Postgame Presser: Jordan Ferrell's full quotes

Here is a full transcription of Oakland Roots' head coach and technical director Jordan Ferrell's quotes following their 1-0 loss to Phoenix Rising on August 4. 

Question: Initial thoughts on the game?

"It's a beautiful night at Laney. We've been telling everybody this is what it feels like; this is what real-life is like for us here. I thought it was an amazing opportunity to show the whole world what the magic of Laney is like. Unfortunately, the result didn't go our way. 

"I think we had better opportunities in the first-half, really. I think we controlled a lot of the game, but the game is built on moments and the time between them. In that moment, they took advantage of their chance."

Question: Regarding the impact of Tarek Morad and Tarn Weir's injuries.

"Obviously, you have your captain center back go down with an injury, that unsettles a team somewhat. He was a monster for us in the first half and basically up until that point [of his injury]. Kai [Greene] did really well, but its tough as a center back to step into a game, especially against the best attack in the league. It just unbalanced us; I don't think that's the reason for the goal by any means, but it changes the game, for sure.

"[Tarn] tried to tough it out, as you saw him. It's a physical game, contact happens; that's the nature of the sport. Those are two forced changes, as opposed to changes we needed to make tactically or otherwise. Those are unfortunate but hopefully those guys are back quickly."

Question: On the return of attacking options like Bokila, Chuy, Allen, and Hernandez.

"I think the first 20 minutes we were creating some pretty good chances. Utilizing Chuy [Enriquez] coming back in the midfield where he wants the ball and wants to play, utilizing Memo [Diaz] as well getting forward down that side. I think he did a really good job of exploiting the space in behind that left back. 

"We got to see Bokila really stretch his legs and run, which is a huge positive for us. Just the group coming back from COVID and everything from there, I think you're starting to see more of what we've seen at different points in time at training, but the whole group is starting to come together. We still have more pieces to get back, though."

Question: Things to apply going forward and atmosphere at Laney.

"I would say everybody looks at where we sit in the standings and they probably look at the result, and it's a foregone conclusion [that we're out of contention]. But, I think if you look at the performance, I thought our guys were really, really good in certain moments. I thought we had some of the better chances and it was against the best team in the league. 

"I think there's a big, big positive for the guys to play their first game at Laney. To not have empty stands or a place that doesn't feel like home; to actually be at home and to know that's what the supporters behind them actually sound like, feel like, cheer like, I think that's a big positive for us. I think that energy will certainly carry into the other matches, even the away matches. You gain a different perspective on who's supporting you online or watching the games. 

"It's a huge moment for us as a club, it's been 500-something days [since last playing at Laney]. So it's more than just being here this time in the USL season. The last game that we played here was our first win in club history in league play, so its a relief more than anything. To catch that energy on a Wednesday night, most people don't get crowds like this on a Wednesday night in the USL. To capture that energy and really feel that is a big positive for us going forward." 

Question: On Akeem Ward's productivity. 

"He had a tough job to do, literally man-to-man against the best guy in the league [Solomon Asante]. It's not easy, so we know he has the attacking quality and the ability to get forward and make chances; we saw that. At the same time, he's got a big job to do for the rest of the game dealing with Asante. He's a big player for us, we've known that. That last game, he didn't feature but that's just the nature of all these games in quick succession. 

"You saw Soya [Takahashi] come in a different position than he's played previously for us and still create some good chances."

Question: Regarding managing the roster over the last two months.

"We have to do something, we can't just play the same 11 game-in and game-out. What the schedule demands and matchup demands will inform us on how we line our team up. But we have to keep guys healthy, its really important. The two [Weir and Morad] are tough, we'll see how long they're out for. Our medical and performance staff does a great job, and I'm sure they'll have those guys back pretty soon here."