Philadelphia Union TALK about HOW TO BEAT Colorado Rapids in the Leagues Cup

yeah look uh obviously we're disappointed not to get to the final that was the ultimate goal uh we were beat by a very good uh Columbus Crew team um we have to regroup quickly now uh in our own building in Subaru Park put on a good performance for our fans and and get that Champions League birth so um while it is disappointing and it's it's hard um I think the group will recover quickly and put on a good performance tomorrow yeah look we know how important it is um to play in the Champions League were're experienced in in that competition uh at this point in time um we know how important it is we we enjoy those you know those battles uh against some International competition and you know it's all to play for in the third place match and we're excited and we're up for it hi Jim with uh Danley making his debut against Columbus how would you assess his performance including his flip down speed on gu yeah so um I think you saw a glimpse of of what what Danley brings um you know whether were in the lead you know defending a lead or uh you know coming in at at the end to you know help close out a game in the future um you know Danley is going to be a guy that um works his way into Fitness Works his way into the starting group at at some point here soon um but you saw his ability to win balls cover ground um his athleticism uh is on display every training session I think you saw that against the crew uh after a you know unique start where he has the collision with Jacob for for sure I think he settled in uh nicely did his job um but obviously he would trade any performance for for a win um but I think you start start to see um the reason we scattered him the reason he fits Philadelphia and I think he's going to have a really bright career here in Philadelphia you've spoken about in the past how it's difficult when you guys bring in new players and you guys play so many games in a consecutive week um how do you go about acting Danley who he's new to the league new to the team yeah so look he's he's played in in French league won so uh you know it's not going to be uh too much of a surprise for him uh the level whether it's Columbus whether it's Miami in the future whether it's uh Colorado tomorrow um he's played against PSG you know so he can he can adapt and adjust to the level pretty quickly uh the one thing to be said is he is still in his probably second to third week of of preseason really um during the you know the transfer rumors um that he was surrounded that were going on with him um he had a pretty pretty long layoff so he is building Fitness um he's certainly a player I think you guys saw that enjoys running and and closing the ball down having said that though it takes time now to build that Fitness so you can do that for 90 minutes so I think he's getting closer to that I'm not quite there yet um but it'll certainly play a role in tomorrow's game and you'll see those minutes start to accumulate as we have so many games you know we have a quick turnaround two days we play Columbus and then quickly in a rivalry game against Red Bull and then we get a twoe break you guys see more as an eight or a six or yeah that's still um he he can do both uh again we'll have to adjust and adapt in in Jose's absence who you know was a guy that kind of did the lone six for for a lot of years um you know Leon can do that uh Chuchu can do that uh Danley can do that so we'll have to find the best combination and and I think week to week it'll it'll change but he certainly can play right side of the diamond left side of the diamond uh he can play with two sixes he can play by himself as a six so I think that'll be a opponent based decision and uh what the team needs at in that week hean Rosenberry comes back home to Subaru Park this weekend can you share your thoughts on him as a player how he helped the team transition to what it is now how he helped you grow as a manager yeah it it says a lot to uh to Keegan um and his quality that that Chris armis chose him as his captain you know I think that tells you everything Chris was a an incredible player in our league he was the best Captain I ever played with and was a great leader when I played with him in Chicago so for him to choose Keegan speaks to you know Keegan's character um he's had an incredible career for himself being an All-Star this year uh really solid player one that had uh uh we had some good memories with here in Philadelphia um you see players like him players like Austin trusty as they and Mark McKenzie and and all the guys that are now you know climbing the ranks in in their respective uh parts of their career um you know it it'll be good to see him tomorrow but during the 90 minutes obviously you know I'm sure we'll have a handshake before the game but uh once the game starts we both want the same thing and that's that uh third place in Champions League spot Quin you're sitting up there so I'll give you a question you've talked about how you know you're playing anywhere on the field for a gym and the team uh but you said you feel most comfortable playing as Nate on the right side of the diamond how difficult is it where you you might not be training all the time as a striker up there whether it be with Mikel Julian when he was here with Tai um how do you go about making those adjustments yeah look obviously I've built a good relationship with with all the strikers on the team you know you know wanting to to assist them and playmake with them and um there's still is that relationship when you're playing eight to Striker it's a little different when when I'm playing Striker um but in terms of you know comfortability I think I'm I'm comfortable going up there and playing Striker uh I've had practice with it uh obviously last season played mostly Striker so um you know playing with Mel up there last game you know I felt comfortable um obviously it's a little bit of a switch when when you do it you know when you change from eight to to Striker whether it's in the game or uh starting there but for the most part I feel comfortable up there uh not as comfortable as I do at the eight but you know still comfortable the jam I mean going with Quinn up top uh went into that decision last game over a natural strike of like Chris or like Sam yeah look um every game is is different uh Quinn has made some big plays for us this year he's one of our leaders in in minutes played so he's he's he's always uh earned the right to get those minutes and you know he has five goals and and nine assists so he makes plays so um you know I saw you throw out the statistic and statistics are always great with zero context um but if you flashed up everybody's record this year when they play certain positions it's going to be poor so that's that's one thing I'd say there but without the context of who's in goal without the context of the opponent who's available who's suspended who's on International Duty statistics um become very flimsy and can paint any picture uh you want so Quinn's a great player um he's had a great season for us um I'm proud of the work that he's done it isn't easy to go and and change spots but um I think the good players are are soccer players and they can solve any problem whether I put them on the right the left Striker Winger um he could probably play right back if if we needed him too so that's a good quality and that will help him now as he continues to do well for us but then also um I think he can play in Europe so again this will get him prepared for the different things that that come up um not many teams play in a diamond anyway so the side of the diamond and an eight is a unique position um that he might not see anywhere else in the in his career uh moving forward so I still think there's things he can do as a striker where he comes off and receives the ball as a 10 he floats out wide to the right where he can go One V one and isolate a guy so there's still little things that I think he's learning and and and I think this is helping his game uh as much as he's not yeah he's not a target number nine right I think we would all uh agree with that but every game needs a a different part of the game with the ball without the ball the Transitions and uh Quinn's had a a really good season for us and yeah the context of the if you do just wins and losses on guys it's not going to look good for anybody this year when they play certain spots for Quinn and Jim you can comment on this too describe the importance of securing a CCC birth to you and what that would mean the club yeah look uh I mentioned it a little bit already but it's it's an amazing competition to be a part of it's you know one probably the highest competition that that we could play um the intensity in those games are are immense and you know it's great to you know my debut was in the in the CCC so um it's special to me especially because you know that's where I I started my you know first team career um you know as a team we we love the competition we know how important it is to to do well in that competition and I think you know we know that we can we can go a little further and take the next step and if we get that you know the third place tomorrow we know we'll have another opportunity to do that yeah and I would just add I think we all have the context of of what Champions League means in in Europe right it's the ultimate it's the highest prize the highest competition and and the mindset of the fans whether they're American or from Europe is champions league needs something more um I still think that that's a a growing mentality in our country um you know back from when I was a a player I remember even playing in Champions League games that I didn't even know what competition I was in as as I graduated from Villanova so the mindset now it's it's growing and we're starting to understand what it means but it still doesn't have the the same feel and and and the the just how important the accomplishment is to play at at the highest level I I think they have it league MX I think they understand it and their fan base whereas you know when I talk to my my friends that are American football fans that are maybe casual uh soccer fans they kind of are confused when we're playing a team from Honduras in the middle of our our season started and wait while you're going down there they don't fully get that it is the same competition uh that Europe has obviously the quality is a little different but you know what I mean we haven't gotten there yet and that that's a mindset and a and a time thing I think it's growing getting stronger and people are understanding it more but there's still another level of of how hard it is to get there and then to to win you guys have played uh big games in the next six days uh you guys have played three games in seven days is there much difference losing that extra day of preparation this yes yeah the extra day is is huge not not even for Preparation it's for Recovery these guys uh have basically been play recover play recover um there's only so much you can do physically on the field it's it's really demanding what we asked them to do uh in in hot weather during these summer months and you know tomorrow 4:30 kickoff doesn't do us any favor so it'll be about 86 degrees um for us and uh their recovery and sleep and and eating right is is I hate to say it but is is more important than anything we can do on the training field whether it's with myself whether Chris armis would say the same thing it's just a it's it's about recovery at this stage um and going again obviously there scouting preparation film all those things still matter a great deal um but when you have this many games in quick succession um the hardest thing is to keep the reserves going and keep them positive um but the starters are literally it's play recover play recover and that's how it is in at the highest level in Europe too so we have to uh deal with that and adjust go to Quinn first you look at Mark McKenzie making that transfer to League one and then Brandon Aron's all to a hot start with L United how much of a motivation is that for you as a player to see that those guys are playing at that level does that make you extra motivated to get to that level knowing you played with them that you can ultimately play there and then Jim as a coach just seeing Mark in make that big move then the season that Brendan's having so far yeah look it's it's great to see you know our future I mean our our past products kind of take the next step obviously have a relationship with those guys so so it's great for them um happy to see and look the motivation it's great to see that and the motivation more comes from within for me I I don't can't speak for the the rest of the the Homegrown but it's really great to see everyone doing well you want you know all all the former Philadelphia Union guys to do well unless you're playing against them um but for me the motivation comes from within and you know I have those those motivations as well so you know just continuing to to push this season and and improve on how I've been playing U but yeah know it's great for those guys yeah I think again the guy to the the left of me here Quinn Quinn will be playing in Europe I think very shortly um you know to see Mark uh get an opportunity now to go to French league one um I had a great convers ation while there was rumors around him going to Germany Italy all over England um and the the too sporting director reached out and I gave about as glowing as of a review as I possibly could and I think they did an an amazing signing uh because Mark's going to go there and um be great for them uh to see Brendan score the two big goals yesterday after maybe uh just some adversity in and around um you know his loans and different things like that to go back and and do his talking on the field is is is the best way it always is so really proud of Brendan for that um to see Austin involved now maybe in some Celtic transfer rumors at the top club like that so it's good um it speaks to the fact that we've done some good work here we still have to do a lot more and and get better and better but um it's really uh exciting to see those guys rise in in the top leagues in Europe