LA Galaxy Postgame Quotes
LA Galaxy 0, FC Dallas 1
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016
2016 MLS Regular Season
Toyota Stadium - Frisco, TX
LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena
On tonight's game...
I don't think it was a very good game. I don't think either team played well. I thought it was a little sloppy. Some decent chances created by both teams in the game. Obviously, one goal off a corner kick. We had a chance early in the game with (Steven) Gerrard's chance to maybe get ahead and put a little pressure on them. I didn't think we played well in the first half. Second half, it got a little bit better.
On giving up another set piece goal to FC Dallas...
We work on that a lot. Guys are well aware of it. Pretty foolish goal to concede at the end of the first half. Really that simple. Everyone knows their responsibilities. We shouldn't be conceding that goal.
LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget
On tonight's game...
We lost momentum in the first half. We wanted to go into the half 0-0. We found our rhythm in the second half, and I thought we picked it up a bit, but it wasn't enough.
On the first half chances created by the Galaxy...
I think we were just inches away. I think we caught them on the counter a couple of times, which was good and what we wanted. Before the game we said that we would do that, but we just didn't execute that final touch.
LA Galaxy defender Jeff Larentowicz
On tonight's game...
I thought it was a tight game. They scored on a set piece, obviously in a tight game, set pieces can decide it. They scored on a corner kick, something we focus on, but didn't handle it properly today.
On the pressure from FC Dallas in the LA half of the field...
They pressed higher up the field and made it difficult to play it out of the back. When we played it long, their centerbacks handle the ball out of the air and it came back at us. It was a difficult game.
LA Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard
On tonight's game...
Obviously, very disappointed with the result tonight. I don't think the performance was too bad, I thought we were ok. Created some chances. Take the set piece away, and you go away with a point at Dallas, who are top of the league, wouldn't be a bad point. We're very disappointed to concede, and obviously disappointed with the result, but we need to dust ourselves down and we need a huge reaction in our last two games.
FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja
General thoughts on the game:
I thought we won a playoff type of game. During the first half we played with intensity. The opportunities that we had keep us optimistic about what is coming next, which is to find a way to get points in the last two games and also chase big things in the playoffs.
Last year it took us a little bit, because we were still young, but tonight was one of those performances where we showed that we can be the guys who are supposed to win the league - and we’re proud. It was some great soccer right there.
On Walker Zimmerman:
Walker [Zimmerman] has understood what it takes to be at this level. The best part is that he has been consistent with his performance. Physically and mentally he has shown a lot of growth in these type of games; he’s stepped up not just defending but also to help us on both fronts with the area of the game that he has, making him a very complete player.
On preparing for the next games:
We have two games. We’re going to prepare for Seattle [Sounders] now, and then we need to get to LA [Galaxy]. We do have the opportunity to win the Supporters Shield, but as I have said from the beginning, you cannot hold too many objectives at a time and try to sort them all. We have to take things one game at a time; at this time we will recover this group and make sure that they have the energy to face the last two teams.
FC Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman
On the high stakes of tonight’s match…
It was thrilling. I still have a lot of excitement. I can’t really slow my mind down right now. It was a massive three points for us. We know how far that goes in terms of the race for the Supporters Shield. That is our next goal, our next objective. We’re not done yet. We know we have two games left to try and close this out. We know we have to hold off some other teams. Overall, today was a great win… A great effort from the guys… I thought the last 10 minutes, staying composed and closing out the match was a good building block for us heading into playoffs.
On his chemistry with Mauro Diaz on set pieces…
It’s huge. We have developed that chemistry though out all the set piece work we do in training. That’s a lot of work on the practice field that comes into fruition out on the field on game day. We’re starting to build on that. This is the first full season that we have gone back and forth reading each other on where to go. It’s working out well. He hits in a great ball.
On getting the win against a team with the prestige of the LA Galaxy…
We just don’t want to be second best to anyone. That is the mentality we all have in this locker room. It is a reflection of our leadership and our coaches. We hate losing. That is the culture here. We hate losing. We love winning. That mentality is hopefully going to take us to the top of MLS.
FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz
General thoughts on the match…
We wanted to go forward and attack. Our game plan was to keep our outside backs high, keep them under pressure and lock them in. We were able to do that, especially in the first half. We’re dangerous on set pieces. Walker [Zimmerman] scored on a great one tonight. We played well defensively tonight as well. It was a complete performance and we know what is in front of us. We know it is attainable. We’re excited for it but we know it is going to take a lot of work to get there.
On having success against the Galaxy on corner kicks…
They’re a zonal coverage team. There is going to be gaps. There is no accountability in terms of man marking in those instances. We knew there was going to be holes and that if we could find them, not on the top of the six but maybe a little bit deeper in between their lines, we’d be in good shape. Walker, Matty [Hedges], Atiba [Harris]… everyone going forward on those plays is capable of scoring.
