LA Galaxy 2, Minnesota United FC 2
Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018 – 7:30 p.m. PT
2018 MLS Regular Season
StubHub Center – Los Angeles, Calif.
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the potential penalty kick call:
“I just saw the replay now. Obviously, the assistant referee has better angles than I had. From what I saw, it looked like a penalty kick.”
On overall thoughts of the game:
“I thought we played well in the first half, I thought it was a really good first half for us. I thought we were good not only offensively but defensively as well. The second half for some reason we dropped off. Obviously, losing [Romain] Alessandrini hurt us because we really wanted to give him the ball. We thought he could go at their outside back on that side. Losing Gio [Dos Santos] at half time got us out of our rhythm a little bit. It was just not as good in the second half as it needed to be.”
On any injury update for Giovani Dos Santos and Romain Alessandrini:
“No, not at this time.”
On this Galaxy’s defense:
“As I said, I thought in the first half we played well. They implemented things we have been talking about and working on, I thought it was very good. In the second half, it comes down to individual mistakes again. It’s like, do we double when we can double the guy on the cross, we take away the cut back and not the cross. I mean we haven’t done a good job blocking crosses. When you look at it today, they got in wide positions, I don’t think we blocked very many of them. On the second one, did we step too high on the play earlier and we were late coming back.”
On squad rotations for upcoming games:
“It’s like I said, as a coach going into this, you sort of have line ups written in your mind, but then everything sort of goes out the window as you are dealing with the injuries. We have to see how everybody came through the game tonight, and then we will make our decisions.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER SEBASTIAN LLETGET
On his play tonight:
“Yeah, obviously with Giovani [Dos Santos] going down, we don’t like losing players especially in the middle of the game, it can disrupt the rhythm. I had to do the job of filling in. I just wanted to do enough and I am happy I contributed to the team, but it just wasn’t enough at the end of the day.”
On Minnesota’s last goal being offside:
“Yes, I even looked back at the play to be honest. I think more importantly the penalty at the end was more controversial, they had a chance to look back at it. When we all saw it, we thought it was a penalty. I know he doesn’t fall on top of [Zlatan] Ibrahimović, but he gets in the way of Ibra. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll probably score or at least get a shot on target. With such a decisive moment of the game, it’s a shame.”
On the review and decision of the last play:
“It’s disappointing; we’ve been here before. We just have to overcome it and focus on the next one.”
On the last play of the game:
“Yes, I thought it was, we were 2-2 at that point. You can call it soft, but you have to call what you see and I thought it was a hard call as well. I mean if you don’t want to call it then don’t call it.”
On his goal tonight:
“It’s been a rocky road. Hopefully from here on out I can finish the season strong and see how high we can go.”
On his form after recently coming back from a long injury:
“I feel a lot better. I feel sharp, my acceleration has improved. I’m just trying to get back to where I was and a lot has happened in between that time. I just try to stay positive and keep moving forward.”
On the team, injuries and player rotations:
“I think Romain [Alessandrini] has been outstanding. We are all finding our groove and our formation, including Gio [Dos Santos] in that role. They have both been key players. It’s a shame, I hope none of them are out for too long. It’s definitely sad to see them get off the field the way they did.”
LA GALAXY DEFENDER JORGEN SKJELVIK
On what needs to change at the Galaxy backline:
“We need to work on our shape and our tactics. Two easy goals were conceded. It’s happened again where we were up and we messed and they scored easy goals. It’s the same thing we’ve been doing all season so we just need to work on or tactics.”
On if it’s tough to repeat the same defensive mistakes:
“Of course. We’re always up and we screw it up and lose points where we should have won.”
MINNESOTA UNITED FC HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH
On getting a point on the road:
“We had a good chat before the game and we realized with our home record if we can pick up some wins we give ourselves an opportunity and a chance to make it in the playoffs, we know that. Our away form has not been good enough but I thought tonight we showed glimpses. Angelo [Rodriguez] is now getting fitter, Romario [Ibarra] came on and got a goal, he is looking fitter, Abu [Danladi] is looking sharp. Darwin [Quintero] I thought was terrific again in the first half. We gave away what I thought was a really poor first goal but the response was good. I did say at half time that if we don't concede anything I think there is something in the game for us because we had enough of the ball in the first half I felt to actually cause them trouble.”
On Romario Ibarra scoring his first MLS goal:
“Huge for him. He came in he wasn't quite as fit as he would like because he is such an explosive player we have had to take the time to build his fitness up but he'll be really pleased and it will do his confidence no harm tonight.”
MINNESOTA UNITED FC MIDFIELDER DARWIN QUINTERO
[Translated from Spanish]
On tonight's game:
“It was a difficult game against a rival that was playing at home with good players but at the end we were able to get a good result.”
On getting an assist tonight:
“It's always good when the team is able to earn points. When you score or get an assist and the team doesn't get a point it means nothing.”
MINNESOTA UNITED FC FORWARD ANGELO RODRIGUEZ
[Translated from Spanish]
On tonight's game:
“Getting this tie is very important to the team since the team hadn't been able to get a point on the road and it was against a big team. We played a very intense back and forth game with a lot of goal scoring opportunities. We would have liked more than a tie but at least we get a point.”
MINNESOTA UNITED FC MIDFIELDER ROMARIO IBARRA
[Translated from Spanish]
On scoring his first MLS goal:
“It feels good to have scored my first goal in MLS. I am very happy to have scored but I am happier to have helped the team get a tie against a big team now we have to continue work hard and get better so we can continue to score goals.”
