Bob Bradley Game Quotations

From our standpoint, this is the most important game we've played yet and the responsibility is on us to really make this into a true rivalry.

We looked hard at some of the things that we did wrong at the end of the game yet we made sure everybody understands that it is that kind of hard work that will eventually turn those games into wins. There were a lot of good signs. I really thought the response coming out of the second half was excellent. We picked up the level of play. We did a good job of pushing to get the second goal. We'll learn from those mistakes.

Looking back on calls never gets a team anywhere. The game is still like that and you have to focus on how you improve. You hope the breaks balance out over the season. Things have gone against us a little bit the last two games but it doesn't change what we want to do.

Last weekend was a weekend when a few results kept things very tight. I still believe that it says a lot about the conference that everybody's grouped so closely and that really winning a game at the right time, making a couple of plays at the right time, those are the things that really will determine the standings and the playoff pairings.

I think you have to make it a two-way game that puts them under pressure and highlights some of the areas where they are not as strong. Give them credit. They've had a good season. They're a balanced team and work hard. They've got a bunch of players that have been together, know each other and seem to have fun playing together.

We're a different team. We are making progress. That doesn't mean it's always going to happen all at once. The game can be cruel sometimes. I still remind the players that that's true on all levels. I mentioned Bayern Munich-Manchester United to them today because that is one of the most obvious examples.

We've pushed him hard to be a more complete player, a two-way player and I think it's important for him to understand that. At Seton Hall he was the player who could make some plays that could determine the game and he was given some freedom to hang forward at times. I'm not sure he'll fill that role here. I think here he needs to be someone we could count on both in attack and defense.

We feel like we are going in the right direction. But we also recognize that becoming a good team is hard work and you learn to deal with things that go against you, whether it's a game that goes against you or calls at key moments because you have to be able to deal with the things that don't go your way in order to become very good.

Not good goals, obviously a ball turned over early in the first half and Ryan Pore was able to get Jeff on the wrong foot and Tony was cheating a little bit, thinking that the ball was coming across and he got caught. We worked hard to get back to 1-1. Now to continue that push and keep the game even until we get chances to win. Again, early in the second half, it was a tough goal to give up.

It's like any other game. Early on it will be a battle to see which team can get the edge, can impose itself on the other team. They'll enter the game with more optimism, excited about some new talent. But then it's our job, especially at home, to get on top of them in a way that takes that factor out of the picture.

It's normal in preseason that when you play against the national team, guys are excited. It's a little different kind of game than normal. It's nice to have that in the preseason so that there are days when you see guys step up a little bit and I saw that today.

It was good for our team to trade the first pick, because we got three excellent players and not just one. Jason is a great defender. I like the way Sacha sees the game and the way that Jonathan moves on the left side. I'm really happy about our picks.