LA Galaxy 4, Sporting KC 2
Q. First of all, how does it feel to get back on to the field, and what kind of treatment did you have to go through to get back on the field?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: First of all, I felt really good, especially entering this game, and also with the kind of treatment I had was really like something that I didn't want to force. Everybody didn't want to force, especially with the Chicago game. Normally we want to do something that maybe if it's going to be possible, but we have a long season and a lot of games.
So I think the physios and the doctors did a great job of making me rest and do the necessary, the needed thing in the gym, to keep the hamstring strong for today. Normally I thought I was going to play maybe 45 minutes, but yeah, with the decision of the doctors and the physios, I had to play 30.
So I felt really blessed and happy playing my first home game after a long and having a goal in front of the supporters is really amazing for me, and I feel really happy.
Q. You've been gone for a month and you're able to score very quickly, how big is that just in terms of getting you back feeling like you're part of it again? And how close do you feel like you are, how much more work do you have to do to be 90 minutes fit and able to do what you do normally?
Yeah, I think I need more playing time. But now, it's a step-by-step. I don't need to force myself too much because I just came out. I just came out from injury, which leave me for four weeks, and now I just need to really calm down and focus on the next game, which is not going to be a 90-minute game for sure. Roughly, they will decide, but roughly it's going to be maybe 70 or 80 minutes based on how I feel on the field of play. So it's something that I need to also manage and also be a professional on the field and when it's not really going good, I need to say to them so that we can do what is necessary.
Like I said, I feel really blessed, having this goal in front of everyone. Especially, a big thanks to Gabriel, doing a fantastic job today, having three assists, or two assists and a goal, it's really amazing. A big thanks to him and also the team and everyone that welcomed me on the field of play. Really big thanks to all of them.
Q. You did mention that it's been a long season and it has been especially long for you. You've been playing pretty much nonstop since last year essentially. You've touched a little on it, but is muscle overload something that's a concern for you and the physio team, and how are you feeling physically?
Now, physically I'm really good. I feel good. Like I said, we've been doing some long-distance run like how I used to do it on the field and everything seems to be really fine now with no pain. But as you know, when you are always coming back from injury, your mind is sometimes not really ready because it takes a little bit of time for your mind to adjust to your body everything and.
So now I just think that I'm really like really, really good. I feel really, really good now but in everything, I just need to calm down and just do what I need to do on the field of play no matter how many minutes I play just to give everything that I have to help the club.
Q. I just want to ask you, you mentioned you were gone for around four weeks. When you come on to the pitch, your level of comfortability, you've been gone, playing with Gabriel and Dejan, how comfortable do you feel within the system after six months? Does it feel like you're right at home?
I feel really good because this is the team and the place I've been playing around for almost three and a half months now. So me coming back, it's the same team and the same feeling. So me being back on the field is really like something really that I was really expecting, especially playing alongside my guys, Gabriel and Dejan, and also Riqui, but Riqui unfortunately is injured, and also rest of the players, it's really amazing. Because I've been around them and we have been playing a lot.
So it's something that has not gone. It's something that's there. So me coming back is something that I just left behind and just came back. So it is how it is. It's really grateful for me to be among them, and also playing alongside them once again. I feel really happy and really blessed that I had this opportunity.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports