Notebook: “We need all of our best players fit”

After a low point of the season on Wednesday night against Sporting Kansas City, Minnesota United rebounded heavily in a must win match for the Loons. Head Coach, Adrian Heath was asked about the response from the players and what he thought and said.

“Magnificent. The energy the players put in. The energy the crowd put in. I think it’s the first time we’ve beat the Galaxy since we’ve been in Major League Soccer. So, we had to ride our luck and we had to defend at times, but, really, really pleased with the attitude of the players. They couldn’t have done any more. And, it’s incredible that when you get your best players on the field, good things happen. Maybe, people should think about that when they write some of the stuff that they do.”

Reynoso opened the match with a brace in 20 minutes, with two goals that we’re absolute bangers, on his return match from injury.

“I was really pleased or him, because he’s been a really frustrated kid for the last two or three weeks because he thought he was ready, and he probably wasn’t,” said Heath.” “So, you know, it was important that he had the game that he did and the comeback.”

“I’m happy for the triumph against a great rival, where honestly we needed to win locally, with our fans,” said Reynoso. “I’m happy both personally and for the group to get the win as well and for everything that we did. We did a great job. It was a challenging match where we got ahead in the beginning.”

After two straight losses it was critical for MNUFC to put on a good performance, especially at home and against a team they had never defeated prior. Tyler Miller spoke about that following the match on Saturday night.

“That’s what football is about, and I think life even more so. You’re always going to be handed these difficulties, challenges. Whether it’s our injuries or we have a really bad result against Kansas City, and it’s never really about that singular event or that single player that’s out, it’s about how their group responds. And tonight, I think you saw what our group is really about. It’s when we’re handed adversity and difficulties throughout our season, we have the ability to respond and so that’s what I think you saw tonight.”

While Reynoso did a lot of the heavy lifting for the offence, Ethan Finlay got an insurance goal in the second half to add a third goal to the scoreline.

“We knew the next goal was going to change the game,” said Miler. “To be honest, I was so happy for Ethan [Finlay] because in the first half I felt like he was running so much on that right hand side and the ball just kept ending up on the left hand side when we were breaking it. So I really felt like he deserved an opportunity to get a chance to score and it was fantastic.”

Injuries have been an issue for the Loons so far this year. With multiple key players picking up injuries.

“So, them things, you can’t legislate for. You can’t plan for,” said Heath. “It’s just an occupational hazard. But, the one thing that I do know, is if we’re going to go and do what we tried to do last year, and get to the Western Conference Final and make the playoffs, and make an impact, we need all of our best players fit. That’s for sure.”

Minnesota United will be back on the pitch this Saturday night when the Loons host Houston Dynamo at Allianz Field with the match scheduled for a 7 PM kickoff.