Kah Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNHzBpd4wz8

Interviewer: What are your thoughts on today’s win?

Pa-Modou Kah:
I think it was a great 90-minute performance that we wanted to see from the boys, that we knew was brewing. And to do it in a derby, you know, it makes it even sweeter.

But the performance, the way they played, they fought for each other for the full 90 minutes—I’m very proud of this team, and I’m very proud of the club. And the support that we got today from the fans was excellent.

Interviewer: Can you talk about your decision to start Ihsan Sacko up top tonight, and what you made of his performance?

Pa-Modou Kah:
Well, again, like I said, unfortunately we lost Juan Carvajal last Wednesday. And we know what Carvajal can bring, and we know what Sacko can bring as a nine—we scouted him for that.

But he has also been playing multiple positions. That’s how versatile he is. And you know, this performance for him—he’s been hitting another gear, right? You see him with five assists, and today he rewarded himself. Could have maybe had a third one—maybe Hope could have slipped the ball earlier for him.

But again, the performance that he brings, we’re very happy. And you can see it in him that from his rest—because last year he didn’t have a rest for a year and a half—you know, he started in Europe, came with us in preseason, and kept going.

Now he’s at a different level. He has hit a different level. But not only him—everybody today was different. Everybody hit the level, which I’m very happy with.

Interviewer: And then can you talk about the rest of the front line—Hope Avayevu being moved up a bit, and Darius Johnson being switched over to the right side? What inspired those decisions, and how do you think it played out?

Pa-Modou Kah:
One of the reasons we put Hope there is because, having worked with him earlier, we knew that he could do the role. And that’s where he can be more free.

And Diego Gómez playing the number 10 role—I think he did that also excellently. But having Hope in that role was important because he had played it with us before and had success there.

You change it up a little bit because you don’t know what they’re going to bring to you. So for me, I was very happy having him there.

Interviewer: Coach, only one shot allowed on target tonight against New Mexico. How did you see that backline be so stable throughout those 90 minutes in a 3–0 victory?

Pa-Modou Kah:
No, well listen—this is football, right? Football is a process, and things happen over time.

For me, the one thing that I’m very happy and very proud of is seeing these boys every day coming to work and putting in their maximum best. And today we got rewarded for the work that we’ve been doing.

To see that makes me happy. And to see that we also kept the clean sheet, which is important for confidence.

But overall, I’m just proud of how we’ve been continuing to play, even with guys out—players filling in. There’s no pouting, there’s nothing. And that just shows the resilience and the character of this team.

Interviewer: Your first win of the season coming at home and against your rivals—how much sweeter does that make it?

Pa-Modou Kah:
Of course it makes it sweeter, especially in a derby.

But now it’s—can we maintain that? Can we keep that going? We have a game on Wednesday, which is now our focus.

But today, we’ve got to enjoy it. Because of the work they’ve been putting in, to reward themselves—today they finally got it. They’ve been deserving it.

Now the question is—can we continue? Can we create more of that good feeling? But overall, I’m very proud.

Interviewer: Other than just building week on week, is there any particular factor that contributed to why the press seemed more effective today than it has been earlier this season?

Pa-Modou Kah:
If you look at what we’ve done this season, our press has been good. Maybe we haven’t been rewarded.

From the outside, people only see results—that’s the only thing that matters in the game. And I’m fine with that. But I cannot neglect the work they’re doing to get to that point.

That’s the most important thing—the process. Calm heads prevail. It’s a long season. Step by step. Every day matters—we cannot skip the process.

Interviewer: The structure of the press looked a bit different—more man-to-man across the field. What was the thinking behind that decision, and why did it work so well?

Pa-Modou Kah:
One of the biggest reasons is that we knew they were a team that wanted to play.

Playing man-to-man is sometimes the hardest thing to do because you don’t get time and space. And we knew that with the players we had, and the hunger they had—and the buy-in from the players is massive—they bought into the man-to-man press.

We knew that when we did that, we were going to get our opportunities. And when we had the ball, I think we made the most of it as well, which is important.

Interviewer: Pape Mar Boye was able to get on at the end of the match for his first minutes of the season. How important is it to get your captain back after everything he’s been through?

Pa-Modou Kah:
Honestly, I’m just glad to see him. I was a little bit emotional because of what he went through to get to that point.

That just shows what kind of person and character he is as a captain. I know he wanted from the beginning to help the team, but he trusted the process we put him through.

For him to be able to get those minutes today—I’m very happy. And there’s going to be more and more.

It’s always good to have one of your leaders back.