Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes…
Initial thoughts on match…
“What was important to us in the game was that obviously we expended a lot of physical energy on Wednesday, but we also expended a lot of emotional energy. So what we didn’t want to do is we didn’t want to come out slow. So we decided to go high on them quickly and put them under pressure. I thought that we moved the ball well and we had great runs. It’s a shame on the first goal that we scored that got called back, that play was excellent movement, just all the things that we want to do. But then I would say the next two goals were both tremendous. They had a lot to do with us making the runs. I believe that we have a lot of quality in the players that we have up front that they can finish those chances. But it all comes because of the movement, and that takes commitment, so from that perspective I’m very pleased. The final thing I would say is that the way we closed the game out was very mature. We’ve used the experience that we’ve gained over not just this past season but for a long time, we did a good job of closing them out.”
On his relationship with the family of Daniel Salloi…
“The big thing is that his father and I played together when I was in Hungary. That’s kind of how the situation occurred for Daniel [Salloi] to come here as an exchange student and to come to our academy. It’s worked out great, he’s obviously grown from that time period. He’s been learning all the time, but it’s his love for the game, his passion to be the best that he can be that’s why he continues to evolve as a player like he is.”
On emotional form of the team…
“When we came back from being off on Thursday, the mentality of the guys, I could already see it and feel it. We kind of implemented our game plan on Saturday and we were definitely on top of it. The guys were on top of it. They were clean on the field, they were into it, they were moving. You could just tell that they understood that we achieved one of the goals that we wanted to achieve and that’s behind us and it’s time to move on and we’ve got a big game. It’s a huge three points for us. We know that going into next week. We know that the hottest team in the MLS in Vancouver [Whitecaps FC] will be coming here, and it’s obviously going to be a pretty difficult match for us because they’re flying. We’re going to have to get ourselves ready for it, it’s not going to be easy. We understand that they’re on top of their game and we’re going to have to play at our best.”
On difference in style in second half…
“We weren’t trying to hold back and not trying to get the third goal, I can tell you that. I think the game changed a little bit. Whenever you’re 2-0 up, or 2-1, you don’t want to open yourself up. I thought we defended really well. We really didn’t give anything away other than that set piece. I mean it was a great set piece. Outside of that, I just don’t think that we gave a lot away. Sometimes you’ve got to be able to win games 2-0, 1-0, 2-1, and I think tonight we did what we had to do to secure three points which was huge.”
On play of Los Angeles in first half…
“I think one of the things is, when you come to a place like Kansas City in this time of the year, maybe not September but definitely August and June and July, you can have a lot of days like this and a lot that are hotter. So you have to be ready for those environments. For us, I think we understand. We just played on Wednesday night in a similar setting. I think the humidity was worse on Wednesday night, I just think maybe today with the sun it was just hotter. But at the end of the day we were mentally tough, and I think for them they struggled a little bit with the heat, and I think we took advantage by keeping the ball, and then also the movement off the ball was huge as well.”
On Los Angeles playing Gyasi Zardes at right back…
“[Gyasi] Zardes is normally an attacking player, but so is [Graham] Zusi, so I don’t think it’s unheard of. The question is how does the guy adapt and adjust to it, especially mentally. I actually thought he did a fair job, but one of the problems is when you don’t have a lot of repetition in a situation in that position, you can make some mistakes. And I thought that we exploited that well. I thought that Daniel had the best of that side quite a bit, and so did Seth [Sinovic]. Our goals came from that area as well. But that’s the game. The one thing is, when you’re in those situations, you can easily not take advantage of it or not know how to deal with it. What we did well was that with their high line in the first half, I thought we exploited it really well. Especially down left or right, whether it was Zardes or not I still think we would have done it no matter who was there.”
On preparation on Los Angeles going into match…
“I always think that players have pride, coaching staffs have pride, a lot of times when you get wounded, most of the times you come back with a vengeance. I think there’s a couple things they came up against today. I think they came up against a team that is very professional in the way they approach the game week in and week out. They also came up against a team that is in pretty good form and finally has good confidence and believes in what they’re doing based on the results that they’ve gotten recently.”
On status of defender Matt Besler…
“I think he just cut his eye open. He’ll probably have to go get some stitches.”
Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi
On playing in front of family…
“It was very exciting. I really wanted to show them the stadium and the atmosphere here. First game when they came here against New England, I was injured and so I couldn’t play. But after that I got healthy, and I’m very happy that I could score both games. Sporting said they’re getting green cards for my family because they’re good luck charms.”
On his evolution as a player this season…
“Obviously last year, I was here and couldn’t play, but when I went on loan I promised myself that I would set my mind right and be patient when I come back. I also talked to Peter [Vermes] and the coaching staff and Peter told me to be patient and that I was going to play this year for sure. I was and it worked out well. I live up for the moments when I have to score and when I have to play well and have to keep myself on the team. If I play well, who is going to kick me out?”
On goal celebration…
“I sent them (his family) the kisses. I’m happy that they were here, they are going to leave tomorrow, but it was a good time.”
On where his confidence in his play is…
“Up high. That’s why I play well, you need confidence. In this environment, your confidence is always high. The club is very positive even when you make mistakes. We just work on it and that is why I’ve been improving a lot. I can be a better player every day.”
Sporting Kansas City defender Graham Zusi
On playing through LA’s high defensive line…
“What we did well was we were patient in our build up, even though they presented a high line and the times that we were most dangerous is when we kept the ball for something surefire to be on. Being a hot day, if you try to force things it can make you tired and those opportunities start failing to present themselves. I thought we were smart with it, kept the ball when we needed to and after 15, 20 passes, having them chase the ball for that amount of time, eventually something opened up that we can get a really good opportunity.”
On the challenges from switching from an attacking player to a defensive player…
“It’s different. As a team, we’re required to defend as a team to attack a team, so in my eyes it hasn’t changed too much. I think as long as our communication and our movement is good, people are covering each other, it makes our job easier.”
On Daniel Salloi’s movement getting better as the season continues…
“He’s becoming more and more comfortable on the field, he’s getting more time on it which is big for a player his age and his experience level. So every time he steps on the field, to his credit he’s really been a sponge and took in the experience and he’s gotten better and better. He continues to grow as a player and I expect more and more things from him.”
On avoiding a disappointing result after winning the U.S. Open Cup Final…
“Listen, it has the chance to be one, for sure, but as a team, as soon as the celebration ended on Wednesday night, we were right back to business. For us, this was a must-win game, we needed those three points and credit to the guys, we remained focused and took care of the job.”
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Ilie
On his assist for the second goal of the game…
“I saw Daniel [Salloi]’s movement, the right back followed him, so Seth [Sinovic] makes the run behind them and the winger – [Romain] Alessandrini – went behind him but Seth has the advantage to him, so I just tried to pass on the floor because it’s always easy to control and to make the next step forward. He did a really good job, he did a good first touch and the rest is what you saw.”
On if LA was struggling with the heat and if the conditions gave Sporting KC an advantage…
“The weather is for both teams. Of course we train in these conditions and maybe that can help us but once on the field, weather, the grass, the referee it’s the same for both. We just did our job. I think that they played a really decent game, but we deserved the win.”
On seeing LA’s high defensive line from his defensive midfield position…
“You have to think about everything. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand what’s going on, especially during the game, it’s difficult to play and then think about what they are doing. But I think that today was really clear, they make the line high – maybe because they were tired because we had the ball. You have to understand everything and try to do the best for the team.”
On Daniel Salloi’s improvement this season…
“I think Peter [Vermes] asked him during the week to make some movements, to play closer to Diego [Rubio], maybe to play with two forwards and then lower to come inside as a fourth midfielder. I think that he did it, he understands that perfectly, he had the [ability] to make that work.”
LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid
On response from his team in the second half…
“I thought it was good. I thought our second half showed a little bit of character and resiliency especially in losing another player in Joao Pedro. It made it a little more difficult but I thought the team showed a really good attitude in the second half.”
On the defensive efforts…
"Sporting KC got chances. I think our defending was poor on their two goals. You can’t get beat to the near post like that on the first goal and you can’t give the back door on the second goal. In the second half we eliminated a lot of that. I didn’t think we got exposed as much. Obviously, they’re a good team and we’re playing with a makeshift backline so it makes things difficult."
On goalkeeper Clement Diop…
“I thought [Clement] Diop was okay and I thought he came up with a couple saves. I thought his kicking helped us because he kicks a little better/deeper than the other two. I thought Diop was okay."
On the decision to start Gyasi Zardes at right back …
“We needed a right back. We had nobody and I think Gyasi [Zardes’s] strength is wide whether it’s a midfielder or in the back. I thought Gyasi, for his first game in the back, I thought had an excellent game. There are obviously things he can pick up on still, but overall I thought he handled a very difficult situation very well.”
On if Zardes timing needs to get better…
“If that’s where he ends up playing, it’ll come. He’s an intelligent guy. He’s got the engine to play there. Today, he was helping me out as much as anything else.”
On the decision to not start Jon Kempin today…
“I mean, in the last two games, we’ve taken eight goals. For the goalkeepers, [Brian] Rowe’s had a chance to play. [Jon] Kempin’s had a chance to play and the one that hasn’t had a chance to start today was Diop. Where we are right now in the League, we had to look at the goalkeepers. It was unfortunate with Kempin because I know Kansas City’s his hometown so I feel for him, but we have to make decisions and prepare for next season.”
On if it’s good for Major League Soccer that LA Galaxy is having an off year…
“It’s not good for me. I don’t want to get into that discussion. It’s like saying if New York struggles it’s worse for the League. Every team wants to play well and the Galaxy has gone through basically a makeover from last year and some things have succeeded and some things haven’t but we have an All-Star team sitting at home with [Robbie] Rogers and Jermaine [Jones] was out today and [Jelle] Van Damme left us and [Sebastian] Lletget and [Baggio] Husidic also out. So you add those guys and it makes a big difference for the team.”
On what you’ve seen from Giovani Dos Santos…
“Well he’s staying up front and he’s trying to do that. I’d like to see him get a few more looks at goal but sometimes I don’t think we’re good enough getting the ball to him at the right time and you know he needs to find the ball as well. It’s a combination of both things but I know it’s frustrating for him. I appreciate his willingness to stay up there and stay dangerous and today I thought there were a couple of times, maybe the one that he was barely offside, that could have been a good opportunity for him. But I think it will come if we stay committed to what we’re doing, it will come.”
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Clement Diop
On his performance today…
"I would rather do not very good and the team win than play a decent game and the team not win. I think I had a decent performance, but I would rather win with a team than [worry about] my performance. If I get a shot, I have to take it. It’s been a long time that I didn’t play and it was my fault because I didn’t do the right things in these moments. Then I had a chance to get back to the national team and it got my mind right. I’m back to work and I really want to end the season doing the best I can."
On if games like this are his shot moving forward..
"Now I’m taking it day by day. I played tonight. I don’t know what the coach thinks about my performance because I haven’t spoken to him. But if the team needs me, I will always give my everything on the field and try to do my best."
On what he is doing better now than the start of the season…
"I think I didn’t do the right preparation earlier in the season because things happen fast to me. Maybe I don’t think I handle it well. Now that I have been out of games for a long time, it has got my mind right and I work on my concentration and my focus with Daniel. I’m just going to give my everything that I can give and try to do the best performance possible."
LA Galaxy midfielder Romain Alessandrini
On the fight in the second half…
“When you are losing 2-0, you have nothing to lose. That’s why I think everyone gave a little bit more. But this season is very difficult for everybody and I feel very sad for the fans and the club because we have to give more. I think we have to speak together and prepare for the next season because this season is over. We have to keep our heads up and look forward.”
On needing to get Giovani dos Santos the ball quicker…
“Yes, because sometimes we get the ball later and two or three defenders come to us and it’s harder to play. We have to play a little bit earlier to be good with the ball. We need Gio with the ball and alone because he has a good left foot and gives a good ball. But every time he is with maybe two or three defenders, like me, so it’s difficult.”
On Zardes playing outside back…
“For his first game, I thought it was good. The first half was difficult for him and for me because I think Sporting KC was playing with three players on our side because they forced me to defend. The second half was better for him and we will see if the coach keeps it like this.”
