USL Championship 2009: PreGame Notable Quotables

Vancouver Whitecaps Say

On the past month:
“I think we’ve got a long off the field all along. We had a lot of changes in the lineups, a lot of injuries. We’ve just kinda become healthier and started to get results on the field, which you just get confidence and it grows, and we started working really well together. We came a long way since the start of the season.”

On Montreal in the NCC:
“It wasn’t a great thing for us, but we’re past it now and we’re concentrating on the final cuz I don’t think its gonna help us dwelling on that. I don’t think we need to talk about it. I think if some guys can use that to get them a little extra motivated, great, but I don’t think it’s something the team needs to dwell on.”

On how this ranks in his career:
“I’ve been through a lot of teams and I guess this is my fifth final. I think this is the team that had the longest shot to there so it’s quite satisfying to see this team be built almost from scratch at the start of the year. You get a real sense of accomplishment, and a sense of pride to be here and be in the final.”

Martin Nash

On the team’s progression:
“I thought we peaked at the right moment. I thought we had a lot of young players and it was really difficult, a learning process. But I thought we peaked at the right moment ,and it seems like this team has the heart of a champion – seems like we rise up to the occasion.”

On thinking about NCC vengeance:
“To be honest, yeah. But I think we’re gonna keep it for ourselves and make sure we win that thing and we do our talking after we win the championship.”

Charles Gbeke

On setting a tone:
“Being at home makes a huge difference in this league, so to get that home result, especially since we’re playing there first, it’s crucial. Then we can go on the road and hope to get the result.”

On Montreal in the NCC:
“He craftily towed the company line trying to avoid giving an answer, but the wry smile kind of gives an answer of its own.”

Luca Bellisomo

On his heart skipping in Portland:
“Yeah, on some occasions it did actually. The game just went back-and-forth, and quite a bit of stress for players also on the field.”

On the influence of performance against Portland:
“It can help a lot. We can build on this because even if we would have liked to have better structure in it, I think we performed very well offensively, and we scored three goals against a team that have been basically impossible to beat during the season.”

On Montreal in the NCC:
“Everybody remembers that, but that’s something we just put behind us for a long time ago. From then on we just focused on the rest of the season, and that’s possibly why we are here today.”

On expectations of the series:
“I think [the games] are going to be very similar to these games we played against them earlier – tough and tight. And the results can go both ways, basically, and I think that can be the case this time also.

On comparing his two seasons:
“The top performances this year have been better than the top performances this year.”

Coach Teitur Thordardson

Montreal Impact Say

“We’re not gonna change anything. We’re gonna analyze them, we’re gonna know their good points and weaknesses as well. We’re gonna look to win the first game. It’s important we go in with the right mentality away from home, and once we hopefully take care of business away from home, then we can concentrate on the home game. It’s going to be a battle out there in Vancouver. It’s not going to be easy whatsoever.”

Adam Braz

“We know what to expect. We pulled up our socks and our mind is focused on the task at hand.”

Nevio Pizzolitto

“It’s gonna be an interesting two matches. I think we’re gonna do a good job preparing and [coach Marc Dos Santos is] gonna lay everything out for us and then in the end we just have to do our job. We’re only gonna be able to beat ourselves. I think we’re peaking at the right time. Hopefully, the team with the most spirit, drive and determination who really wants to win is gonna win this thing.”

David Testo

“The hard part of the season and the playoffs is gone already. This is the easy part I think because of all that we’ve been through, and grown so far during the whole season. Individually, every guy on this team has been through something. Collectively, the team has been through a lot also. It’s no bigger honor than to go out there and beat Vancouver on our home pitch.”

Stephen deRoux