Chicago Fire Head Coach Veljko Paunovic
On the performance of John Goossens
“I think of course he was not only the one who scored the goal but he played a great game together with the rest of the guys. It was the game plan that we had and I think it was a fantastic evening. Very, very passionate, very hard game. Lot of opportunities. I think we created more but also I think San Jose played a very good game and they’re always dangerous. I think they’re a very good team and having said that, I think we have the hero of the game for sure sitting here, for scoring the goal and his play afterwards. I know it was very hard for him. He was injured for a long time and now coming back and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, for him it is very important. But we have to keep in mind, next week we have to recover and prepare for the next game. We need another win, that’s our message. And the job is not done. It’s just starting actually. We have to take advantage of this momentum, of this great spirit that we created in the last two games. I’m especially thankful to our fans who especially today, supported the team, suffered with the team when we suffered and in the end we culminated with a great victory.”
On how John is measuring up to expectations
“Yes, we believed that John, he’s always a great, talented player and he needed an opportunity like this one and I think in a country like the United States and a league like MLS he’s quality, first as a person, then as a player. He really fit in very well. We are very happy with his performance but he knows how I am. I am going to push hard and he now has to manage with his body because that’s what every professional has to do and also understand how important everyone, not only him, is in this locker room. Every time the team needs it, someone has to be ready to give his best and be positive and disciplined.”
On the play of Rodrigo Ramos
“I think he, as was everyone else, he committed to our game plan, and he did well. He’s quality, of course, with the ball and without the ball and running to those spaces to attack, to serve the ball and cross and then he’s just quality as you said before. And as John mentioned, he’s quality with playing, one with a teammate, two in good combinations through the middle with the teammates. It’s something that we need in our game and more consistently but I would say we were waiting for a game like today where we can see that everything works perfectly. Our defense, our attack, we created chances, we could have scored more goals, the spirit was great. Again, the connection with the fans was fantastic and now we have to build and build and I think also, on the other side, you can also see Brandon Vincent doing the same thing as Rodrigo so that commitment to the defense upon defense with two fullbacks who are very adventurous and very talented and they cross the ball but they also play to keep the defense. This is what we need. In every single division, everyone has his role and that’s what we were doing so far, understanding how those roles can stick together and work together perfectly to not only win games but be successful in the long term.”
On the return of a full strength attack
“We are getting there. There is a long way to go, but at least finally, we passed the maturity test today where we create a couple of times and the momentum of where we can step to the next level and we couldn’t for different reasons but I think today that was perfect, the perfect day. I think we have to do what we are doing so far and believe in our process, like we always we say, ‘process, process, process, faith, faith, faith.’ So we’ve won two games in a row because, for me, the Open Cup game was a great game and from that is what we need to keep working on and keep another strike of clean sheet games, so we’ll work on that.”
On being a tough team to play against
“Absolutely, I love it. The guys know how I express myself in the locker room. After we congratulate each other, I think this is our identity. We are building our identity and what we are doing now, we are actually starting to like it. I think to feel it and say, ‘we are tough’ and we are going to be tougher and we are going to be better.”
John Goossens, Chicago Fire Midfielder
On scoring the lone goal of the match
"It's hard to say, it's in one action. I think the ball went to Kennedy [Igboananike] and came back to me. The ball comes to you and you try to hit it on goal. I think it was hard for the goalie to see the ball because Kennedy stepped over it, so he was a bit late to react, that's why it went in. I think it was the perfect time to score. We had a good game, we had a lot of pressure on their back, and at the end I think it was a great evening."
On returning from injury
"Once you're back from injury, you just want to enjoy it, you're happy that you're back on the pitch. That's the biggest reason why I started playing soccer. I love this game. Every time, during a training, during a match, I try to enjoy it, try to be happy on the pitch. I will be more happy once you're back from a long injury. I'm just lucky that it's getting really well right now. I had a good game last week, had a good game tonight, but the next game is even more important. Today we had a good game, but it's the past. The most important is next week in Toronto, so I think that's the way we all should live. We want to win the next game."
On connecting with Rodrigo Ramos
"I think that's the way you play when you're having fun, you're doing your job, and in the meantime you are having fun. Rodrigo is a great player who can run 90 minutes. That makes it easier for me. When he's coming, the defender has to make a decision on what to do, stay with me or to go with Rodrigo. I think we have a great combination and we have to keep working on that to make it even better, to make it more difficult for the defenders."
Rodrigo Ramos, Chicago Fire Defender
On helping earn a win
"We needed to win, so I felt that I needed to step up and help the team win the game, so I needed to push forward a little bit."
On his work in attack
"It's one of my strengths, being strong up top, and I'm trying to use that to my team's advantage. The team is lacking assists, so I am hoping to give the team some more."
On playing with John Goossens
"It's not only with him, I have also been communicating well with other teammates in training. I just have to get adjusted to the position Goossens plays to see where he is most comfortable."
