CARSON, Calif. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena addressed the media following his team's 2-1 victory over FC Shirak on Saturday.
His thoughts are below.
(On the team's showing against F.C. Shirak...)
ARENA: “I thought it was a good exhibition. I thought FC Shirak played really well, they put a lot of pressure and they tested us. Obviously they looked like a team that was a little more fit than we were. I think it was a good game. They are very well organized, good pace on the counter. They put our guys in some difficult situations, which is good. I think it was a very good exhibition match at this time of the year, obviously there is a lot of things we have to work on. ... The group in the second half played well. They were tested a bit more in the first half. We can detect some areas we need to work on, but I’m pleased overall, being able to play all of tonight’s players. Just getting a better feel for our team.”
(On Samuel getting a goal...)
ARENA: “Anytime a striker scores a goal it’s good for his confidence. I think he has a way to go, his fitness has to get better, he’s still not on the same page as all the guys. But he has worked real hard, and has made progress since he’s been here so that’s good to see.”
(On Gyasi Zardes Scoring...)
ARENA: “Very good finish, I don’t think he would’ve finished that play last year. He had a good night, and we are going to be playing him in both positions.”
(On the play of Raul Mendiola...)
ARENA: “He is a little raw, but he plays with confidence. A lot of good plays, some not so good, but good for his first time.”
(On triaist Dan Gargan and James Riley as well as the rest of the defense...)
ARENA: “Both are experienced players, I was surprised Riley had as much in him because he just came in this week and hadn’t trained much, and to get 30 solid minutes is good. Dan had an injury last week and held up well. I thought [Kofi Opare] and [Kyle Venter] did well and I thought that Leonardo had a very good night for us. Omar was solid, and it was good to see. ”
(On FC Shirak players and whether they could play in MLS...)
ARENA: "A lot of them [could], [Tigran Davtyan] was good, the pace of [Serge Deble] was very good, the center back [Kadio Boris] was very good, and [Davit Hakobyan] was good. [They have] a bunch of good players. It’s an experienced team, played in [both] the Champions League and the Europa League. There's good experienced players out there."
