LA GALAXY HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On Romain Alessandrini’s performance:
“He’s a player who’s very exciting, who’s very explosive. I said to one of my coaches just now, I compared him, if he played baseball, he’s the kind of guy who would hit 45 home runs and strike out like 180 times. That’s just what it is. Sometimes it’s hit or miss. One of the things we talked about at half-time was shooting more. And, he ended up hitting a good shot and getting a goal.”
On the importance of Jonathan and Giovani Dos Santos to the team:
"I think Jonathan [Dos Santos] is playing very well. Obviously, when he’s healthy he’s an important player to our team. Giovani [Dos Santos] is still coming back off of the injury. He basically had one sort of real training. So, I didn’t want to play him too many minutes, I didn’t want to put him into a dangerous spot. But, we felt with it being zero to zero, he could be the guy that could play-make, and one of the things for Giovani [Dos Santos] and for our team, he’s important. What he did well before he got injured is that he was taking over more of that playmaker role; he wasn’t playing as much as a second forward, but actually dropping a little bit, playmaking. He had people that he could play forward to, and that’s what we need him to continue to do.”
On the team’s recent performance:
"We’ve gutted out the last two games. But, the main thing is that we’ve played to zero, and as we said at half-time we said look just keep it a zero, we’ll find a goal. This is a team that will somehow find a goal. And, we found a goal. So, what I’m happy with is that I think defensively over the last two games, you know we’ve bent a little bit, but we’ve been stronger. Maybe luck is turning our direction a little bit. The one off the crossbar, I think David [Bingham] got a little touch on it that took it to the crossbar. Should we have had a penalty kick on Romain [Alessandrini] in the box. They said there was just normal contact. I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. But, over a season’s time that starts to even out. So hopefully it starts to even out now.”
On Emmanuel Boateng coming into the game:
"[Chris] Pontius was feeling a little bit tight. So, we have a number of games coming up, so we didn’t want to put him into a situation where he would get injured. We thought Emmanuel [Boateng] was the right guy. The last few weeks he’s played well coming off the bench. Offensively he gives us a spark, sometimes defensively it makes it a little more difficult for us. But, certainly offensively today he helped us, and his running at people caused them problems.”
On the team’s defensive performance:
“Yeah, I think we’re doing a better job. I think Jorgen [Skjelvik] is getting more comfortable, understanding the league a lot better. I think his game was very good tonight. Michael Ciani has a better game when we’re a little more disciplined positionally. It makes the game easier for him as well, and then he can impose his ability to win balls in the air. So yeah, I think defensively we’re getting better.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER ROMAIN ALESSANDRINI
On tonight’s performance:
“It’s a good feeling to get the win. It was a tough game, but we found the energy to win this game. Now we have to get some rest and keep going because we have a game again Wednesday at home. We want to win every game at home.”
On how the last two weeks have gone:
“I try a lot. I didn’t succeed with everything, so I was frustrated. The team was frustrated too. But we worked hard, we talked to each other and now we have to take it game by game and get back to the top.” On how he’s taken to a new role: “I think that’s why I was frustrated. Because last year, I was scoring more goals. This year I’m trying to be more focused when I get the ball. When I get the ball, I try to be the guy that can play 1-v-1. I try to get in a good cross or finish. My role is different this year, but I’m trying to adapt to it. Tonight it was good for me. I have to work hard to keep going and I think I’ll be better on the field next week.”
On if this result helps settle himself and the team:
“We get confidence. And I need confidence. We’ll see how Wednesday goes but I’m happy for the team. We have to keep going.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER JONATHAN DOS SANTOS
About the win and playing with his brother:
“I’m happy because we know that we had both suffered from injury, which ultimately is the worst thing that can happen to a player because it cuts your progression short. We had some time without playing together, so we’re happy. I’m pleased for my brother because he starts to have his minutes. He played well, and what is important is the mental aspect. We’re happy to get back to playing together, for getting the three points and continuing with this confidence. Like you said, the whole technical staff from the national team was here but either way, even if they weren’t here, we have top lay well every game.”
On if there was added pressure because Juan Carlos Osorio was in attendance for the game:
“No, because he is my coach too for the national team, so there wasn’t any pressure. I know that he knows me and I don’t have to prove anything to him, he knows what I can offer and I know I still have a lot to improve. I’m getting back to 100 percent my level. It’s my second game with 90 minutes and more than that, I’m continuing to demonstrate, continuing to gain confidence little by little and we’ll be good.”
On Giovani and him coming back from injury and both showing today they are back ready:
“Yes of course, we are hoping to be able to secure our ticket to Russia. We have been dreaming about this for a very long time. The most important thing if to stay healthy. Giovani [dos Santos] finally had some minutes, and I am also regaining my level of play. We are 20 days from the World Cup and I think that we will both be 100 percent.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH MIKAEL STAHRE
On the game:
“It was quite a good game. It was a game with a lot of intensity and passion. I think we stood up in a good way. We deserved at least a tie in this game.” On where they need to improve: “I think we need to improve in all parts, actually. Tonight, we weren't dangerous enough in the last part of the field. I think handled the build up well. I think we handled the defensive part well. I just think we weren't dangerous enough in the last 30 yards of the field.”
On Wondolowski starting for the first time in three weeks:
“It gives us a little more of a direct approach tonight. More of a 4-4-2 formation, with wider wingers and two strikers. I think he did really well tonight.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER ANIBAL GODOY
(Translated from Spanish) On tonight's game:
"I am disappointed with the result. We played well, we played with a lot of intensity, we defended when we needed to defend but at the end of the day wins are what matter. We haven't been winning a lot of our games and it's difficult. We are practically outside of a playoff spot so we have to get back on track and reevaluate."
On joining his national team during this rough patch of games:
"I don't think it's the right time but I have to, I have to join my national team. I have to switch my chip and think about my national team and think about what we can do at the World Cup."
