LA Galaxy 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
Q. What could you say about the level of competition?
GREG VANNEY: Yeah, I think it was a decent game. They've already had one game under their belt in the tournament, so they had two points and were trying to manage their way into the next round. So they got a little conservative at the end trying to protect that extra point that I think probably would've really helped them.
But I thought it was a decent game. I think both teams -- I think we specifically left some opportunities for sure on the table that I wish we would've done better at.
But these kinds of games in these tournaments, we knew when he came here today we needed to win. By winning we secure our position in the next round, so was it a matter of just get the result.
I think sometimes when you're in these tournaments in knock-out rounds, because just advancing is part of the strategy, it can impact some of the game and the thought process inside of the game.
So we did what we needed to do. We'll see what we can do on the weekend for Chivas, because I guess at this point we kind of control San Jose's fate as well. We're going to play to win on the weekend.
Q. Ebobisse gets his goal in the 75th minute, so it looks it might be going to another (indiscernible) which he did the other day. So what was your mindset when they did tie it up like that and then you guys end up getting a goal in the 89th minute?
GREG VANNEY: Yeah, we made a substitution. We put a striker on and tried to push the numbers into the attack. At the same time, they added another center back onto the field and tried to go to five in the back to protect the draw and play for the second point.
So we were pushing numbers. We were trying to get the win. It was for us a draw can help us, but a win is going to put us in. We decided we would push the numbers forward and go for it.
A good run and good pass by Riqui and a good pass by Miki back across the front of the goal was able to give us the win and then we were able to see it out.
Again, that's why sometimes these playoffs and these tournaments, especially the teams that have played games before and they know this is their last game, sometimes it affects the decision making, and we were kind of playing off that as well.
Q. You guys are undefeated now, 4-0 against this team this year. Is there any psychological advantage you had coming into this match knowing you have beat them three times already?
GREG VANNEY: Yeah, I think that can play both ways to be honest. I think one of the things we talked about is it's -- inside of a season this is our third time in San Jose. It's never easy to beat a team three or four times in a season because the opposition adjusts. There is the potential for complacency on our side.
For us, we just talked about it. We just had to stay focused on the fact that three points in this game puts us through. You try to play that. I think it impacts -- it can impact them if we get on top of the game or we start to really control things and make it difficult on them, and I think they can possibly feel a bit of the challenge of having lost three times and being behind again.
But I feel like for the most part they kept fighting for it. The play came and we made a big mistake in the of the field which was a life line for them because, as you said you said Jeremy scores and they're right back into it.
So I think that can play both ways. It can be sometimes harsh on the team that lost, and also lead to complacency to the team that won three.
Luckily it was a knock-out tournament. Maybe that got our attention a little bit as well. Important win for us.
Q. So this upcoming weekend you're going to have a home game, but likely a road game in your own building as far as the crowd.
GREG VANNEY: Sure.
Q. Also knowing in this tournament, playing at home in the next round is going to be kind of important, too.
GREG VANNEY: Sure.
Q. How are you going to balance the atmosphere you're going to run into this weekend versus the fact that you want to win to secure a home date the next round?
GREG VANNEY: Yeah, actually the way the tournament is set up, it's actually their home game in our stadium. They'll have I think more access to certain areas of the stadium, or fans, which they might have anyway. You never know, because Chivas brings a big crowd.
For us I think our guys will look forward to the fact there will be a big atmosphere. It's going to be sold out, a lot of energy in the stadium, split some percentage between the two of us. So I think in general I think the guys will enjoy that.
For us, again, playing to get the result and to win the group means probably something beneficial on the other side. Beneficial, whether that means a home game or opponent that finished second instead of first.
So still a lot to play for. That will be our mindset. And playing at home we've had a good season at home in our stadium. So even though it's not league, we want to continue also the momentum we've had on our home field over the course of the season and keep that going.
Q. Just wanted to get your thoughts on Diego Fagúndez. One, his play and update us. And then maybe you can update us. He came out limping and looked like he was limping after the game, too. Did he pick up an injury?
GREG VANNEY: First I thought his play, I mean, Diego does what Diego does. He's a very smart player. Plays his position really well. He gets into good spots. I mean, hell of a goal to pick up the ball wide and get to the inside shoulder of the full back, and he hits a great shot into the back post.
He defends for the group. He just sacrifices for everybody out on the field and does his job at a high level. So that's almost to the point where this season, that's been Diego almost every single time he's been on field he's given us that.
The injury towards the end was an ankle roll. I don't think it was horrible but it was sore enough and it was annoying enough at that point that he needed to come off. But seeing him move around a little bit after the game I feel a little bit more confident that it will be more short-term than long-term.
We'll have to see as kind of settles in over the course of the night and into tomorrow.
Q. Micovic got his first start in a while and Gaston Brugman came back from injury and the green card process. What did you think of their returns to action? And then with the victory, what kind of flexibility does that give you to play younger players like Emiro Garces and Mauricio Cuevas and give them a start from the beginning?
GREG VANNEY: Yeah, let's see, I thought Novak had a strong game. I thought he made two really good saves. Specifically in my mind it was in the first half. There were a couple that were pretty pointe blank. One was a kick save and another save he made pretty early on that tested him.
Thought he looked confident. I thought his decisions and his distribution were good through the course of the game. Again, for somebody who doesn't get a game every single week, I thought he came in and looked confident, comfortable, and I thought he had a strong match.
As for Gaston, he came on, I think obviously he would say he had a rough start right at the beginning just taking a little bit of risk and flicking that ball in the middle of the field that turned into the transition and goal for San Jose.
After that I thought he settled in a little bit more and just caught the tempo of the game and started to complete passes and do the things he's capable of doing. Also stepped in and committed the foul right off the bat, too.
I think again, sometimes when you've been off as long as him it's catching the speed and rhythm of the game in a game that's 1-zero, you're trying to protect. We're trying to get him minutes and get him back to healthy and into the midfield because we know in this tournament you're going to have rotate guys because these games come fast and furious.
We were trying to get him in the flow of things. I think he found it. I think it took him a few minutes, but I think he found it as the game progressed.
Q. Congratulations on the win. Gabriel Pec made another assist tonight. He's one of the players with the most goals and assist for the Galaxy this season and one of the best players if the league. In the competition like Leagues Cup, is Pec a key player for the Galaxy to be champions? Thank you.
GREG VANNEY: Yeah, I mean, Gabriel has had the last I would say two months, two and a half months has really found his kind of form, comfort level within the league and our team.
He's found his way inside of our group to get on the ball a lot more and have a much better impact setting goals and assists as you said. He's dynamic and good one-on-one player and he has the capacity to create chances and the ability to finish chances.
He's going to be important both with the ball and without the ball on the defensive side. At times he needs to transition faster and defend with the group, especially as we get into the knock-out games and competition.
It's going to be for everybody. Going to be playing more diligently on both sides of the ball. His quality and skill and his speed, all the things he brings to the table, I do believe he's one of the best attackers inside of the league and brings a lot of quality when he's in form.
We're going to need him if we're going to win this, have a chance to win this thing. We're going to need him and all the other guys. It's going to be imperative on both sides of the ball. We've got to eliminate the mistakes like we made tonight.
Once these games start to become loser goes home, one mistake can be the end of your journey. So we've got to clean things up and Gabe has to be on top of his game.
I'm going to go back real quick to the last question. With us getting the result tonight, what does that mean for us on the weekend. It does give us some options. We'll decide in terms of how we organize the group and put out the group against Chivas, but it does give us the opportunity, because, again, we know we're going to have to play another game after that, to see how we want to manage and use our group to keep guys fresh and prepared as we go through this.
We also know getting result in that game is going to be important to win the group and put ourselves in the best position as we move forward in the tournament.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports