MLS Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy vs. Chivas USA
Sunday, June 23, 2013
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LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
Overall thoughts on the result:
“We had a chance to get a second goal tonight and make life a little easier for ourselves and the goal that was called back was the correct call. They had a few chances, but we could have been a little bit better with our chance and we let Chivas hang around. I thought they played hard, they played well, and typical of these games it was really hard fought for 90 minutes and it’s usually a one-goal game.”
On the past two performances:
“It’s been okay, not great. I’d like to have six points rather than four but, you know, getting two clean sheets on the week… Just thought to get some players back together again and I’m not sure how many times this year we have had that group of players on the field. I’m not totally satisfied with the week, but pleased to be able to get four points. Obviously wanted six, but, you know, we know we need to get better.”
On the goal that was ruled out for offside:
“You know, I can only tell you what I saw from the sidelines and my guess is the linesman felt that he interfered with the goalkeeper’s sight and being in an offside position and if that was the case the call was correct. I am assuming that’s what it was. If that is what his decision was he was correct.”
On the play of Gyasi Zardes:
“Good goal, he has a way to go but he is an athletic kid. Pretty good understanding of the game and, you know, he had a bunch of opportunities tonight. Could do a little bit better in front of the goal but having said that it was a great goal he scored. He’s going to get better, he can play a few different positions and I think the second half of the season, you got to remember he missed probably two and a half months with the broken fifth metatarsal so he’s just about to get into a rhythm and we’re hopeful the second half of the season is going to be better and improved.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD GYASI ZARDES
On his performance in the game tonight:
“It was a great performance by the team overall. As the game went on and progressed, I felt myself running around and trying to get in open positions. Robbie Keane, making a simple run, will carry out a couple of defenders toward him and it’ll allow me to be open with time and space. Every time the ball went out wide I made sure I crashed the box because that was the game plan.”
On his goal in tonight’s 1-0 victory:
“If I can remember, I pushed off of him and kind of went back and deflected it toward the goal and it hit back post and went in. I saw it and I just wanted to make sure I put it on frame, and it went in.”
On the opportunities he had in tonight’s game:
“I had a couple of opportunities, wish I could have put them away, but it was a good performance by the Chivas defense. Like I said, we had a lot of opportunities. It’s unlucky but we still got the ‘W’.”
On his work off the ball:
“It's the work you do off the ball which is going to help you once the ball comes to you. By me making a simple run, dragging out a few defenders, it leaves someone else open. I just figured I’d work hard off the ball and I would get an opportunity or two.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD ROBBIE KEANE
On the team’s performance against Chivas:
“It certainly was better, and possession-wise we dominated the game. I don't think we created too many chances for ourselves, and to be honest I still don't think we’re kind of near our peak yet. I think were slowly, surely getting there, but as long as you keep getting results we know that it’s only a matter of time before we hit tip-top form.”
On how Zardes has improved:
“Yeah, a ton, very good, he was a good outlet for us. He’s very quick, and very good in the air, as you’ve seen today. He’s certainly growing on us the more games he plays, scoring goals and playing a lot of minutes is certainly going to help him. I think he understands now where to run as a striker, and how to mix and match looks, knowing when to come and knowing when to go long, because with his pace it’s important that he stays sometimes just under the line of defense because he is so fast that he can get in behind him. He’s certainly learning as you saw today with some of those runs and his link up play was very good, as I said he’s certainly growing.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER LANDON DONOVAN
On snapping a three-game winless streak:
“I think we’d like to do it in a little better but give them credit they are a much improved team from even a couple of week ago and they gave us a good game. We knew they would put their best performance of the year out and they did.”
On the Galaxy moving up in the standings:
“We are still relatively close to everyone else— just like everyone else in the league— and if we can put together a little bit of a run we can get right to the top of the West and that’s what we want to do.”
On the team’s passing accuracy (86%):
“That helps. I thought out spacing was good. Omar and A.J. did a good job of being calm and just moving the ball back and forth if they needed to, which opened up space. They (Chivas USA) did a good job of getting behind the ball and being compact. Our good passing helped open up space and get the chances that we got and if we can pass like that and defend like that will win a lot of games.”
On Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy:
“I think their record would look a lot worse than it is if he weren’t their goalkeeper. In my opinion, he’s been one of the best 1 or 2 goalkeepers over the last five or six years in this league and he showed it again tonight.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER TODD DUNIVANT
On tonight’s shutout:
“Again that was huge priority for us tonight, and when you don't give up goals you’re going to win a lot of games. I think we’re getting back to our bread and butter, and that's keeping teams off the score sheet.”
On the play of Chivas USA tonight:
“They did play a little bit low pressure. First twenty minutes they were pretty active and moving around, and I think they lost a little bit of that wind, and once they got gassed, we were able to put them under even more pressure and move it side to side and I thought we did a good job of being patient. We didn't force the ball, moving it from side to side, and that really tired them out. At the end of the first half we had four or five really good chances where we could have buried them and to their credit they stayed in the game. I think (Dan) Kennedy made a couple of great saves that kept them in the game.”
On the play of forward Gyasi Zardes:
“He came up big. A big goal, made a big play, and got the game-winner so that's huge. I think if you asked him he would probably say he should have had a couple more but he made a big play, and scored a big goal for us.”
On having the back four back together:
“Yeah, it was great, we were right back in our old rhythm. We know where each other are, and I think we limited their chances again tonight. When you limit the chances you’re going to have a good chance of keeping them off the board.”
