Post-game quotes: Columbus Crew - Toluca FC

March 9, 11:10 PMColumbus Crew ExaminerMatthew Bernhardt

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Here are the statements from the head coaches for the Columbus Crew and Toluca FC following tonight's 2-2 tie in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Crew head coach Robert Warzycha

I think overall the game was pretty good. We created some chances in the first half also, but you know Toluca is a good team and they punished us in the first half.

(...)

Absolutely not. I think in the end of the game we scored two goals in the second half, we pushed for the goals. Maybe a little bit quickness, maybe sharpness, but I think the players are pretty fit.

(the referee allowed a lot of things, did that benefit the Columbus Crew?)

I don't think so. Obviously the referee is a human being and can make mistakes, so one time it is going to be in your favor, and one time it is going to be against you.

(what can you take from the perfomance tonight for the rematch?)

I think we proved that we can score goals against a good, organized team. I think we took the chances from a distance, I think that Moffat, and Robbie, and other guys, they shot from distance, so that's going to probably be a key in Toluca, in the altitude. I think the overall fitness level was pretty good.

(did you miss Schelotto tonight?)

Absoutely. He's a good palyer, he's experienced, especially at home. You never know what would happen, but probably he would have helped if he would have been on the field.

(what was it like in the locker room after that second goal?)

Well, that's a bad time to give up a goal, basically. It was a long ball, and it bounced in front of two defenders. I'm giving credit to the guy who took the shot, because it was amazing. He struck it pretty clean, and he went upper 90, so it was a good goal. But as I said, it was a bad time to give up that goal, because it was just before half time.

We talked at halftime to shorten the field a little bit because we gave them too much space between defenders and midfielders, and in the second half I think we corrected that and it was a little bit better.

(talk about Lenhart's performance?)

As a forward, he's on the field to score goals, and he found himself today in a good spot. Obviously he should have had another one in the first half, with a little better finish I think he could have had a hat trick. But he performed well, he scored two goals, so I'm happy for him.

(a bit more aggressive approach in Toluca?)

We'll see what happens. Toluca, if you play in Toluca it is a very dangerious place with the altitude, then so we have to make sure we stay on our feet.

(happy with the speed of play in the second half?)

I was happy for most of the second half. I think in the end we got a little too excited, and we started to dump the ball to Stevie when he was between two and three defenders. So we couldn't get anything going.

I think our game is a passing game, and moving without the ball, and so for the most part in the second half we did that, and that's why we scored two goals and were successful. Especially against a team like Toluca, you have to give them some medicine that they're giving to you. I think for the most part I was happy with the second half.

(Renteria made a difference in the game...)

He played in a new position for him. He is a forward, but as he proved today we can use him also as a midfielder. He was very effective on the right side, he created some problems; I think he did well, especially with the second goal. He created that chance, he passed the ball to Stevie, and Stevie scored.

(what went into the decision to not play Sergio today?)

I talked today, that this is not the game for Sergio. I think that Toluca had some speed in the end, and the crosses weren't good, and I thought that we would have to go with someone else.

(what does the comeback say about this team?)

Obviously it was the first game, and it was a good start. We proved to ourselves that even against one of the best teams from Mexico that we can basically push them, and we can score goals at home. So that is very, very positive.

(on the travel plans for Toluca, and adjusting to the altitude)

Well, it is too late. You have to go just before the game, or you go two weeks prior to the game. We don't have time to do that, so we are going to go as late as possible.

Toluca head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre

(de la Torre spoke through a translator, and the press conference audio was not easily understandable at times. Following are the translator's comments which could be made out on the recording)

Good evening.

His expectations for the second leg are that we simply have to beat the Columbus Crew.

(are you happy with two away goals?)

No. He's very unhappy with the result, not happy with the two away goals. He is not happy with the impartial decision making from the referee, who allowed a lot of aggression, and a lot of fouls, which affected them more than the Crew perhaps.

Generally he's not one to make comments about the referee's performance, but based on tonight's referee's performance he made it clear to his players that they cannot depend...

(looking ahead to the return leg next week)

What do you do in the next leg. Normally he doesn't think about things more than one game away, which with a lot of respect to the people here from Columbus, he said that he'd basically focus on the game against Cruz Azul.

(on the support that Toluca has received from the Mexican-American community)

He's very happy; this is the third time they've come to play in the United States and they've gotten a lot of support from the Mexican community, so he's very happy about that.

He says thank you to the people of the Columbus Crew for the treatment that they've given them while they've stayed here.

(his thoughts on the Columbus Crew)

It is a very strong team, even though they are coming off their preseason, they are a strong team and they have strong, physical players.

(...)

No opinion ... it's not a foul because the referee allowed it.