LA Galaxy Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy 2, Columbus Crew SC 1
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016
2016 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, California
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER BRUCE ARENA
On if he felt the team took his advice to shoot more:
“I don’t think that was the goal tonight. The goal tonight was to get three points. That was accomplished.”
On what changed for the team in the second half:
“We played better. I think the first half was pretty even. Both teams had a few chances. I thought in the last 15-20 minutes of the first half we had a little bit more control of the game. They worked real hard and then got a little bit tired. I think in the second half it was going to take a special play by someone to win the game. And in my book, I’d still like to consider Baggio’s goal as the game-winning goal, but I think it was a fantastic goal obviously. Giovani dos Santos’ goal was a good goal, an opportunistic goal. And overall I think we played pretty well. I’m disappointed with that fiasco in the end or whatever caused the penalty kick, whether it was won or not. I would have like to just walk off the field 2-0. But having said that, I’ll take the three points and leave it at that.”
On Brian Rowe’s performance:
“He did a good job. There was one play where he had to be pretty sharp in the first half, he did well there. And he dealt with all the shots from the outside. Generally teams against us will get us off of corners and those type of things. I think all in all, I think our backline, for the most part, played pretty well. I little unsteady in the first 15-20 minutes, but I think after that they did a good job and at the end of the game we just need to be better on that play that created a penalty kick.”
On Raul Mendiola’s performance:
“Good job. Obviously he’s a fighter; he’s skillful. He’s the kind of player that when you pick sides you’d like to take him because he’s going to battle for you. He’s going to play through the good and bad throughout the game. He’s a real competitor and I like that. I decided to play him tonight because I felt we just needed a little bit more energy on the field, a little bit more competitiveness. He brings that. He’s an honest player, can play on both sides of the ball. Did a real steady job.”
On if his earning his 200th MLS win means something to him:
“At the moment I would say no. But I think when I look back on this it may mean something. As I said out on the field, I think when you win a fair amount of games and you’re coaching it’s because you have good teams and good players. I think that’s the most important thing. So I never really get all hung up on those things. I know one day it will be important, probably for my grandchildren to read about it. I’m honored. I’m honored to have just coached some great players in this league and that’s the reason why I’ve been able to pile up a few wins along the way.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD GIOVANI DOS SANTOS
On how it feels to end a six-game winless streak:
“Yeah, we needed that win. Everyone gave their best today and I think we deserved to win.”
On Baggio Husidic’s goal:
“It was an incredible goal. It was a great goal and I’m happy for him.
On the team’s attitude coming into the game:
“I think in this team every player is important. Everyone who played today did an incredible job I think. We have to continue and keep working like that.
On Bruce Arena winning his 200th MLS game:
“It’s an honor to play for a great coach. I just want to congratulate him for his 200 wins in MLS.”
DELANTERO DEL LA GALAXY GIOVANI DOS SANTOS (ESPAÑOL):
Sobre cual fue mejor gol, el de Baggio Husidic o su gol:
“Los dos yo creo que fueron goles muy importantes, el primero de Baggio [Husidic] fue importantísimo. El equipo venia en una racha de varios partidos sin meter goles y obviamente fue un punto de inflexión muy importante para todos.”
Sobre la falta de jugadores importantes:
“Esta tercera etapa de la temporada es la más complicada en la que todos los equipos quieren rascar puntos de donde sea. Creo que hoy todos los jugadores demostraron que son importantes para el equipo y es verdad que nos faltaron jugadores importantes que cuando estén de vuelta sumarán muchísimo para el grupo.”
Sobre el crecimiento de su responsabilidad con la falta de jugadores como Gyasi Zardes y Robbie Keane:
“Creo que mi responsabilidad siempre ha sido igual. Como lo he dicho, cada uno hace su trabajo dentro del campo, somos un grupo bastante unido y hoy se demostró que estamos trabajando en la línea correcta. Nada más nos faltaba meter los goles y hoy gracias a Dios cayeron dos.”
Sobre marcar gol en la celebración de la Noche de la Herencia Hispana:
“Hoy seguramente había muchos latinos en el estadio y fue una felicidad extra el poder celebrar los goles con todos ellos en un día tan especial para todos los hispanos así que bueno, doble emoción en ese gol.”
Sobre el triunfo número 200 de Bruce Arena en temporadas regulares de la MLS:
“Si claro que si lo felicite. Obviamente es un logro muy importante y eso habla de la grandeza de él cómo entrenador.”
Sobre su gol:
“La verdad que este año se me han dado bien las picadas y bueno tenía el mano a mano, y pues lo intente y gracias a Dios me salió.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER BAGGIO HUSIDIC
On delivering something special to win:
“It was a tough game. Obviously, we kind of ruined it at the end with the PK call, Rowe made a great save and unfortunately it kind of bounced behind us and they put it in. But great win and we really needed it, especially at this point in the season.”
On the winless streak:
“It’s unlike us to tie at home, and we haven’t been doing so well at home, so it was good to get the three points.”
On the win providing confidence;
“This is usually the time of year where the LA Galaxy ramp it up. Hopefully we get on a good run. It’s all about momentum in MLS and hopefully this will give us momentum going forward.”
On his mindset coming in the match:
“[My mindset was] to create, score a goal or get someone else to score a goal. Usually I don’t shoot from there, but I didn’t have anything to lose. I got a good ball and took a decent touch and just went for it. Bit of a tight angle, but it went in and I was glad to score a goal.”
On the goal:
“At first when I got it and took a touch forward, I wasn’t going to shoot it, I just took a touch to cross the ball and find someone. But it just played out perfectly and I took a chance. We’ve been talking about it all week, to be a bit selfish and shoot the ball, and I did.”
LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER BRIAN ROWE
On not keeping a shutout:
“It’s definitely frustrating. I’ll have to check the replay [of the penalty save]… I thought I was there for the second one, and it just snuck through my legs.”
On getting a win:
“It’s huge for us. Especially as we get to this point in the season as the teams start stacking up in the West. It’s each result and we’ve kind of been winless for a streak here and to get a win at home and get that energy I think is going to help us. It will be a tough week ahead but we’ll get back to it.”
On assuming a leadership role:
“I don’t think it’s been thrust upon me. It’s one of those things where I grow as a player and get more comfortable back there, I want to be more of a leader and be a vocal presence that these guys can count on and they can feel confident with me back there.”
COLUMBUS CREW SPORTING DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER
On his team falling apart late in Saturday night’s game:
“I wouldn’t say falls apart. I would say this game was going to be decided by something special. And that was Baggio’s goal. It was a wonderful shot and that’s what this game was about today; something special decided it.”
On the substitution for Gaston Sauro:
“Gaston, due to medical reasons, was only allowed to play 45 minutes. So our choice was to play him 45 minutes and to adjust after that. We’re obviously thin with only 17 bodies on the roster today, no central midfielders. So we had to adapt. I don’t think that’s the reason why we didn’t win this game. We had enough chances. Our intentions were very good. We wanted to dominate the game, we wanted to put our stamp on the game and I feel that we did that.”
On what he was happy with in Saturday night’s game:
“I don’t want to make excuses for who was on the field. I don’t think that’s fair to the group. We put 11 guys on the field that we felt could get the job done. And we came up a little short. I’m still proud of the way we worked. I’m proud of the way we coached the game and I’m proud we didn’t give up when we went down 2-0. We didn’t give up and we kept going.”
On what the key to keeping playoff hopes alive is as the season winds down:
“The key is going to be winning games.”
COLUMBUS CREW SC FORWARD ADAM JAHN
On tonight's game:
“Going 2 down on the road is tough but in MLS I have seen some crazy games and you can't lose hope. Earlier this year I think Orlando is down 2-0 and they scored two goals in stoppage time so that is what I was thinking when I went in and we almost did.”
On trying to claim a playoff spot:
“It's just getting results and getting results on the road, I think we only have three home games so we are going to have to find a way to win on the road, I think we will. It's going to be tough, we are going to have to grind out some results.”
On missing a couple of key players:
“I mean they are definitely big, we lost four starters. I think the guys that slid in did a good job too and it's just hard to come into the team and have the same chemistry. I thought for the most part we didn't miss too many steps that way but any time a team changes that much it's just going to be a little different.”
On scoring a goal tonight:
“It does help my confidence scoring a goal tonight but my attitude hasn't changed the whole time it's just get in work as hard as I can and make something happen. So far so good but hopefully we will get into some games where we are up and we are protecting the lead instead of down and needing a goal.”
COLUMBUS CREW SC MIDFIELDER MOHAMMED SAEID
On tonight's game:
“Good first half. The second half we lost a little bit, maybe the patience. They scored a very nice goal. It's always going to be difficult conceding a goal against LA but it was a very nice goal and that is what it had to take to beat us today.”
On missing a couple of key players:
“That's what is going to happen in a team during a season. You are always going to lose guys whether it's internationals, injuries and stuff like that. You just have to be ready to step up and try to do the best you can to help the team.”
On what the team has to do next:
“Try to win. I mean we haven't given up and I think we showed it today, we still got a goal we just have to keep it up. Time is running out but have to keep our heads high and try to win all the games.”
