LA Galaxy 3, St Louis 3
Q. You get the goal that ties the game. I'd love your thoughts on the goal but maybe the game in general and how you think you guys played.
MAYA YOSHIDA: We started off and our goal, and I thought that maybe we are too -- too relaxed, maybe. Yeah, again, conceded some mistakes. We could dominate in the first half and instead we made ourselves very difficult moment, difficult stretch.
So feel very disappointed to drop two points. Of course, second foul, cost us. We knew that we shouldn't be like this since last season. We need to learn or we have to improve that kind of part, of course. Yeah, much more disappointed today, I feel.
Q. And on your goal, can you sort of just talk us through how that went in to tie the game there late in stoppage time?
Even though, you know, a difficult game, and we didn't play well in the end, we got one point. That's positive.
Of course we can pick the positive things. That's very important, as well. In the end of the season, we say, okay, that point made a huge difference or the three points we drop makes a huge difference. That's up to us now. Anyway, we need to get three points. We keep drawing and we say, yes, we are very positive blah, blah, blah, it's enough. We need to get the three points. Probably the coach say the same things. That's what he said in the dressing room and I totally agreed.
Again, we fly away to Kansas, next game. Away game is not easy, especially traveling, time difference. Is there time difference? Okay. Again. So we need to manage it and of course, after that, big games coming again. Hopefully, well, we have to get three points next game.
Q. Seems like there was a lot of frustration with the officiating and the consistency in what was a foul was and wasn't a foul. Can you comment on any of that?
I hope in the pro, we will agree with the league as soon as possible. That's very a shame. Stop. That's it.
Q. Can you talk a little about, Martín sacrificed himself at the end to stop a goal chance. Is there anything you could have done earlier in the play?
I already spoke with him and I apologized to him. Because I need to stop him and make yellow card, that's it. This is part of experience. My teammates expect it from me, and Martín did what he need it do. Of course the first yellow card was too easy probably, but the second time, the second foul, he did what he need to do.
Again, I need to do that thing before he make -- before he got red card. So I feel sorry for him and of course, we need to react from his -- for his intuition.
Q. Thank you so much for your time tonight. I wanted to ask you about just the defense in general, St. Louis had two goals off a set piece, one of them a giveaway in the midfield. So far during the run of play, are you satisfied with how the team is defending their shape between you and the back line and the midfield? And I guess the team as a whole, are you seeing that improvement compared to last year?
Set pieces or general?
Q. In general, the defense. Just saying, St. Louis had their goals off set pieces and not during the round of play.
A. We knew they are very direct and physical team. Set piece is also very strong. Well, but if we make a mistakes on our side, doesn't matter how they play. That we need to improve obviously, and secondly, set piece, we need to reuse set piece, of course, and, well, anyway, we need to stop conceding the goals. I need to build good solidarity for defensive line and confidence as well. That's what we need is numbers. Numbers is going up, up, up now, conceding every game. Doesn't matter how, but I want the numbers, zero, zero, zero. If it happens, we feel much better, especially defensive players, feel much better. Even they score three goals and we concede the three goals, nobody happy with that.
Q. Do you guys feel close, like you guys are close to achieving your first clean sheet of the season?
Well, of course, we are going to miss Martín now but in terms of solidarity and communication and the organization, I feel much better than last season.
Of course, Riqui also bring a lot of experience, but he need to reduce the mistakes, as well. We spoke already after the game and he's -- today is not his level game, obviously. Of course I need to help him and he need to help me as well. Everybody have to improve. Everybody have to be better than today for sure, including myself. Yes, I score a goal and in the end it sounds good but if we specific an analyze the game, we are not good enough today, very obvious.
Q. As you mentioned, Martín will be out next week. Greg spoke about being short in the center back position, I believe Eriq is the only center back option in the back. How do you absorb that pressure in the back line with having somebody new that has not played with you guys in a game this season?
You know, he has a lot of games, especially with Greg, and he know what we need to do, and he has experience.
You know, the senior player have to show our personality, identity and authority in the game immediately. Otherwise people will start to say "he's too old," easily. If I make two, three mistakes in a row, people start to say, "He's too old."
I think this is big opportunity for Eriq and he was waiting for a long time for last three games, of course. And nobody is happy with setting on the bench. So I'm sure that he's ready for next game and the communication for me, it's easier, English, speak, no doubt.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports