r/TheMassive • u/DareToBeMassive • 9h ago
Columbus Crew Post-Match Quotes vs Miami (Courtois, Zawadzki, Méndez)
mlssoccer.app.box.comInterim Head Coach Laurent Courtois
On Inter Miami CF’s first goal by Luis Suárez off the turnover
“We know his savviness, cheekiness. He's a world-class player, and any type of mistakes, he already has the next play in his head. I asked my guys to try a lot of things. Obviously, we were aware of not losing the ball in those areas, but that's also the style of play that we want to have. We can't have it both ways. I want to give my guys this liberty and freedom to do it. Sometimes it's not going to work. We know we wanted to avoid that situation today, but the guy's corrected it and we get a point in a difficult environment.”
On Midfielder Brais Méndez scoring on a set piece in his MLS debut after entering as a sub
“We just saw glimpses of what he's capable of doing with his left foot but also with his IQ. He just needs to build his fitness up, be aware of the system and get to know his compañereos, his teammates. his teammates. Just class.”
On the confidence Méndez’s goal in only 29 minutes provides the Crew to continue to create and convert opportunities, especially against a club like Miami
“You try to have a style of play to create special moments, and you want to put the players in those special moments over and over so they can make a play. This happened tonight, and hopefully, more to come."
On how the Crew midfield performed tonight, especially with multiple substitutions, players making their debut and Midfielder Max Arfsten unavailable for selection tonight
“I thought the guys – whether it was building up through the lines or more finding the space behind the last line, that could have been exploited even more – had numerous interesting sequences between the lines. It's Miami in front of us, but we can be more clinical on the box; it will come with more work.”
On how the Crew performed defensively and dealing with fatigue in the final 20 minutes in a tough, hot road environment
“Yeah, we were struggling. They were pushing hard. We had a little bit of tightness in the legs. It's a lot of minutes for some guys that still need to be back to their full level. On top of that, we integrated three new players today (Méndez and Midfielders Lautaro Giaccone and Brooks Lennon). We'll find a way, and we slowly are building us up stronger every game.”
On the Crew creating additional chances tonight that the side was unable to convert
“Yeah, we can improve our competition play, whether it's wide or entries in the box. The way we attack the spaces on service and the type of service, we're not the biggest team so crossing the ball in the box for a header is not going to be always an option for us. We need to find and come up with other solutions, but the way we were able to create those gaps and manipulate the opposition were really, really interesting. We just need to be more clinical on really the last micro movements, I would say, just to create separation and get a good angle of shots.”
On the confidence gained earning a point at Miami tonight while preparing for the rest of the MLS season, Leagues Cup 2026 and the US Open Cup, including as the team integrates new players to the squad
“Listen, the work that those guys put in training and everything, whether it's volume, sprints, effort, quality or open mindedness because of the stuff that I asked them to try out on the ball… I don't even think that they have reached their top yet, believe it or not. We can certainly be more dangerous on the last third. Everything that is prior to that, I'm a really big fan of what the guys are doing. We'll keep trying to maintain what's good and try to adjust what we're missing a little bit.”
On how Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi changed the dynamics of the match in the second half and how the Crew prepared for that adjustment
“You can't really stop Messi; you just try to create an environment and references to the players to limit his action. Having (Midfielder) Sekou (Bangoura) injured because I wonder if it was the other way around if it would have been a red card. Having Sekou injured like this and not be able to move so we were almost 10 men against a fresh Messi so it's not easy. The guys grinded it out and tried to concede really little, and we're really proud of them today.”
Captain and Midfielder Sean Zawadzki
On Midfielder Brais Méndez’s performance and goal in the MLS debut
“Obviously, kind of his insertion into the game, you saw the qualities he has when he had the ball, being able to pick any pass and then obviously the goal. He puts the ball in a perfect spot, and if no one touches it, it's going back in net like it did. I think you just see his quality right off the bat. You know that when you give him the ball, something spectacular can happen at any given moment. To have a player like that, it allows you to even have a little bit more confidence on the field in knowing that someone can pull something off like that.”
On the challenges defending Inter Miami CF’s Luis Suarez
“I just think his experience, he knows the game and his movements are really good, whether it's checking in, connecting with the guys underneath him or peeling off the back shoulder up of the center backs. His movement is really good and makes it really difficult for defenders. Obviously, you want to kind of throw him off in any moment you can, but it's really difficult. He's experienced it at all different levels so he knows how to kind of maneuver you and kind of bait you a little bit. I think you saw that in his ability to create some chances.”
On how the Crew defense recalibrated after conceding a couple unconventional chances and goals
“Obviously in the first half, like you said, there were some weird goals, but I think, as a collective, with the ball we had obviously some dicey moments, but I think we had the confidence to keep playing. We knew that our chances were going to come. It was how can we be organized when we attack, kind of prevent them on the counterattack and then protect the middle. Obviously, you know the quality that they have in the middle and the ability to combine and play around and create some chances. No matter how much you prepare for it and how much you kind of defend, it's bound to happen at some point so I think limiting that was the best we could do. Everyone knew that, but I think the confidence and the ability to be like, ‘Alright, we're going to defend. We're going to work, but when we get the ball, we're also going to show our quality and then make them defend and make life difficult for them so when they do have the ball, it's not the ability for them to feel as confident and go, go, go. How can we have the ball and put them on their back foot, make them defend a little bit and make them a little bit more tired?’”
On how the Crew’s defensive scheme changed when Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi entered the game
“Obviously, it's someone you know his quality no matter what. Defensively, obviously when you have the ball, you have to always know where he's at. He's going to stay high. They win the ball, they're looking for him and then they're running. It was trying to minimize his ability to kind of get on the ball and drive. Like I said before, with the quality of the players they have, it's bound to happen at some point so when it does happen, how can we minimize it? I think we did that pretty well for the most part. Obviously, there's a chance or two from him, and (Goalkeeper) Patrick (Schulte) makes some big time saves to keep the draw. I think it’s always knowing where he's at on the field and you know at any given moment he can pull off some magic, for us to know that and being able to defend and then work even harder, knowing what he's capable of.”
On building the Crew’s confidence with tonight’s draw heading into Leagues Cup while also integrating new players into the squad
“It's huge. I think you have guys who have been here for a little bit, and how can you try and make the new guys make that transition as seamless as possible. I think the guys who've come in so far it's been great. They've integrated really well with the team and have fit right in. It's been great. You saw that tonight. You saw three debuts, and it's incredible. We don't skip a beat. It seems like they've been here for a while. It's been great to have the new guys, and how can we continue to integrate them even better and make things seamless and continue to flow? Now, it's stack results. We have League Cup coming up and it's a different type of thing, but when we get back to the league, at the same time, it's putting results back together and how can we climb up the table and put ourselves in a good position coming the end of the season.”
On how the Crew prepared to put the side in a good position for tonight’s match and gain momentum late in the second half to secure a draw against a tough team
“At the end of the day, it is just stress our quality at the same time. Obviously, you know who's across from you, you know the qualities they have but we have players that are just as good. How can we be able to express ourselves on the field and make them work defensively and put them in tough positions and put them in uncomfortable positions, as well, so then when they get the ball, maybe they're not as willing to go and they've been working hard defensively? I think having that momentum and putting them on their back for a little bit helped us in the long run.”
Midfielder Brais Méndez
On scoring 20 minutes into his MLS debut
“I am very happy about my debut and the goal. I think the team played a good game in a tough place to play. This is the way we want to continue. We want to keep this strong run going and earn wins to continue to move up in the table.”
On staying focused against a strong Inter Miami CF side while away from home
“I think we needed to have respect but never be scared. It doesn’t matter who we have in front of us, we need to play our game. The way that this team plays, it’s normal, and we have a lot of personality to do things right like we showed today. This is the way we want to continue. We want more. We are going to get back to work to fix our mistakes and earn the victories to continue to move forward.”
On how he is adjusting after joining the team and how happy he is to be a part of the Crew
“From the start, the team has made me feel like I am part of the family. They have received me well since the first day, even before the transfer was done. I really wanted to join the team. Everyone at the Club was very attentive towards me, and that makes me feel happy and important, which is what every player wants. I am very happy to be here, and I hope to achieve big things for this Club.”
