LA Galaxy 2, Atlanta United 0
Q. What does this night mean for you to come on, make your debut, and get an assist and goal and a win for the Galaxy?
MARCO REUS: First of all, I was really, really excited before the game. I was -- I didn't play for two months, I think. And yeah, I was really, really excited to come in and to get a couple minutes from the coach with the team.
Yeah, I was really, really happy that we found a way to win the game. It was a little bit late. We have I think in the first half enough situations where we was in a 1v1 situation but we missed the last pass or striker was not in his position. Yeah, we have to learn from it.
But a good finish. We won this game. We are top of the league. Yeah, it's good.
Q. I think the last time a European player had a big impact was Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he came off the bench. How is your partnership with Riqui building up? We saw a glimpse of what could be later in the season.
MARCO REUS: We will see. Like I was talking in the press conference a couple days ago, it's not about Riqui or about me. It's about the team, how we defend together, how we play in the offense together. But yeah, especially when Riqui and me is on the field, you can see that the connection is there. We try to find each other and to help each other in difficult ways.
Yeah, I give him easy assist and I was really, really happy for him and for the team.
Q. Scoring your goal, how big of a deal was that for you to be able to do that on your debut?
MARCO REUS: It was not so difficult, I would say. I missed the first shot. Like honestly, I was a little bit dead after a couple minutes because it was my first match since more than I think two months.
But it's important to get some pins. Today I had a couple training sessions with the team, and yeah, like I said, like I told you, it's not about me. It's about the team that we, yeah, can continue this way. We want to be champions after the season. So we take game by game.
Q. Is it important for you to get a goal? Does that help you?
MARCO REUS: Sure, I am an offensive player, so that is always my target to help the team. But it's not my first choice, I would say, to score goals. Moment of the time, I like to give assists to my teammates. But of course when I'm in situations like today, I want to score, also, of course, yes.
Q. Wanted to know your thoughts on the crowd and first time playing here in MLS when you can take away from tonight?
MARCO REUS: Of course it's a little bit different than in Europe. But today, I was it I think more than 30,000 people in the stadium. So it was a good atmosphere. I really enjoyed it when we was going out for the warmup.
Like I said, when I came in, I was really excited and happy that I'm back on the pitch trying to help my team to win these games. I hope the next game, as well. So yeah, the atmosphere was great.
Q. Your impact on the field was evident the moment you stepped in. Maya was just saying you're that type of player that can help the team get to that next level and to get those goals that you have as a team. How do you feel you can actually take that team to that next level?
MARCO REUS: Yeah, that's my motivation. I played so many years in the top club with the highest level. Of course, that's my responsibility. I have to take for the team, as well, so I'm here to help my teammates and to getting better every single day. But of course, to learn from my teammates, as well and from my coaching staffs, to bring new energy into this team. Like I said, in a press conference, the energies was really when I arrived here. It was really easy for me to join this group because we have really good people around the team and in the team. Always the target for me is protect the team, and yeah, try to give my best for the team.
Q. Wanted to ask you, your fitness levels, you came off the bench. How long till you can play more extended minutes? I think Greg said you are 60 or 70 percent of the way there.
MARCO REUS: Yeah, something like that. Like I said, I wasn't playing for more than two months, so I need, of course, a little bit of time to adapt. Also with the temperature here, it's really different than in Europe. Yeah, but we will see. Like every training session will help me to get in form every day. So I think next week I will be much better than this week, and I hope we can continue like this.
Q. You've been in the great City of Los Angeles now for a little bit. Aside from the football, how are you adapting? Are you enjoying it? Is your family settling in nice? What's your take?
MARCO REUS: Besides the traffic, really everything is amazing. The people, so friendly. Of course, the weather, it's really nice when you wake up in the morning and the sun is shining. You start different on the day. So I'm really, really happy every morning I come into the dressing room, and I'm just happy and excited.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports