LA Galaxy 4, LAFC 2
Q. You guys go into halftime down 2-0. What was sort of said in there and then how did you guys carry that out into the second half and get the game turned around?
RIQUI PUIG: Yeah, we don't start really good. I think the two goals, it was mistakes. I think the second goal, I miss a pass on our goal, and then the counterattack, they kill us, and I think the first one, also the same.
The second half, I think we fix some things, the pressure to be more -- more difficult to take the ball, and I think that it works and we played a really good second half.
Q. Can you talk about how you and Marco are coming together and what it takes to get on to the same page and just how it's kind of taking off right now?
RIQUI PUIG: I said yesterday, with Marco, it's easy to play with this guy because he's really good. He always knows what's the movements that I'm going to do, and I'm the same in the opposite. We are really happy to have Marco on the team because he helps a lot with experience, with the confidence that he has with the ball, and we really appreciate to have this type of player in the L.A. Galaxy.
Q. You haven't played your best football against LAFC but tonight in the second half, you took over the game, and you're the man of the match. That must be, as happy as you are to win as a team, for you personally you must be so happy with how you played and how you took over the game.
RIQUI PUIG: Well, it's difficult because sometimes maybe the people say that you don't play a good game, you don't make chances, but there are more things in the soccer than not to make chances and to make goals.
The last two games against LAFC, I think that they kill us in the counterattack. We don't have the opportunities that we have always. And today, I think that in the first half, also, we have really good, two, three chances, one with Diego, I remember and the second half, we kill LAFC with Pec, Paintsil, Marco and me, and also with Jovel, it was really good today.
Q. You were all over the pitch tonight and I think it was after the third goal, I noticed you were trying to equity the crowd into it. You've been here a few years now. How much does this particular fixture mean to you, and how does it compare to other derbies you've been involved in?
RIQUI PUIG: I think we are soccer players to play these type of games. I was all the week waiting for this day. I have my parents, and they know that. I am exciting to have this day today. It's the different games that you have in your career that you want to play because it's exciting and you will the people are looking at these games. I think that it's about to do a good performance because you can see where is the level of the team, and also of my level. I think that we make amazing performance and we are really happy.
Q. Entering the match of the, LAFC had won three El Tráficos, but obviously that turns around. How much does that confidence give you heading into the playoffs?
RIQUI PUIG: I think that the team can beat all the teams of MLS. I think that we have a really good level. Against Miami, we have maybe 80 minutes that we are winning, and we lose the last five minutes, we tie.
But I think that this year, we have the pieces that maybe two years before, we don't have, and that's really good for me because we have players on top really fast with the speed, and that's difficult for the other teams to defend.
I think that to beat LAFC today, I think it's really important because we see the level that we are, Galaxy, and for sure, to win the MLS, it's very important for us.
Q. It was your first actual game next to Marco. How was it for you what did you feel like out there playing with him tonight?
RIQUI PUIG: Yeah, I say many times, Marco, he's amazing player. I'm really happy to play with this guy in the field because after the third goal, he told me that we need to calm because it was an exciting moment to score three goals in a row, and I think he's a guy that he can help a lot to the Galaxy, and also to the teammates. We are really happy to have Marco on the team, and also to have these really important games with this guy because I'm really happy to have him. Really good.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports