CARSON, Calif. – Ahead of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal second leg match against C.S. Herediano, LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena spoke to reporters about the decisive second leg.
Arena’s thoughts are below…
(On whether Wednesday’s second leg match was the most important game of the year for him…)
ARENA: “Not of the year, it’s one game at a time. All of the games are important. This is very important and obviously, we have a game on Sunday. We think that it is very important to advance to the semifinals of this competition.”
(On how badly he wants to take the Galaxy to the Club World Cup…)
ARENA: “We’d certainly like to do that, so obviously, this game tomorrow is very important.”
(On what he saw in Costa Rica and what concerned him about Herediano…)
ARENA: “They’re a good team. All the teams in this competition are good teams. There’s nothing really concerning. We know that we need to play well in order to advance.”
(On some coaches underestimating the CCL competition and his own thoughts on that tactic…)
ARENA: “Every coach has to make their own decision with the tournament at different stages. I know that you’re referencing Tigres, I don’t know their schedule or what is important to them so perhaps that’s their reason. But for the Galaxy, we think that this game tomorrow is very important.”
(On whether he would give up games in MLS to win the CCL…)
ARENA: “We’re focused on tomorrow’s game. We don’t win tomorrow’s game then we don’t go anywhere. We take it one game at a time and make decisions as we move on.”
(On maintaining focus amid likely dramatics from Herediano…)
ARENA: “It’s the same in every game, no different. They understand that. That is what experience is.”
(On whether any focus will be shifted to Sunday’s match with Chivas USA over the CCL match…)
ARENA: “We’re not worried about Sunday’s game. We’re worried with this game first and then Sunday afterwards.”
(On the team’s health heading into Wednesday…)
ARENA: “We’re okay. You’re never 100 percent, but we’re in pretty good shape.”
(On what he expects Herediano to do…)
ARENA: “Likely start with a defensive posture. We have to have good focus and concentration early in the game and we can’t give up a goal.”
(On whether he feels that the Galaxy need to score early…)
ARENA: “It would help. It would help.”
