CARSON, Calif. -- Bruce Arena spoke to reporters following the Galaxy's 5-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
On LA Galaxy midfielder Emmanuel Boateng’s performance:
“Obviously, he helped us in the attack but defensively he played very well. Just a good performance.”
On the Galaxy giving up an early goal and if he planned that...
“That’s what we try to do, give up an early goal.
On Boateng’s strengths:
“He’s faster than most players. He’s left footed which helps on our attack on that side of the field. He’s a good overall player. He’s really grown during the preseason and the start of the season. He can play on both sides of the ball. He’s getting better. He’s understanding the qualities he brings to the field, and his teammates understand it, and that allows him to be more productive.”
On if the LA Galaxy are hitting their stride:
I think in a couple of months we’re going to be a real good team. Some other players are still waiting to get back in, and they’re going to be playing together, obviously, over the next few months and hopefully getting better each game. But I think we have a good team and a good balance with some young players, some pace, some real experienced players. Players like Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole and Jelle Van Damme were tremendous tonight in their experience. They love to play, and they bring a great attitude on the field, and that’s something I’m quite certain we didn’t have last season so that plus young players like Gyasi Zardes, Emmanuel Boateng, Sebastian Lletget and Daniel Steres…it’s a really nice balance. We have the potential to be a really good team.
On how different this team is from what it was a month ago:
Not to be critical of you people, but you get too nutty at the beginning of the season about what’s going on. We’ll hopefully have a good team in October, November, December. Everyone gets real excited about what’s going on early in the season and rightfully so. But there’s a lot of time left to find out who can really play in this league, and that is yet to be determined.
On what the team could have done better tonight:
We conceded two goals tonight; that’s not good. We probably could have scored more goals. Oddly enough I thought Nick Rimando had a great first half. His team gave up four goals. Our finishing could have been a little bit better. We started a little slow. We needed to pass a little quicker, but as we keep playing and progressing through the season, hopefully, we’ll get better in every area.
On what he’s thinking after the penalty was saved and then Giovani dos Santos’ shot hit the post:
I’m thinking s* happens; that’s what I’m thinking actually. We were playing so well up to that point that it didn’t bother me and I don’t think it bothered the team. It took a great effort by Gyasi Zardes to bring us back in the game and I think his goal gave us a lot of confidence.
