Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy 0, Philadelphia Union 0
Saturday, April 29, 2017
2017 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, Calif.
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
His thoughts on the match:
“I thought we thoroughly outplayed the opponent. We possessed the ball well, moved the ball well, created plenty of goal scoring chances. If one of those goes in early, it’s a totally different game. Their tactic was to come in and defend and be dangerous on set pieces. I think that at times they looked dangerous on set pieces. But over the course of the game, I thought we performed and were the better team and fell short in terms of getting three points.”
On the impact of adding an extra midfielder to the lineup:
“We had just been bleeding goals. When you win the middle of the field and you’re able to press more efficiently – which if you saw our team I thought we pressed well tonight – you have a better chance to be better going forward and it just gives you better chances to win games. It was just something that we felt like we had to do and I thought it worked in the sense that we didn’t concede anything and we created enough chances where something’s got to go in and we lacked some quality.”
On getting the shutout and its impact on the team going forward:
“We have a group that, let’s be honest, we feel pressure. So when you feel pressure, sometimes you force things and you don’t have that extra pause and that extra amount of relaxation where you just put that play away. It’s been a very frustrating and difficult start for us. We’ve worked very hard, it’s not been for a lack of effort and results haven’t gone the way we’ve wanted them to go. So I feel like we saw a little bit of that tonight in the guys. They put in a great effort and they fought all the way through. And I thought defensively, we build on that for sure and then we just probably have to be a little looser and a little more confident in the final third because it’s coming.”
On what it will take to fix the team’s problems in the final third:
“I just think you bury one of the chances and the game shifts, the momentum shifts, the crowd was great tonight. It was disappointing not being able to reward the crowd for the energy and how much they were behind us and pushing for us. Because if one of those goes in, maybe a couple more go in. It’s just a matter of slowing down a bit and having a little bit less pressure and putting the ball in the back of the net.”
On how to get the team to loosen up:
“I think you just take away confidence from this game because that fight and concentration and how you defended is how you have to defend every game and then things start going your way. So we’ll keep pushing. There’s no magic answer for how to make that happen, it’s just a matter of making a play or two and things change.
LA GALAXY FORWARD GIOVANI DOS SANTOS
On how the formation change helped the Galaxy:
“I think we controlled the game. We didn’t find the net, but I think we created chances and we controlled the game. We didn’t concede a goal. We have to keep positive and keep working. Sometimes in this situation it’s difficult because you haven’t won a game in a while. We have to keep going. I believe in this team. Good things will come. That’s it.”
On the team’s lack of chemistry in the final third:
“It’s difficult to talk about when things are going in a bad way. You can say anything. I think now’s not the time to talk or make excuses. You have to keep trying, keep working and believe in ourselves. We’re the LA Galaxy. We have to keep working and come back. As I said, we have played eight games this season. We have to start winning games.”
On how he plans to help the team get back on track:
“I’m trying my best. I feel great. I’ve been working a lot on my body and my fitness. I will just keep working. As I said it’s not just about one player or team, it’s about all the team. So I’m going to try and do my best every single game and get better every single day. I know that good times will come.”
On if he’s feeling pressure without results going the team’s way and without scoring goals:
“No, not really. I’ve been through a lot of difficult times in my career and this is another one. So I know what I have to do and I know what kind of player I am and I know what kind of team we have. And as I said, we are the Galaxy. We have pressure every single game because we have to win and people respect us. We know our responsibility. We’re not playing well now, but we have to keep working.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER BAGGIO HUSIDIC
On how the formation change affected the game defensively:
“Defensively we were pretty solid. I think the only chances they created were on set plays, so if we can minimize that and walk away with conceding zero goals, you have a chance to win a lot of games, so it’s a good start.”
On if he was frustrated with the result:
“Of course. I think anytime you tie at home, especially in the game today where I thought we were the dominant team and we created chances. We were just a little short of winning..”
On what needs to be done to find goals:
“Just score and put it in the back of the net. Our creative guys have been doing the right things and we’ve just been unfortunate.”
LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER BRIAN ROWE
On recording a shutout tonight:
“I thought we played really well. They didn’t have too many chances. They were more looking for the counter and I thought we did a really good job dictating the pace of the game and keeping the ball. It was unfortunate that we weren’t able to get a goal there but that’s a step in the right direction for us. That’s the way we want to start playing, dictating the game and moving the ball, breaking teams down and getting solid opportunities.”
On Bradley Diallo’s play:
“He did a great job back there. I know he’s naturally left footed but he’s just powerful back there. Nothing got behind him and he’s well connected. He did a really good job.”
On the backline rotations throughout the season:
“I think at this level with our guys that we have all of us are confident, from the coaches all the way to the players, that any of these players in this locker room can step in there and get the job done. I think that the standard we hold for these guys and so far these guys have proven and they’ve stepped in and they get the job done.”
On his view of the field and what he’s seeing from the back:
“I think today what we did that was really successful for us that we haven’t quite been doing the first couple of games which is moving the back. Though it wasn’t the prettiest, and although we weren’t breaking them down right away, just moving the ball to the back and making them work side to side opens up those little pockets where we’re able to find Joao Pedro, Baggio [Husidic], Jermaine [Jones], Giovani [dos Santos] and then you’re able to turn to space and go at them. I think that’s what led to a lot of our success tonight.”
PHILADELPHIA UNION HEAD COACH JIM CURTIN
Opening Statement
“Obviously, you know, we talked a lot this week about being organized defensively. It started with keeping a clean sheet. That was the goal for the night. We’re only going to get points if we’re able to do that. So, from that stand point I thought it was a great effort from our guys. Really proud of the group staying together. Obviously a very talented Galaxy team with a bunch of guys that can make a play, and we were able to neutralize them, and had some chances ourselves. I think a draw is a fair result on the night.”
On the team’s defense:
“Most complete game, so yeah. I think we’ve had some better soccer for sure, in moments. But, we haven’t put together a complete 90 minutes. So for the first time, I think it’s a 90 minutes where we were intense we were focused the entire time and we were together. All our movements were as a group, as one unit. We’ve had, like I said better soccer, and we’ve scored a lot of good goals this year in spurts, and then we’ve conceded a bunch. So, this was good from the standpoint in that it was from minute one through minute 90 plus the extra time there. A good clean sheet tonight.”
On Derrick Jones’ performance:
“Derrick’s been great for us all year he’s been a guy who we can count on. He plays beyond his years, he breaks up a lot of plays, he gave us some fresh legs in a moment where we needed them. When he gets on the ball and starts bouncing off guys, he tends to always come out with the ball at his feet. From that standpoint I thought Derrick really came into a game on the road, and in a tough environment. Not an easy thing to do for a young guy, and not really blink an eye when you’re playing against Dos Santos (Giovani Dos Santos, LA galaxy).You know Jones (Jermaine Jones, LA Galaxy), he’s playing against some big-time players. So for him to have the composure and go into a tough spot, and do great, speaks for the player that he is developing into.”
On Fabrice-Jean Picault’s first MLS start:
“On the night we wanted to try to get in behind their right back. They had the kid Smith in there last week, and they kind of juggled things in the back, and played Diallo (Bradley Diallo, LA Galaxy) back there. The goal all week was to win balls and try and use his speed to get in behind the right side. I thought he worked very hard defensively. A couple little of half-chances to maybe get in behind, but you can see that his speed brings a little bit of a threat to a back line and makes them drop a little deeper. Overall though for a first start I was very happy with Fafa’s (Fabrice-Jean Picault, P.Union) work from minute 1 til he was subbed. He emptied his tank, and did a good job for us.”
On playing Jack Elliot playing in center back:
“He’s done a really good job. He’s a young guy who is growing into the position. He’s really composed with the ball at his feet for a guy who is who is 6’5, 6’6. He looks a little lanky out there, but he can really pass the ball. You saw the composure that he brings to the back line. Obviously he’s going to be very good in the air winning his duels, but I think jack has really progressed as a young center back in this league, and someone that if you look at where he was selected in the draft not a lot of people were thinking too much of him this year. But, we believed in him, and he’s gotten opportunities. He’s done a great job. No different than a Richie Marquez type, a late round draft pick that can come in and play the position well. I’m proud of the effort Jack put in tonight, and it’s great for him to get a clean sheet.”
On the team’s upcoming game against New York Red Bulls:
“Red Bulls is a great team. They’re playing very well right now. Obviously, it’s a rivalry game. We’ll be in our home stadium. Again, we’re still fighting to get points each and every game, and it starts with team defense. I thought tonight the team defense is something to build on for the next game. Obviously, the question with Wright-Phillips, is that they a handful of attacking pieces that we’ll need to try to neutralize, and obviously at home we’ll hope to have a little more of the ball than we did tonight and create some chances. There’s no easy games in this league anymore.”
PHILADELPHIA UNION FORWARD FABRICE-JEAN PICAULT
On first MLS start:
“It felt good, obviously, to get the start. A point coming here at an away game, the West Coast, to at least get a point out of it against a good team like LA. It was a bit of a scrappy game. A fighting game. We got a result, and we go back to Philly now, and focus on the next home game.”
On expecting to start tonight:
“Yeah, I knew for a few days. It’s just like another game. I just focused, and did what I could, especially defensively tonight. It was a lot of defensive work, and staying alert tactically to not let anything through.”
PHILADELPHIA UNION GOALKEEPER ANDRE BLAKE
On the result:
“It was a great point for us. Great shutout. I think the guys they fought really hard tonight, and we stuck together, and I think overall it was a great performance defensively. We didn’t get three points but we’re pretty happy with getting a point, and getting a clean sheet.”
On the Galaxy:
“They’re a very good team, and they came out and they gave us a great game and we were able to match up to them. I think it was a good game overall.”
On the team’s mentality for the next game:
“We still haven’t won, but the last two games we haven’t lost. So there are still positives, and we just got to keep going. Once we can start stopping teams from scoring goals against us. We’re going to get our chances and we’re going to get our wins.”
On team getting better:
“Yeah, of course. Right now the guys are still confident, and we all still believe. Obviously, we are going through tough times, but we still believe that we have the guys who are capable of turning things around.”
