2022 MLS ALL-STAR GAME: MLS ALL-STARS VS LIGA MX ALL-STARS

August 10, 2022

Adrian Heath

MLS All-Stars

Allianz Field

Press Conference

MLS All-Stars 2, Liga MX All-Stars 1

Q. Adrian, just what were your overall thoughts in the game and the spectacle you saw on the field?

ADRIAN HEATH: I thought we started at the game really, really brightly, considering the group have been together two days. Some of the play in the first half was very good, and then the game started to get a bit stretched, and they came back into it and had a couple of good opportunities themselves.

But the most amazing thing was the competitive nature of all the guys. Everybody is coming -- everybody has, actually, I think enjoyed being with each other, the group.

So the atmosphere in the dressing room is terrific. The guys have been an absolute pleasure to be around for the last two or three days.

Q. What did you think of Carlos Vela's goal, Chicharito, having those two guys around the last couple days?

ADRIAN HEATH: Well, you can leave them here if you want, that would have been nice. No, obviously, quality players, quality people. They have come in and really mixed in with the rest of the group, and you know, their career is there for all to see. Absolutely quality. Great goal, as well. Great cross from the left-hand side and Carlos has got on the back ball.

Yeah, they have been -- as I say, I can't speak highly enough of the professionalism. Their attitude to everything that we've done I think has been an absolute credit to them, their families, their football club. So they have been really, as I say, a pleasure to be around.

Q. Well, this is the second victory consecutive for the MLS. The national team has won a lot in Mexico the last days, the last time. And I don't know, for you, do you think it's now can we start a conversation that the MLS is now in a better moment than the MX league, or this game is not a parameter (barometer) for that?

ADRIAN HEATH: The one thing I will say, I've been in America now 13 years, and this is the closest it's ever been. I think if you had gone back ten years, Liga MX and these type of games I would have expected the Liga MX to win. Every time the U.S. plays Mexico now, I'm not sure who's going to win the game.

That speaks volumes for the ownership groups, for these clubs in the MLS who have invested big sums of money to put the quality on that you've seen this evening.

I was jokingly talking about it the other day, I'd like seven or eight No. 10s to try and fit into us, a shape, because that's the quality that we had.

So would I say that they have overtaken them? Not really. Would I say it's closer than ever? Yes, I would.

Q. Your thoughts on Dayne winning MVP?

ADRIAN HEATH: The good thing has been after the game at the weekend where obviously it wasn't his best game, probably the worst game he's had since he's been with us, I think for him to come out and show the composure that he did and come up with a couple of big saves when he had to I think speaks volumes for his attitude, his professionalism and I think also his mental state. He's very strong mentally, he's here now -- what have you won? Geez.

Q. What was it like to work on that end of the field?

ADRIAN HEATH: Oh, you mean on the opposite side, a bit strange. I got a bit of stick from people behind me. I'm used to people being on my side on that side. Let's get back to where we normally are, that's next week.

Q. What kind of show do you think the city and the club put on the last three or four days?

ADRIAN HEATH: I did say the most pleasing thing about the last two or three days for me has been the way that the club has shown itself. I knew that people would turn up. I didn't think so many would turn up last night in the skills game. And that speaks volumes.

And then tonight, I knew the stadium would be full tonight. It's been a great way to showcase what the club is about, and you know, I'm so pleased for all the ownership that believed in everything that we've tried to do here. It shows six years in, the club is now firmly on the map, and I think we can only get bigger and stronger and better.

Q. After this game, after the match, how are you and the players going to regroup and think on this weekend's match?

ADRIAN HEATH: Obviously it's been a tough week because we have been training our team in the morning and then the All-Stars after that. It's been a hectic few days.

But the attitude of the players has been terrific. We didn't have the best day this weekend. But people should realize that's one defeat in our last eight games, and our performance has been very good.

So we have to pick up where we've been playing the last few weeks. So it's going to be tough in Nashville, always is. The fact that we are all so tight, in the middle of the table now, it's -- like I said, I think it's going to go down to the wire like it did last year because there's so many of us in that little group underneath the top four.

Q. You talked about all the No. 10s that you had on the field. I thought it was interesting to see Rey take the set pieces early on. How did that come about?

ADRIAN HEATH: Because I'm in charge and I could tell him who is going to take what.

The hard part honestly has been saying to players, you know, you want to play 35, your coach wants you to play 30. But the competitive nature of all these guys, the reason where they are now is because of that competitive nature. They all wanted to play. They all wanted to stay on.

And I think it was important that everybody contribute, everybody has made the effort to be here. I think it was important that everybody got some proper team minutes.