in a kind of tough situation?
JUSTIN MORROW: Yeah. I thought Jahkeele did really well. I thought that he was moving with the ball well. I thought he made good decisions on the ball. And I thought that he made some good attack plays. So I thought it was a big night for him.
And then each and every time that these guys get on the field, it's big lessons for them. It's important because we've had a team, by and large, that has been so consistent over the years. And so many guys like myself with a number of games that these chances have been few and far between for them. So it's so important every time that they get on the field that they really cherish it, that they step up, and that they take personal lessons from it.
I'm a big believer in personal growth each and every time that you're on the field. And these guys have to have the same mentality. They really have to be chomping at the bit. So these minutes are so important for them.
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