Toronto 1, Forge 0
Q. John, obviously great result for the team. Speak about what you thought of team's performance against Forge?
JOHN HERDMAN: Yeah, it's a good Forge team. Said that before the game. They're a team that have played together for a long time and represent the Canadian Premier League really well.
That's a tough match. I think anyone that plays them, they know it's going to be a tough match. Really organized. Players have real team spirit and chemistry.
Coming into this we knew we had to, one, match their intensity and our quality would come through. Obviously more quality on the field. We knew we do our talking on the pitch as well, which I think that was important tonight.
Q. Congrats on the win and progressing to the final. From the getgo seemed like the team (indiscernible) really wanted it tonight. What did you tell them pre-game just to get them there and get them ready for this?
JOHN HERDMAN: I actually didn't say very much. We spoke tactically this week. We did a little tactical piece. Sometimes he do that with the big screens. As I said to them, I don't need to motivate you tonight. There is a final on the line. You just got to decide. You've got to decide whether you want this enough.
We're ready. We have got the talent. It was good. It was good. They made us work for it. It was never going to be easy. We had quite a few chances, but it's where our team is at. We're fighting. We really are fighting together and there is a real pride in that. Proud of this fellow as well making his debut. Watching Henry played tonight you can see he's going to bring a new level to this club.
Q. Henry, how did it feel make your debut, as coach just said, in such an important match?
HENRY WINGO: Yeah, it was a lot of fun, first of all. I like playing in these games where there is a lot on the line. There is in every game, but especially in these games where you're trying to win trophies and make it to the final.
So it was fun to play in a game of that magnitude and make my debut, just work together with the guys out there to try and achieve our goal. It was a special night.
Q. As a follow up, what was the feeling like before the match knowing your side was down 2-1 on the aggregate and that you needed a particular kind of result to advance? What was the feeling?
HENRY WINGO: Yeah, I think in that regard, not much changes. You know, whether you're playing a two-legged tie, doesn't really change much because we want to win every single game. It's like whether we're playing on the weekend in MLS, the mentality is always the same: We want to win.
In this game, whether we were ahead coming into this game, it doesn't matter. We still want to win. We're never playing for a draw. It's just the way we operate.
Q. (Indiscernible.) Maybe a different focus?
JOHN HERDMAN: Yeah, I mean, that was exactly it. We said mentally tonight was going to be the biggest challenge for the team. Just if it didn't come early to be patient, keep doing the things that needed to be done.
I thought they stuck to it well. It was -- again, Forge I thought defended really well in moments. Then we just missed some big chances.
But, yeah, that was a big part of the conversation, was they had to put a mental shift in and keep believing with our quality something will come.
Q. Lorenzo earns a yellow card (regarding Badibanga). This comes after the Houston game. Does this team need to show more discipline, you think?
JOHN HERDMAN: Yeah, we have to show more discipline. I think there was a few things in the first leg after the game that obviously upset Lorenzo.
Yeah, we do have to show more discipline. We'll discuss that with the players. I'm not sure who is suspended for the final.
Oh, wow. Okay. I wasn't aware of that. Just in this moment, I was right in the moment there. Really disappointed there, yeah.
Q. Again, also, I think if you remember, we spoke after your first game, and there was a (indiscernible.) Of course MLS matches you played of the matches, Leagues Cup, do you feel like having a nice variety of matches helps for a game like this?
JOHN HERDMAN: I mean, playing against Pachuca was a great experience. That's a very good team. And then some tough matches down in Miami. It's not the best place to go and play a football match. It's tough, but we definitely enjoyed it. It was a thriller.
I think with anything with the Leagues Cup, it's about staying in there as long as you can so you don't have those sort of two weeks of training.
Need that two weeks of training, but at the same time, it's been a tough schedule. To turn around from Houston, I don't think people understand that we arrive in at 5:00 a.m., when was it, Sunday morning? Monday morning? Sunday morning. I don't even know what day it is sometimes.
Yeah, Sunday morning and literally you're on the pitch and the medical team are giving you feedback on that day and then through the day on who is going to be available. Then you're thinking, we got Benteke (?) here at the weekend as well.
So lots to think about. I think Henry said it: They love these games, and he said every game is a big game for Toronto FC at the moment. We're just in that fight. We'll just keep fighting, keep pushing, and hopefully some of those chances will turn to goals and we might get an easier night where we can breathe a little bit more.
At the same time, I think it's building a bit of resilience for us for what's coming.
Q. Henry, we don't know who the opponent is yet. How much is this group looking forward to it?
HENRY WINGO: Yeah, I think it's massive for the team and for the club. Any time you have the chance to win a trophy it's a huge honor, and I think the group, especially in these last couple games, has showed the focus and the determination that it's going to take to hopefully win a trophy.
So I think everybody is really looking forward to it. It's a huge opportunity for us.
Q. For both of you, seemed like Bernardeschi was all over the pitch tonight, especially in the second half. What did you both think of his performance?
JOHN HERDMAN: Go on, Henry.
HENRY WINGO: I thought he was really good for us tonight. You know, he caused problems, like you said, all over the pitch. Whether it's starting on the right and finishing on the left or picking the ball up on the left and finishing on the right, it helps to create those overloads, and he's such is a powerful player, so I think you could see that the Forge team was struggling with his pace and power.
He had a lot of good opportunities and obviously did brilliantly to set up Lorenzo, so I think we're really happy to have him out there tonight.
JOHN HERDMAN: Yeah, I mean, he's a special player. You know, I think fortunately, Henry and with Shane O'Neil playing in that right wide center back position when he's playing at wingback, you need someone behind him that, one, can feed him and, two, can cover for him.
I thought particularly Henry and Fede built a good relationship tonight. They looked really comfortable together that was good. And his quality is there. He's just been such a strong influence on this club this season.
You know, it's been tough at times. We had a lot of injuries. He just shows up. He absolutely shows up. He's got a big price tag on his head and all those things, but the guy will put a shift in and win us football matches. Watching him and Lorenzo, that's what the fans want to see, so it was nice to see tonight.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports