CARSON, Calif. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena was less than pleased following his team's 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in their Western Conference Championship first leg.
Arena's thoughts are below.
(On the importance of the result...)
ARENA:
“Of course it was important. There were some chances to get a second. Obviously, they had some good chances. Not conceding a goal is important, so that’s a plus. We know it’s going to be a battle there. As you can see, the officiating in these games is important too. I don’t think we quite understand how to deal with this competition with the rules and cards and everything. It’s been crazy. I think it was a little bit hectic in this game. It is what it is. And now we will have two teams going into the game on Sunday with no one suspended, which I guess was the premise behind some of the decisions today. I will give Seattle credit. Good team. No question about it. Seattle is a good team. It will be a battle on Sunday.”
(On Jaime Penedo’s game...)
ARENA:
“Solid. Wasn’t tested as much, but in the first half, they had a little flurry off that one throw in and he came up big. That’s obviously critical in this series.”
(On next week’s lineup...)
ARENA:
“We don’t know what we are doing next Sunday at this time. We are going to get through the week, get our guys some rest and healthy and then make decisions.”
(On Stefan Ishizaki...)
ARENA:
“He played well. Obviously when they drop back their numbers the way they do, you got to use the width of the field and we were able to do that.”
