D.C. United 3, Toronto FC 1
Q. Justin, congratulations. It was great to see the ovation you received today and the reception from the fans. Can you just tell us your emotions tonight?
JUSTIN MORROW: A little bit of everything. You know, mostly it's joy. I'm the only happy guy in the locker room today because it's been a tough season, but for me, I obviously have thoughts on my career and all the beautiful moments I've shared here, and to see the crowd here today and for them to show up and give us that meant a lot.
This club has just been my life for eight years, and they always go above and beyond and they did again today. Took care of my family and have a wonderful party for me and my friends and family and whatnot, it's just a really nice day.
Q. Congrats on a great career in Toronto, although you still have one game left. How did the atmosphere feel out there? The weather was nice for this time of year. Had a good crowd everything and else. You didn't get the result you wanted, but how did the atmosphere feel out there?
JUSTIN MORROW: It was incredible. It was incredible. Everyone really showed up tonight. It felt like the old times out there in the second half, we were pushing the game, trying to get some shots on goal and trying to make something happened. It really felt like it always has. I felt that rarely since the pandemic.
So it was nice to go out like that. It's just unfortunate that we couldn't pull it out tonight and get the three points for everyone that showed up, but I really appreciate everything.
Q. Before the game on the scoreboard, the club ran a tribute video which had comments from your parent and your wife and your daughters, and others. What did that mean to you?
JUSTIN MORROW: It was amazing. I was making jokes because when I saw it, I thought they were going to make me cry. I was giving them a hard time to get the water works out of me. It was nice to know that everyone who spoke on that video are lifelong friends. Those are the things that put a smile on your face about your career and the special teammates you had, the guys that you've been through hell with, and to come out the other side is a special bond that you forge.
Every single one of those guys I will check up on when I'm done playing. When I'm in their city, I'll meet up with them for coffee, and some special ones in there like Michael, Beta, our families hang out with each other. It's nice to hear from those guys and I can't wait to enjoy watching with them from the other side when some of them it's their turn, too. We have Juan and Drew, those guys are going to play forever till their legs fall off. Love those guys and everyone on there was really special.
Q. We saw you do a little tour, can you speak to your connection with the fans and maybe what was like to see yourself in that form today?
JUSTIN MORROW: It was a special one. It means a lot to me. I think we share that love and honestly they showed me that today, and you could tell that I really mean a lot to them and that's really special and something that won't be forgotten in this club, and that's all could I ask for.
Q. First I'd like to thank you for all that you've done here during your time in Toronto, congratulations on a wonderful career. I know you're a Cleveland guy, Browns won today, so go Browns.
JUSTIN MORROW: Don't hold it against me.
Q. Over your time here, outside of the MLS Cup, what sort of enduring memory do you have of Toronto and your time here in Toronto?
JUSTIN MORROW: Oh, man, it feels like phases. We were talking about it today, someone asked me what was my first Toronto FC -- it was against Seattle, scored two goals and we won, and it was a big turning moment for the club. Obviously we had some big moments that year but it didn't go exactly how we all wanted to. The club doubled down and they went out and got Tsuba, Jozy, Mitch for the first time in 2015, I remember Tsuba coming back and scoring that goal and the crowd going crazy -- knew that we had something good going on. Some more tweaks and brought in Beta, opened a new stadium, might be getting my years mixed up. That was the first time it felt like a real team that could accomplish something in 2016.
Big defining moment with Johnson scoring that goal and making the championship, breaking his leg. Went to MLS Cup that year. I had a really good year but we came up short and I missed the penalty kick in the final that. Was a big moment in my career. Dealing with something as heavy as that, but it just lit a fire in me and a fire in everyone else. Knew that we had a really good team, the best in the League and that's what spurred us on in 2017. We had the knives between our teeth the whole year and we wanted to show our quality because we had it, but also because the City deserved it. They wanted a champion for such a long time.
The club deserves it. They have always had the ambition. It was the first time they put it all together. And I remember all the games. I remember -- getting a hard time because of plays I remember more than anything else in the whole world it sticks with you, and the good moments, the bad moment, I'll take it all with me.
Q. It was a nice gesture from Javier to take you off right before the final whistle there. What did that moment mean to you, getting off the pitch there and what did he say to you after?
JUSTIN MORROW: He said -- I was happy -- I was pretty tired. You was trying to get in there and sneak in a goal. It was a special moment to be able to have that with this season that we had. Who knows who is going to be around next year, and saying good-bye in a positive way, that I'll never take for granted, and that moment is something that I'll remember forever walking off. It's time for the next generation.
In the off-season, decided to came back, gave as much as I could to the team but you've seen a lot of guys play for a long time here, and for me, it's time for our club to take the next step forward, and it's the new generation.
Q. I wouldn't expect you to announce what's next for you now because it's not the time but do you know yourself and when can we expect some sort of announcement as to what lies in the future?
JUSTIN MORROW: I do know. I'm not ready to publicly announce it. I want to wait until after the season is over. But we've got a championship, we've got a final to play against our rivals, so everyone is focused on that and ready to get to work on it tonight. Obviously there's a bad taste in everybody's mouth, so we have one chance left to bring a positive out of a really tough season, so we are going to be fighting nail and teeth to be bringing home another championship and one last trophy.
It's special to have a moment like I did tonight and have it not be over and not be retirement. I have one more crack at it, whether I'm on the pitch or not, to know that we have two weeks to prepare for something, to come in and play a really meaningful game with something on the line to take something out of our season, what more could you ask for as a player.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports