LA Galaxy Postgame Quote Sheet
LA Galaxy 2, Sporting Kansas City 2
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016
2016 MLS Regular Season
Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, Kansas
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA
On the match:
“Sporting looked like a team that needed to get three points today. They were all over us. Put a lot of pressure. We didn't deal real well with the heat and we're fortunate to get a point.”
On Landon scoring:
“I think you could even figure out that that was pretty good. Landon's experience was beneficial at the end of that game. He gave us 20 good minutes. We went from 10 to 20 in a week. We're going to try to go 20 to 30 and keep building. But you see just his composure, allowing us to keep the ball when we weren't able to do for about 80 minutes, so that part was good.”
On the impact that Landon has had on the sport:
“Yes, but give credit to your organization here. They built a fabulous facility, they built a very good team and are strongly immersed in the community. This is the way you build a franchise in our League. I'd like to give Landon a lot of credit for the crowd today, but I actually think the Sporting organization and team deserve a lot of credit for what they've done here.”
On Giovani dos Santos:
“He'll be alright, we could have played him today, but we decided to be very cautious so we could have him ready for next week”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER LANDON DONOVAN
On the result:
“When you look at the season, this team has given away a lot of points at the end of games. But, we're the only team that has only lost four games and I don't think anyone is all that close. Maybe a couple of teams that have five or six losses. So, in the end you do want to win, but to come back in a game like this, in a situation like this, in a stadium like this against this team is a pretty special result and I think it could look a lot like that in the playoffs. So we have to be able to come to a place like this and get something out of it.”
On the satisfaction of scoring first goal since return:
“Ten years ago, I would have been really excited for me. I told you guys and my family when I came back that I want to help this team. And I felt like last week I was useless on the field and I don't like that feeling and this was a game that needed a play and when I talked to Bruce weeks ago, he said we need you to come in and make a few plays that count. So I was happy after the effort that they all put in that I was able to help them get something out of it.”
On if this goal felt difference than the others because of the time off:
“Not really. At that point, it's just kind of instincts take over and you do what you've done your whole life. It felt good because it helped the team get a point out of the game. My first reaction was we have to see out the game now. That's my motivation now. Of course, I'm happy personally, but much more than that. I'm glad I could help.”
On being able to answer so quickly after coming into the game and AARP chants from crowd:
“Listen, I have an eight month old at home. Diapers are expensive. I wish I was getting the benefits of AARP right now, but I think they probably realized I might have a little more time left in me, this old guy.”
On conversation with Benny [Feilhaber] when entering field:
“I told him his hair looks good and I'm happy to see him. It was nice to see these guys, I played with these guys and against these guys for a long time so it's nice to see them back on the field. This whole soccer worlds a fraternity and so it's good to see a lot of these guys.”
LA GALAXY FORWARD ALAN GORDON
On second goal in as many games:
“Just getting the opportunity. Playing time has been very limited this year, but my role going into this season was very clear. When guys are out I need to be ready to go and so Keane was out last game and Gio this game. I was very happy to get the opportunity to play and help the team and that's what I have been able to do and I am quit happy with that.”
On this point during this condition and at this point in the season:
“After all is said and done, we'll take the point. We didn't expect conditions to be that tough. Obviously this stadium is tough in itself but the conditions were brutal out there. Guys fought hard having to come back after going down with a soft goal that we'll have to talk about. But we're happy and pleased with Landon [Donovan] coming on which I know will be your next question and doing his thing was impressive.”
On the AARP chants from the crowd:
“I think he's being humble there. Landon has been very impressive coming back. It kind of pisses me off to be honest. He can come back after being on the couch for two years and be better than I am. It's pretty annoying. But, seriously, he's super good and you saw today he's in control, he's very intelligent on the field and at this level that's all the difference.”
SPORTING KC MANAGER PETER VERMES
On letting a second half lead slip away:
“It’s disappointing, for sure. Especially with the way we controlled the game. We owned it. When we scored, the momentum shifted. We made a great, heads up play as far as Benny [Feilhaber] seeing Saad [Abdul-Salaam], Saad paying attention and we finish it off well. We go up 2-1 and it hurts to give up those points when there was not that much time left. You have to be able to close the game out at home. To climb back like we did is great, but to allow them to come back was sad.”
On bringing on Diego Rubio at the wing position:
“Since we had so much of the ball, he was going to play as a second forward with the way he was tucked inside. It seemed like a good idea at the time. We were starting to die out a little bit in a couple different positions and we needed to keep the attack going. We felt like were going to get chances and he was going to find some stuff.”
On Jake Peterson scoring in his fifth straight home game:
“[Jake]’s been great. He his finding his places on the field. I have always said that the one thing about Jake is he is probably our best guy on the field in terms of movement off the ball. The one thing is that guys are finding him with his movement. He’s been clinical and he’s been big time for us.”
SPORTING KC FORWARD JACOB PETERSON
Thoughts on the match:
“It’s disappointing. I thought overall if you look at the entirely of the game, I thought we were the better team. To not come away with three points is disappointing right now.”
On scoring in his fifth straight home match:
“I don’t care about that. It doesn’t mean anything to me. I want to win and if we continue to drop points at home, it doesn’t matter if I score or not.”
SPORTING KC MIDFIELDER BENNY FEILHABER
On Landon Donovan’s equalizer…
“I think it’s really poor on our part. We talk all week about what happened last week, we try to correct things and it’s more of the same stuff. I hope people realize that’s probably four points dropped that very well could cost us the playoffs. So now we have to get a bunch of results on the road. It’s extremely concerning and disappointing of our squad to give up easy points like that.”
On the offense tonight:
“We had a lot of possession. We created some chances. Sometimes I got frustrated that I wasn’t able to get the spots in certain spots that I’m used to getting it in. I think that’s normal and I’m not too worried about the offensive side of things. We created some good opportunities, got two goals - obviously could have gotten a couple more - and didn’t do it. But we had the lead 3-2 last week, 2-1 this week against teams that you are fighting for to get into the playoffs, and you are at home and not able to close it down, that’s team defense. It hasn’t been good enough. We haven’t been able to fix it and that’s a big problem.”
SPORTING KC FORWARD DOM DWYER
On what he said to Landon Donovan after the match:
“I just said congrats on coming out of retirement. It takes balls to do that. He jumped out of it a little early. Good for him and I congratulated him on his goal.”
On the disappointment not getting three points:
“You are ahead. You want to see the game out but we couldn’t quite do that today.”
On the first goal:
“I just saw Jake [Peterson] make a good run. He makes hard runs in the box. I just tried to put it in the right area and he finished it off.”
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