LA Galaxy Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy 0, Toronto FC 1
Saturday, June 18, 2016
2016 MLS Regular Season
BMO Field – Toronto
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On the game:
“It was a pretty even game; neither team on the night was particularly good. It was a hard fought game, they took their chance and we didn’t take ours. It is as simple as that.”
On the play of Jelle Van Damme:
“Obviously, he is an experienced player; he is slowly making the transition from being a left back to a center back. I think he’s done pretty well. I think he’s lost a little bit of his fitness and sharpness on the break we’ve had but we’ll get those guys back in the near future to where they need to be.”
On if the goal was offside:
I think the goal was good, I think we just had two tired players that got outcompeted on the play.
On if he was pleased with the goalkeeping:
“Yeah, [Brian Rowe] was solid. I don’t recall him being tested a whole lot; I remember the one play with [Sebastian] Giovinco in the second half and then obviously some shots from distance. I’m not sure there were a whole lot there but he did a solid job.”
LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER BRIAN ROWE
On his positioning and how they cut down their opportunities:
“It’s just one of those things that with the speed of the game you don’t really think about, it has come with playing a stretch of games this year. I think the more games I’ve played the more confident you get your positioning and you can just read plays better and what to look for.”
How frustrating this game was:
It’s real frustrating. I thought we had a good first half, we took it to them, I thought we had the bulk of possession and opportunities. In the second half it looked like we just died off a little bit so it’s just one of those ones where we’ll go back and be a little frustrated travelling this far and not being able to get that point.
On not scoring in two games:
I think when we get back that is something that we’ll look at, try to break down the film and see what pieces we are missing. But I think overall we’re going in the right direction, we defend pretty well. We’ll look at it when we get back.
LA GALAXY DEFENDER A.J DELAGARZA
On the game:
“We’ve had too many games we’re we’ve let down on one play, two plays, and its cost us. Whether that is a tie or a win, we’ve lost a lot of points and we’ve got to correct those moments from all 11 on the field. We shut down (Sebastian) Giovinco, and obviously he is the best player in this league so if you can do that you did your job. Again, we let down in other areas.”
On having defensive lapses:
“We’ve got to do better at the end of games. Once you get to that mark, that 70 minute mark, you’re thinking we got to get out of here with at least a point. I thought we played well enough to get three, we had chances to get three, and we limited them the entire night except that one chance they had on goal.”
On what can improve offensively:
“Just some creativity, our crosses have to get better. I had a couple chances to put in a better ball and I didn’t and that goes for everybody, what are we doing in the final third that’s not ending in a good result or whatever it may be. Guys are moving off the ball, our passing is not very great at the moment. We haven’t won a game in quite some time so that is going to be a good test for this group on Wednesday against the best team in the league.”
TORONTO FC HEAD COACH GREG VANNEY
On the performance overall:
“We got the three points so I am pleased. I thought by and large it was good. We protected our goal we defended well. I thought we were pushing hard to try and get forward and get to goal. Sometimes I thought were in a little bit of a rush trying to push forward and get to goal. I thought there was some spaces for us to play a little bit more and to work to break them down and control the tempo of the game a little bit more. It’s important for us to try and get the first goal so we were pushing hard through various stages to try and get the first goal. Overall I am pleased with the effort.”
On Benoit Cheyrou:
“I think Ben has been fantastic. The timing of getting him back couldn't have been better. Ben has been huge for us because he brings a nice sort of calm to the group. He’s very composed. He’s very disciplined. He reads the game well. He moves a lot of guys around and gives a lot of the group that is playing around him a lot of confidence and a lot of freedom to express themselves as players and really supports them. He brings this maturity to the group that is wonderful.”
On Eriq Zavaleta’s performance:
“Erik’s got a couple games under his belt from the last couple weeks in the Canadian Championship. He’s a very wise defender. Maybe wise beyond his years. He reads plays. He takes good angles. He knows how to use his body well and he competed well with Alan Gordon who is a big body in the air. He just plays good intelligent centre back play and tonight I thought was one of his good performances.”
TORONTO FC DEFENDER DREW MOOR
On the performance:
“I thought it was a battle. By no means was it perfect. By no means are we please with every aspect of the game. But I think the way we battle and fought to the end and even after we scored we had a lot of defending to do. It was just a great team effort and well deserved three points.”
On if he knew that was Erik’s intention to head the ball to him:
“I just had a feeling and I asked him after the game. Did you know I was there and he said yes and I agree with him. I don't think he’s messing around. I just had a feeling that he knew I was there and it was just a perfect header from him.”
TORONTO FC DEFENDER ERIQ ZAVALETA
On his thoughts:
“It felt like it was a professional performance by the guys. We didn’t give up many opportunities. I think there weren’t many opportunities in the game. To be honest, it felt a little bit slow as the game went on but we created a good chance and took it and we walk away with three points.”
On the goal:
“I saw him (Drew Moor) behind me and Benoit Cheyrou played a good ball into me and I thought the only option was to flick it back post and hope that he can get on the end of it and he did a really good job of finishing it off.”
On how he feels:
“I feel really good. All good performances other than the last five minutes of the Montreal game we could have three shutouts in the row. With the Columbus game there is another shut out there. I think we are doing a great job of team defending. Making it higher up the field and then doing a good job of box defending.”
