Bethlehem Steel FC Head Coach Brendan Burke
How the club has been preparing for Toronto FC II after a bye week
“It was good to have a bye week and I’m glad that we were able to get a really high-quality game in over the weekend. We really pushed the envelope in terms of fitness in training sessions the last two weeks on specific days so that we can make sure that we dictate the terms of these last four games It was a good spell for us and now preparing for Toronto, we were fortunate enough to have played against them a few weeks ago but they have gotten hot since then and scoring quite a few goals. I think this weekend our focus has to be to defend well from the front, to make sure that we keep a clean sheet at home and give ourselves a good platform to go and win the game.”

On if there were any specific defensive issues to allow seven goals to start September
“No, I think a couple individual mistakes, we’ve been very young over the last couple games even by our own standards and that doesn’t help. That leads to a few extra disconnects in a game where guys just don’t have the experience to deal with certain situations but that is something we’ve always dealt with. This has just been a period where we’ve dealt with even more of it so I don’t think it’s any major cause for concern long term, I think we can get back to business this weekend.”

 On the new additions, the organization has made since Steel FC last played
“I think the [Steel FC signing of Selmir Miscic and the Union signing of Brenden Aaronson] are fantastic indicators of the pipeline being strong. Coming out of the [Philadelphia Union] Academy, both players had some interest from Europe, both players have either been in training with us in Selmir’s case or playing in games in Brenden’s case for over a year now. I think were well deserved next steps in their careers and the appropriate next steps. I think Selmir has to now prove that he can play at the U19’s level efficiently for a long spell of time and then at the Steel level. Brenden has already shown that he can impact the game at the Steel level, that he can not only hang but he can influence games. I’m really happy for both guys, they are both really intelligent players who ask a lot of questions and have high expectations of themselves. Credit to everyone at the Academy who spent so much time with them over the years, in Brenden’s case the last seven or eight years. People have put a lot of time and energy into their development and each of those boys has put a lot of time and energy into their own development so it’s a happy day for the club.

In Kacper’s case, he’s just arrived over the last couple weeks and is working toward full fitness which is a long process quite frankly but he’s shown some signs to contribute to the club at the highest level with the first team. He’s spent some time with us and is a pleasure to be around and a very hardworking guy. He’s got good, soft feet for a big guy and brings his teammates into the game and when you are an unselfish player like that, that helps you integrate into the group faster. We’re really happy to have him and he’ll have a good extended period to show what he can do.”

On what’s been clicking for Toronto FC II
“I think their mentality has shifted, they are just going for it. They are throwing caution to the wind and have been involved in some shootouts. If you are not hyper-alert defensively in all phases of the field and game, transition and when we are defending high up the field. If we are not alert and switched on, they can hurt you and they showed Louisville that in a big, bad way, they showed Cincinnati that, showed New York that and have taken points from teams. These are points that we can’t allow anyone to take from our home field if we want to have a realistic shot at the playoffs.”

On how much the last matchup against Toronto FC II could impact this weekend
“Both teams are set up similarly, we both play out of a 4-2-3-1. Whatever system they play out of, they do try to keep the ball and try to play through the lines. They have very good individual attacking pieces, guys that can stretch the last line. [Jordan] Hamilton comes to mind, these are guys that are breaking through. Endoh is obviously the guy that has played in a good stretch at MLS and when you factor Hamilton in who is a big body center forward that can run, I can see where they’ve created goals.”

On containing Endoh and his ability to score from distance
“You have to meet him higher up the field. He’s proved that he can score from that range and to sit off it as we did with Aaron Dennis, who had proved that he could score from distance, we didn’t meet that challenge. We won’t make that mistake twice.”

Bethlehem Steel FC defender Prosper Chiluya
On preparing for Toronto FC II
“I think practices have been good, everyone is putting in 100 percent plus and the team looks good. We are all focused out of the game on Saturday against [Toronto FC II]. I think we had a very good training session over the week and the game against NYC was good for us to prepare for this week.”

On being in a playoff chase for the first time in his career
“I think it’s really good for me and it’s a really big stage if we can make it to the playoffs. It’s a massive thing for me so I need to push as hard as I can to help my team make it to the playoffs.”

On preparing for a player that likes to score from distance
“Seeing how [Endoh] scored three goals out of the box, it means I have to stay close to him and make sure he has no chance to shoot or turn to goal.”

 Bethlehem Steel FC defender Brandon Aubrey
On playing his former club
“It will be bittersweet, it’s nice to see the old lads again but it’s business and we need to get a win and back ourselves back into a good playoff run.”

On the team’s mentality after a slow start to September
“We are just trying to get back into form and we know that Toronto is in good form on the attacking side with three goals in each of their last three games. It will be a good test for us to show what won us the games in August which was getting clean sheets.”

On stopping a high-powered offense
“You have to close people down and not give them as much space. You have to be tuned in mentally the whole game and can’t turn off for a second against a team like this.”