LA Galaxy Postgame Quote Sheet:
LA Galaxy 1, Club Tijuana 1
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017
2017 LA Galaxy Preseason
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, Calif.
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On his first game with the team:
“It’s exactly what I thought it would be. Two weeks into preseason, there were some heavy legs. Everything wasn’t as sharp as it should be. But having said that, there were some really good things to build on. In the first half - it’s basically two mini-games if you look at it, two mini-games of 45 minutes – and in the first half, we created some very good chances off of set pieces. A couple good chances out of the run of play. We needed to move better as a group defensively. We had a little bit of trouble dealing with the system that they play and on the left side of the field we needed to do a better job of handling that, but I thought we adjusted pretty well. Overall I thought it was a good exercise in the first 45 minutes. And in the second half, we saw some youth out there and scored a really good goal early on. But when you score, you have to buckle down and not let the team get back into it. Even though it probably was a soft PK call, you don’t want to put yourself in those situations. We’ll build off that. Same thing in the second half; we’re two weeks in. It’s not going to be looking perfect at this point.”
On the team’s fitness and Jermaine Jones’ performance:
“We’re two weeks in so 45 minutes is perfect. The goal by the end of this week is to push to 60 and then keep moving it up to 90. I thought the amount of time was fine. I thought Jermaine was excellent.”
On if there were any emotions for him ahead of his coaching debut:
“Honestly, not a whole lot. Because the way I look at it, it’s just another training exercise getting us ready for the season. It’s all part of our periodization and the plan that we have getting the group ready for March 4 against Dallas. I was just excited to see how we responded because I think we’ve had some really good training sessions and to see some of it come through… it definitely did, so that part I was pleased with. Now it’s just back to work and keep plugging away.”
On the opponent:
“They’re one of the better teams in Mexico, a great coach that was a former national team coach. So we knew it would be a really good game for us because any time you play a real quality opponent, things come from it that you need to work on. I thought it was a good game.”
On if the LA Galaxy’s physicality in the match meant they plan to be a physical team:
I don’t know that I necessarily agree with that. I think you always want to be hard to play against and that may mean being physical, but sometimes being hard to play against can mean making hard runs in front of the goal, so I think anytime you get out there and you’re playing against a good opponent it’s going to get a little chippy. I don’t think it was overly chippy at all. Maybe you’re referring to Jermaine [Jones] and the physicality he brings, that’s a big part of his game but it wasn’t dirty by any means, it’s just strong and hard. It was encouraging.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER JELLE VAN DAMME
On the team’s performance:
“We saw some good things today. We have a young squad, but even the young guys did well. I saw some good things, like building up and patience with the ball…so yeah, we can only improve. It’s only been two weeks and it’s a whole new team, a younger team. Knowing all that, we have 3 or 4 starting players coming back so we will be OK.”
On Jermaine Jones’ performance:
“He’s good. Jermaine is a big asset for the team. He brings power. He had a few good passes as well, it’s a positive thing to have him.”
On Jones as a replacement to help fill holes left by Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard:
“You have to bring in players of this quality, that’s the minimal you have to do and I think the club did well, even the new guys. I have a lot of confidence in this team, these guys and this group. I’m pretty satisfied about the things I’ve seen today. We can only get better.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER BAGGIO HUSIDIC
On the performance:
“They obviously are coming in a little bit more fit than we are, I think they’re towards the end of their season. But I thought it was good. To be fair, I thought we had the better chances to score which is a good sign.”
On if it will take time to get used to Curt Onalfo on the sidelines:
“It’s business, you learn how to adapt real quick so that’s just part of it.”
On Onalfo’s strengths:
“He’s a pretty intense guy when he needs to be. He wants structure and organization and he lets the players express themselves. He’s a progressive guy.”
On Jermaine Jones:
“He’s pretty good. He’s pretty damn good. He makes it more simple for me, I just get him the ball and he does all the creative stuff so it’s nice to play with a guy like that.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD ARIEL LASSITER
On his thoughts on the match:
“It was ok. I would have liked to get more chances on goal, but it’s part of preseason. And it’s a part of us being on the pitch for the first time together, getting chemistry together and being able to find each other in the right spots, and I'm sure we will. I think towards the end of the first half, we started to get in a rhythm and find good spots with each other.”
On playing with Jermaine Jones:
“It’s going to take a little time, but I can kind of read him when he’s going to play me the ball. And playing with Jack [McBean], I’m really accustomed to that and we seem to work really well together. So hopefully we can continue with that and keep on pushing forward.”
On having midfielders who can find forwards:
“It’s huge. Because then my runs are effective. I’m not just running to run. But once he does find me in those spots, I think the goals will come even more.”
