LA Galaxy Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy 0, New York City FC 2
Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017
2017 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, Calif.
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the performance:
“The guys aren’t happy with the results and neither are the fans. I thought from a soccer standpoint, we played really well. We deserved to come out of that game with more. When you look at the game, I thought we dominated the game. When you look at the chances that we created and the corners we got and the possession and everything else, I thought the team played pretty well. It’s a bad goal to take. The first goal is a horrible goal to take. Those are the kind of goals that deflate a team. Now you take the air out of the balloon so it becomes harder. No one is going to be harder on himself right now than Brian, in regard to that goal. We’re certainly here to support him, but things like that change games. Sean Johnson came up with three to four saves and the game tips.”
On the performance of Gyasi Zardes:
“I thought he was anonymous for the first 30 minutes for sure. I think after that he got more involved and he started getting balls in the channels. He started to stretch the defenders a little bit with his running. I know he got a chance at the end of the game and that’s the one that everybody remembers. I thought his play improved as the game went on, but we need more from him. It wasn’t enough.”
On what was missing from tonight’s match:
“A center forward. That’s probably one. Someone who is very comfortable finishing goals. At the end of the day, I can’t be harsh on my team because they worked hard and did everything that I asked them to do. The performance on the field, the work rate, the way we played…it was something I was very happy with. We did not deserve to lose 2-0 tonight. There’s big time finishers in this league that are playing. Gyasi is in a rut right now. We’re trying to get him out of that rut, but that’s the area that we need right now.”
On Gyasi Zardes’ struggles finding the back of the net:
“We did some work on his shooting and footwork on that. We’ll continue to support him and continue to work. What happens when you’re a forward is that sometimes you start to press and you don’t believe. Forwards have to have short-term memories. They can’t remember the last time they missed a goal. You’ve got to eliminate that. He’s a good kid. He works hard and things will come through.”
On an injury update for Giovani dos Santos:
“We think Giovani should be able to play our next game in Columbus. We think he should be back. “
On Emmanuel Boateng’s performance:
“I thought Ema played well. He was dangerous, he turned the corner. There were some crosses, even in the first half where a little better running up top…we’ve talked about that: getting crosses in behind the defense when they’re facing their own goal and that gap. But we need the hard running up front, so I thought Ema was good.”
On the performance of Jonathan dos Santos:
“I didn’t think we would play him 90 minutes, I’ll tell you that. We were looking at 45 and then we checked with him. Then I think after 15 minutes he was dead on his feet then he caught a second wind and we said let’s go 15-20 more in the second half and we’ll see where we’re at. But he was able to manage his way through the game and he was able to find pockets. I’m sure if we had to play tomorrow, I don’t think he could play at all. He might have trouble getting out of bed tomorrow after that game. But I was pleased with him.”
On what he liked about the match:
“The more trainings we get in the more the guys understand what we’re trying to do. I thought our ball movement was quicker in the back and that opened things up and got Romain and Ema isolated a little bit which is something we need to do for two of our most dangerous players. Now it’s just a matter of us continuing to do that and continuing to build our fitness. I thought our fitness tonight was much better than it’s been in our last few games and we have to continue to build on that.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER JONATHAN DOS SANTOS
[Translated from Spanish]
On the game:
“It's that we are in a complicated situation, when we are in this bad run it is difficult to overcome. They had two chances and took advantage of both that were two very great goals but, they could have been prevented. What we have to do now is keep moving forward and work hard day in and day out. We have to keep fighting because this doesn't end here, there is still a lot of remaining games. The team with this loss, here at home, with our fans, it hurts. However, there is still time to recover and move forward.”
On playing 90 minutes:
“I still have a long way to go. I've only had four training sessions with the team and one game after being inactive for a month. I will gain my normal rhythm little by little. It is true that today wasn't my best game, I still need to gain a lot of my rhythm. However, that is why I'm here, to work hard, to demonstrate my level of play. The soonest possible I intent to be at 100 percent.”
On Sigi Schmid saying the team didn't deserve to lose and whether he agrees:
“Yes, I think so. We had a lot of opportunities that we were not able to finish. The team fought hard until the last minute, we played very intensely in all aspects. In the end, football, the game is decided on who scores the goals, we didn't do that, they did. We have to look forward and keep working.”
Thoughts on his performance:
“I still need a lot of rhythm and to demonstrate a lot. I didn't have the best game but, I tried and gave it my all. I know it's not an excuse but, I've had some time inactive, it's normal. I'm tranquil and, I know I will help out the team a lot. I need to be at 100 percent and reach my maximum level of play the soonest possible.”
On the NYCFC goalkeeper making several outstanding saves:
“Yes, the goalkeeper was in the right spot at the right time. Some day you just have that kind of night and I think he had such a night. We attempted in all forms, free kicks, corner kicks and shots on goal. It was just one of those nights where the ball won’t go in and you have bad luck. To be in this bad run is very complicated I football. We intend to overcome this as soon as possible but we still have time.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER DANIEL STERES
On if the team was unlucky tonight:
“I would agree with that. I don’t think we deserved to lose it. Their ‘keeper stood on his head tonight. I don’t know how many shots we had on target, but we had near 10, if not more. We just couldn’t find it. It’s just not going our way. They got a couple of shots and they get a couple of goals.”
On the team being in a rut:
“There’s no real way to explain it. We dominated that game and absolutely deserved to win. We had chances to win it. It’s not happening. If you want to call it a rut, call it a rut. Unlucky, call it that. Whatever you want to call it, it’s just not happening right now.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER BRIAN ROWE
On New York City FC’s first goal:
“I just saw it late. I just saw Jermaine was in front of him and tried to see the ball coming off his foot. It went up and over. A game like that where we have a lot of momentum going forward and a lot of opportunities and I don’t see a lot of action down there … it’s one I need to make a save on.”
On the team’s performance:
“Our defense did great. They had two opportunities maybe and two goals. They didn’t deserve to give up two goals. I don’t think they earned them.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD EMMANUEL BOATENG
On the NYCFC’s goalkeepers performance:
“He had many saves, he’s a good goalie. We had a good day and made some chances and we kept pushing and we probably should of put one or two away. We had the ball most of the time and we created a lot of chances the ball just couldn’t go in and we couldn’t get a break”
On why the Galaxy couldn’t capitalize:
“I think we just need to focus a little more, we need to focus more on finishing in practice. The goalie made a lot of good saves, and didn’t make a lot of mistakes. I think we just need to keep going, it’s better to have games like that where we have a lot of shots on goal rather than games where we cant penetrate at all.”
On his crossing ability:
My job is to get to the line and put a cross in, ten other guys have to get in the box when I do that. Obviously I have to work on it and get better and try to find a guy every time but when Im going down the line I have to make a chance for someone else.
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER JERMAINE JONES
On his foot injury:
“I felt like something happened with my shoe and when I took it off it looked good but then when I came in at half time it was filled with blood. I had a big cut underneath my toe, we made it numb at half time and I kept going”
On the defensive performance:
“We do everthing right and the goalkeeper from New York comes up with great saves, and we give up two chances. But mistakes happen and we have to look forward and grind and work for it and I hope we come out of it and make the run.”
On why the Galaxy couldn’t score:
“The Goalkeeper made a could good saves, and sometimes that’s what you need. He had a good game and we lost 2-0.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER ASHLEY COLE
On the teams overall performance:
“We worked hard for each other, we played forward and we played around the back and we looked comfortable. We had a few chances but we couldn’t get one in. Give them credit they know how to play and when you have strikers like David Villa he only needs one chance”
On the teams recent performance:
“We came in to the game kind of hopeful that we’ll change things around at home, after the first half we were excited and positive and we thought we need to build off this performance and in the second half we dropped off and gave up two shots outside the box”
On them getting more break than the Galaxy:
“Yeah, most things are going against us right now, one day it’s got to change, it cant stay this way at home. It’s don’t think it’s gonna carry on the whole season, it’s difficult to take after the first half performance.”
NEW YORK CITY FC HEAD COACH PATRICK VIERIA
On Jonathan Lewis's performance:
"He had a good performance, he played well at times and we need to understand that he is a young player and he need time and games to develop himself but today he did what I was expecting. Tactically he was well disciplined and he had a chance and he scored one of the nicest goals we are going to see but outside of the goal I was happy with the way he worked for the team."
On the team's performance:
"I thought we defended really well of course Sean [Johnson] had a fantastic game. I think we tried not to give them so much space but against the quality of the players that they have up front you will concede chances during the game and when we conceded those chances our keeper made the save. At times we could say yes we were lucky but today it was on our side and I think to bring the luck to your side you have to play well. As a team it was a really strong performance."
NEW YORK CITY FC DEFENDER ALEXANDER CALLENS
[Translated from Spanish]
On the play where the referee called a foul against you:
“Yes, I spoke to him. I told him I got the ball and didn't touch him at all. I don't know how the rules are interpreted, there's nothing you can do. That yellow card held me back all game. There was a play where with [Romain] Alessandrini where I could have taken it away, but I was limited all game. It was a clear foul but I felt I couldn't tackle like I usually do but what can you do, the good thing was that I didn't get ejected.”
On NYCFC sitting on second place in the Eastern Conference:
“Yes, the first time I believe. The most important thing is to maintain that. We can celebrate now but we have to think ahead to the New England match that is a must win.”
On how David Villa has been playing very well this season:
“What can I say. He saves our life, he scores the goals, he's our leading goal scorer and I am very happy. We have to keep him happy to keep winning games.”
NEW YORK CITY FC FORWARD DAVID VILLA
[Translated from Spanish]
On the game:
“I think we did a great game defensively. Our defensive line is great. I think Sean [Johnson] played an amazing game and we are happy. It’s a complicated place to play and earning three points tonight is very important for us.”
On leading the league with 18 goals:
“The most important thing for me is to score so the team can win. The team won today and I was able to score and I’m happy. But today we have to highlight the team’s defensive play because we were sensational in the back line.”
On Sean Johnson being the best player of the team and his thoughts:
“I think it’s great. I think that in a lot of times in soccer you dominate and sometimes you are dominated. A lot of times you just have to know how to read the game. Today we were dominated by LA Galaxy, who made us work tonight. Our team was able to get the job done and defend well and take advantage of the goal scoring opportunities when we had them. You can always win by dominating teams and sometimes you win when the opposing team dominates the game.”
On critics saying coming to MLS is a step down:
“If someone says that after watching 20 or 25 MLS games then with all due respect, but I think they don’t watch soccer correctly. If they say it without watching any games, then it’s all the same to me.”
NYCFC GOALKEEPER SEAN JOHNSON
On his current form:
“I feel good and that’s the most important thing I wanna do everything I can to help this team. We’re at a key moment in our season. We’ve had two good wins against two good teams. It’s a big stretch for us, we gotta just keep moving forward. We’ll enjoy this one for a couple days then start preparing for New England”
On what’s motivating him:
“I’m always motivated, you gotta find that thing that self-motivates you… and being so close to the top of the table. It’s a really special team and it motivates me every single day to come out and play the game I love”
On his contact with Bruce Arena:
“Yeah, obviously being in the Gold Cup and being a part of that group it was good to get in. I also spoke to Matt Reis after the game. My job is to go out and give everything I got. I know Bruce and those guys are always watching games so it feels good to play well in this one but I have to keep it going.”
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