October 12, 2023...'Couldn't be more proud of the group': York United's Nash reacts to painful playoff loss (from canpl.ca)
‘Couldn’t be more proud of the group’: York United’s Nash reacts to painful playoff loss
2023-10-12
by MITCHELL TIERNEY, DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER (@MITCHELLTIERNEY)
After a dramatic run just to reach the 2023 playoffs, York United’s postseason was short-lived as they lost to Pacific FC 1-0
in their opening match on Wednesday night.
Despite their elimination, Martin Nash reflected on a strong finish to the season for the Nine Stripes, and how it gives him
confidence that this group can build toward even bigger things after a club-record season in 2023.
Here is what the York United manager had to say after the match:
On his side’s performance against Pacific
“I thought it was a really good performance to be fair. I thought we possessed the ball well, were able to cause some problems,
just weren’t able to find the back of the net. We had a bunch of half chances, hit the bar, just couldn’t find the way into
the back of the net and then it hurts, the second time this year we have given one up in the last two-three minutes so,
that hurts.”
On being proud of the way his side ended the year
“I couldn’t be more proud of the group. Had two tough games to get into the playoffs and then put in a performance like that,
I think we deserve more. But Pacific played well and they found the goal, that’s the way it is often times in playoffs.
They are close games and you’ve got to take your chances, they took their chance and they are moving on.”
On if he wishes he made different changes during the match
“No I don’t think so, we had good players on the bench too but a few of them weren’t fully fit so I thought the team was playing
well so it was hard to make changes. We were looking at making changes looking for extra time. Maybe I brought Brian [Wright]
in a little late. I thought Osaze was playing well though. It was a tough decision there and I was thinking almost we will
have 30 more minutes and Brian would get a chance so maybe that one was made a little late. But I thought everyone who was
playing gave everything they had and that’s all I can ask of them. We created enough chances to win the game we just couldn’t
find the back of the net.”
On building toward next season after a historic year for the club
“There’s a great core to build from, and there are some players, young players, who are just coming into their own. So there’s
a good mix here and we’ve just got to build on from this group and if you can add a few key pieces that are missing it is going
to be a real strong group for the future.”
York United goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos also spoke to the media after the match, talking about his incredible save
on Thomas Meilleur-Giguère and his side’s performance on the day.
On the match and things going ‘wrong’ in the final moments
“I don’t think anything went wrong necessarily, I think it was a bit of quality from them, a really good ball in and they got
on the end of it. I think playoff games like that whoever gets that little bit of a moment is going to win. Tonight it was Pacific,
and I don’t think anything really went wrong, just a bit of quality from them.”
On his incredible goal line save, and whether he was confident it hadn’t crossed the line
“You are always going to be very confident that it didn’t cross the line, obviously, but genuinely I don’t think that it did.
I mean I’m sure you guys are going to have to see a thousand replays and angles to see if it actually did. You aren’t going
to see me saying that it crossed the line.”
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