CARSON, Calif. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena addressed reporters following the Galaxy's 2-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Arena's quotes are below:
On Robbie Keane returning and how much that helps the team:
“That, chemistry, experience, confidence. We’re halfway into the season, and I’d probably give us a B- on the first half. But we haven’t played our team the whole year. Hopefully, we can get through the next three of four games and have our team in good form when August comes around. It’s been one of those years. Robbie [Keane]’s last full game was when he left here which would have been May 22. It’s July 4. He hasn’t played the whole time he’s been gone, and he’s going to have to work to get his fitness back. But he did a heck of a job tonight. Steven Gerrard’s been hurting, and Giovani dos Santos has been hurting, and Gyasi Zardes has been gone. Gyasi was a workhorse with the national team. We gave him the week off, and it’s good to get him back. He’s very valuable as well. It’s just been tough. We’re missing two defenders; we’ll miss Nigel on Saturday. Robbie Rogers has got surgery. It’s taking some time. Not to make excuses; it is what it is. You just have to try and be better in the second half of the season.”
On his opinion of Nigel de Jong’s red card:
“It wasn’t a good tackle. I think you can pick your color card. I don’t like when the referee shows a yellow card then comes back and gives a red. This is two weeks in a row. The one last week with Ashley, someone should put their hand up and say, “I’m sorry, that’s a big mistake, and it shouldn’t happen.” I think tonight it’s valid to give a red card, but it’s awkward when you show a yellow then come back with a red. I think Nigel has to show better judgment. I think he got elbowed on the play and got a little angry. But I don’t think the tackle is a good tackle by any means.”
On what changed for the team in the second half:
“Well obviously getting the early second goal and Vancouver tried to push the game a little bit at that point. I thought some of our central combinations were good. Nigel’s passing into Gio and Stevie, and Robbie was good. It got us into the attack a little bit quicker. Our spacing was better in the second half; we talked about that at halftime. We played a little bit better up to the 75th minute and obviously up until the red card then we’re playing with 10 players the last 15-20 minutes of the game.”
On the play of Jeff Larentowicz:
“Good, solid game. I wasn’t happy with his first half. I thought he could have been a little bit better with the ball. A little bit more aggressive around the ball. I thought the second half was good for him. He’s done a real good job for us. He put 90 minutes in San Jose, 90 minutes in Portland the other night and 90 minutes tonight, so he’s put some good shifts in. I think AJ DeLaGarza deserves a purple heart for his efforts – it’s only appropriate on July 4th that he gets that. He’s played every minute of every game over the last two and a half to three weeks and he’s done a heck of a job.”
On how effective Steven Gerrard has been for the Galaxy:
“The first pass into Robbie for the first goal was good. He hits get set pieces. As he gets fitter and we get a little bit more coordinated and in a better rhythm as a team in the attacking part of the field, he’s going to produce some numbers. He’ll get some goals and more assists. But tonight, Steven did a good job, he really did.”
