Armas On Upcoming Playoff Game vs P. Union


Chris Armas

On the feel of this year’s playoffs compared to 2018…

Yeah, there is. There is for all of us that we feel like we’re a much different team in a much different place. We know that we’ve had challenges here that mostly every single team has faced. Some have made the cut, some haven't made the cut and we feel like we’ve been put to the test as a team, like really tested in a lot of ways. For that, we stronger for it and only adversity can do that to you. Otherwise you're just talking about when things come and tough moments come. But we really feel like we’ve had to ask tough questions to ourselves as staff, to tactics, to our style of play, how can you evolve things, how can individuals be better. We’ve really taken hard looks and I think that’s probably, it’s the way to grow. So we feel like we're a different team, a better team and more equipped to go after this.

On what to expect from the Union on Sunday…

Well yeah I know Jim well and I’m happy to say that I do. I was his teammate for many years and its nice to see him being acknowledged for an even coach of the year possibility. You know, he's done really well over there and even maybe some of his best stuff has come in some of the years that haven't gone their way. He's had to dig deep and keep that team together. That's impressive that he’s done that and now he’s been armed with certain quality players that have helped him bring some of the ideas to life even more, with more quality. You know it’s not just high in the league in chances created, he’s actually scoring lots of goals. I’m really happy for Jim and he’s a darn good coach and he’s also my friend so its cool to see him do well. Listen, I think Jim would probably think the same, we know what this game is going to look like. We know that if you get caught up with hate and words like that, it’s not. It’s going to be two teams that want to win and advance. But we also know it becomes so much about little things that go into that. Look at both of our games. Yeah, they were different games but we felt really good about the second game. Even in there we clear one off the goal line, it’s tight, its always tight with them. At their place, we’re two nothing up on the road playing against probably the first placed team at the time. We showed up. So we feel that yes Philly will be in the way, they're a top team and we'll have to be at our best but we'll make sure we go after it in the right way with the right plan and the right mentality with a lot of respect for Philly, but we'll be up for it.



Luis Robles

On if this playoff game will contribute to the rivalry with the Philadelphia Union…

It’s funny when we talk about rivalries because it feels like we have so many of them. Part of that is because for the last five years, last six years, we've been a top team and when you win the supporters shield three times in five years, or six years or however many years it was there's a target on your back and it may not necessarily be the same target as MLS Cup, but you also don’t play everyone in MLS Cup. In the regular season you play everyone so there’s a little bit more fodder for the fire. Philadelphia is one of those teams that I think because of the vicinity and in some of the games, the way that they play, the way that we play our style doesn't like their style. Sets up nicely for that. But I do agree with you it's a game in the playoffs where there's a lot on the line that can fuel a rivalry and look everyone in our locker room, we know what to expect. A very good team has been well coached all season long, that is going to bring the right mentality and physicality to the game and we have to match it and if we match it and put the game on our terms, it bodes well for us.


On how the rivalry with Philadelphia has grown…

I mean, the one that I think of right away is Jesse running off the field and then the time Jesse kick the balls on the field or took the balls or something, so Jesse isn't a part of that but no, I can't say that there's one specific moment even though we play them in US Open Cup it was front of no one, right. I think the time that we lost in Red Bull Arena there was 17 fans in the stands and the other time that we played them and went all the way to the final it was maybe 1,500 2,500 fans there. But I will say this personally, Philadelphia is a really fun place to play. The atmosphere that their supporters bring, our supporters bring really makes it feel that there’s something exciting to play for. Now you factor in the playoffs and it’s going to make it all that more exciting.



Tim Parker

On the Union’s attacking abilities…

They got guys on the move. Their forward movement is very good, not just with Przybylko but with Picault on the outside and then you got Bedoya running through. So we just have to kind of keep track of runners and communicate pretty well in the back line.