LA Galaxy Media Conference

Maya Yoshida

Press Conference

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Los Angeles, California, USA


LA Galaxy 5, Colorado 0

Q. Are congratulations on the win. The five goals helps but you held Colorado to not a shot on goal and you got the shutout. After Houston game, coming to this game, 5-0, and no shots on goal, how do you think the team responded today?

MAYA YOSHIDA: Responded very well. Last week was a really heartbreak for me, the last minutes come in and just in front of me and missing Western Conference title.

Yeah, the playoffs is more important as you know, more important than me for sure. It's important to start good. Because if you lose today it's going to be really, really hard for the next game away in Colorado in a difficult situation. I am very happy for the result and the reaction from the team and the performance from the team.

Obviously defending, attacking very well, but all the players defending very well and the press back and transition, this have to be our standard to be honest.

Q. You guys just won in Colorado maybe three weeks ago. What can you take from that but knowing this time you might see a hungrier, more desperate team?

MAYA YOSHIDA: Yeah, sometimes it's difficult to play against the same team in very short period. So we prepared, probably they make high press, maybe sit down behind. I was thinking probably the second because they are thinking probably stay tight and making tight game today and come back home, and more incentive for them in that kind of situation.

But start well for us. As you know, 5-0, 1-0 is the same, just one win. They can always come back for the next game.

If we lose next game, it's the same, and this situation is totally the same. Even we could destroy them today, it's going to be different scenario next week. So we need to prepare well again and be ready for a tough game.

Q. Were surprised they didn't high press as much as they usually do tonight?

MAYA YOSHIDA: Even high press is better for us because more spacing behind, and probably they have -- then they would have a problem in behind because we have Pec in the wing and big space, 1v1, not easy. Still, don't sit back and we control very well and then Edwin is very solid today, control the midfield. First halftime, we spoke only counterattack, set pieces, that's the most dangerous for them. So just make sure we control that, and after second goal, it's more open.

Q. You've been supporting Shohei and Yamamoto. I don't know if you've been following the craziness of the sports in L.A., and the Galaxy also won.

MAYA YOSHIDA: I was and he canning he would give me tickets but I didn't get tickets. Unfortunately I just cheered him on TV.

No, today, they just win, Lakers win, Kings win, Galaxy win. What a day for L.A. Just keep going.

Of course, unfortunately, probably Ohtani got injured I heard. But yeah, of course, all the Japanese people are watching, and many people will come to Dodger Stadium. Hopefully after baseball finish, some of them come to Galaxy game as well.

Q. What have your conversations been with Greg heading into this game, and how have you been able to prepare and make a game plan for this team? What have your conversations been with Greg considering he has experience in these playoffs?

MAYA YOSHIDA: I often discuss about team building with Coach, of course, as a captain and obviously he has a lot of experience in MLS. For me, it's the first time for the playoffs. I try to think and guess, it's going to be this situation or that situation.

To be honest I was thinking it's going to be more tough. But after the second goal, they become more open and we control the game. So it helped us a lot today. But as I say, they can always come back for the second game. It doesn't matter 5-0 or 1-0. It's nothing changed. We need to prepare well.

Tactically, he's very good, as you know. My job is controlling the game on the pitch and control -- to make them more solid, especially young players like Mico or Julian for example. I think we have a good balance between the coach and me.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
150103-1-1003 2024-10-27 06:12:00 GMT

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