Toronto FC 3, Chicago Fire FC 2
Q. Bob said that you haven't practiced much because of your injury. How do you feel physically? Are you 80 percent, 100 percent? 50 percent?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: No, I said before, this is my first game in D.C. since I play without pain in my body. I pushing a lot during the last four, five games with some problem in the ankle, some problem in hamstring. I put some injection in my hamstring to push, to help the team but I play almost all season with pain. I said to the physio today, I said to Chelo, my personal physio that before the game, I feel good before the game. This is my first, almost first game that I play without pain in my body. So I am very happy for this and also happy to help the team.
Yeah, for the win, it's important winning, against Chicago, we know they are behind us and these three points at home is very important for us.
Q. Does the international break come at a good time for you?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yes, of course. We have one more game next week. We have final cup. So I hope we can win this trophy, 2022. Yeah, we need to look forward. These three points are very important for the confidence for the team, and, yeah, we need to go forward. We need to improve ourselves. Yeah, this is a very important game.
Q. The second goal, how did it unfold for you. Were you surprised they didn't shut down earlier?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: We tried to play at home like a good football, like try to press high and yeah, Chicago, they played good today. They push us to different a little bit more. We try to force some counterattack, and yeah, my second goal is like, I think they loosen the ball to try to play behind. They lose -- they pass to me and I only focus to finish. This is my favorite position to shoot over to my post and yeah, I have a little bit of luck to score this amazing Gold Medal and to help the team. This is important for me for confidence.
Q. Before the two goals, you went and talked to the coach about something on the sidelines. Do you talk about tactics?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: No, what I speak with the coach, yeah, I try to help the team, what I saw in the inside, maybe agree, but I try to say to him, we need to protect more to the middle. Yeah, he puts Ralph to the middle and we are winning. This is a good communication and very important.
Q. What's the vibe in the locker room like after a match like that?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Good, with music with rigatone (ph) Carlos is the DJ to the dressing room, and yeah, it's good because we know before the game we need these three points. They are like a team behind us, and yeah, these three points, not three points is like six points, at home, with our fans, this is the more important three points in the season.
So we need take confidence, we need to look forward and keep going.
Q. Do you think your physical problems are behind you now?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, I feel good. I try to training hard, to protect myself, to work in the gym with Chelo, with the physio. Yeah, I have a little bit unlucky with my ankle in the Cincinnati game. They kick me in behind, and I feel some pain in my ankle in the bone. So now I feel better. I try to take pill. I force myself because I know I need to help the team, and need me. I try to give my maximum.
I think professionally, I need to give my hundred percent to the team.
Q. What about mentally?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: I feel good. Mentally I feel strong. But you know, in football, sometimes you need to force, sometimes the players play with pain, play with some problem. I'm a player, like I like to play every time. If I feel something, some player, they want to go out and I want to push myself. I try to push with pain, without pain. I know my body and whiffle good, whiffle without pain, I know I can play like this because I show you before in 2019, 2020, last year I have some problems. But this year, I focus myself to play, and, yeah, I look forward to play like this all games.
Q. You said you were trying to prove something. Are you proving you're back to your 2019, 2020 form?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: This is my last year of contract here, so I try to push myself to play the best way to help the team. What you say; I know I play good in 2019, 2020. What I said last year, I have some problems in my life in, my body but now I'm focused 100 percent to help the team. I feel pretty good. And this game gives me confidence for sure to look forward to try to give my hundred percent to the team, and yeah, to try to play.
I know if I feel good and I play without pain, I can play like this because I show you in 2019, 2020, I know the league, I know the teams, and yeah, I can do it for sure.
Q. Are talks going on about a new contract with your agent?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: No, I always say I'm happy here, so this is a good question for the president, for the coaches. I'm professional. I know this is my last year for the moment here, and yeah, I try to play like this to help the team. I'm professional, and yeah, I try to give my best, the easy way. Some players, when they have their last year, and they have some problem or pain in the body, they try to protect because it is the last year. But I'm not a player like this. I try to play with pain, without pain. I try to help the team, help Toronto because they give me a lot. So I try to push myself to give the maximum to the team.
Q. We asked the coach and he didn't want to comment.
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: So, there you go.
Q. Mentally, is it tough playing in the last year of your contract?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: No. I'm 30 years. I have my money. I have my life, so I play to enjoy. I don't need anymore. So I play to enjoy, to play for my family, for my friends. I try to enjoy. I don't need anymore.
Q. But you'd like to stay here?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: Yeah, for sure. I'm happy here. But this is football. Sometimes you are here. Sometimes you are in another place. You never control this.
What I say, I push myself so I can give my maximum.
Q. You mentioned money wasn't really --
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: No, this is not my problem right now.
Q. Would you consider a non-designated player contract?
ALEJANDRO POZUELO: We can speak a lot about this but this is not the moment.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports