San Diego FC 2, LA Galaxy 0
Q. Obviously it seemed like through the first half, at least, you guys struggled to create some offensive chances. What did you see from your perspective, and what do you need to get more involved in the game?
CHRISTIAN RAMÍREZ: No, I think it's obvious that I've only been here for like ten days or so, and just gotten used to different system and different players, and obviously missing a few players.
First game, just trying to figure things out as we go. San Diego, credit to them. They played very well. Took possession away from us, and changed a few things in their build up that made it difficult on us. Just different understandings of the transition moments, and when to keep possession and maybe not go all the way back to the goalkeeper. But that will come.
There's no need to rush and overanalyze. We'll look at the film and then be better next time.
Q. You played on a team in Columbus that won the MLS Cup and didn't win the next year. I think you're the only player on the team to have played a season after winning an MLS Cup. What does this feel like, the fact that other teams are targeting you guys, the struggles, coming back? Is there something that you can teach the rest of the team, and how does it feel to you?
CHRISTIAN RAMÍREZ: Yeah, I mean, I think it's something that I'll be able to pass throughout the year, knowing what is coming this year, the grueling schedule, how teams get up for these games. It becomes a championship game for teams to prove themselves against us.
So just staying level-headed and understanding the moment and not getting too high or too low and not focusing too far ahead.
So enjoying this process. It's a little bit of the curse of championship opening day, to let that sort of slow us into the season, I guess, a little bit.
The process takes a little bit longer with the banner and everything. But yeah, I'm sure I'll be able to pass some information on as the season goes on.
Q. Just wanted to ask you, earlier Greg described like a dynamicism in the attack. Did you feel that way as well and what's your confidence level that you can improve that dynamicism in the final third?
CHRISTIAN RAMÍREZ: Yeah, I think we're on several different pages at times, and just lacking that last little ball or the patience to have that last ball.
Sometimes when it's so wide open, the back line is so spread, it seems likes you need to rush it, but we don't. Just getting an understanding for each other.
So I think the more we can move for each other and understand in the buildup the spots that we need to be in to expose teams, getting there early, especially when teams are going to come press our back line, it just comes with games.
Q. You're a SoCal native and have not made a secret of how playing for the Galaxy is a dream come true. What does it mean to finally achieve that dream of being a Galaxy, and what are your goals for your time L.A.?
CHRISTIAN RAMÍREZ: It's a bit surreal. I wish we would have won tonight, or this afternoon, in this debut. But I'm thankful for it. It is a dream come true to be from Garden Grove and grow up watching this club, and to finally put those colors on and to have my kids and my wife and my parents, everybody in the stands.
It's a day I'll never forget and hopefully I'm able to lift some silverware for this club because I know playing for a club of this magnitude, that's what's important. I'm just going to enjoy the ride and do everything I can to make it a good one.
Q. You mentioned possession. In all, what was San Diego doing well?
CHRISTIAN RAMÍREZ: I think they were very narrow and had good numbers around the ball. Making it difficult for myself and Marco to get close enough, and they were threatening him behind with Lozano, and so it kept our back line a little bit further than we would like.
So once we fixed that, we had moments where we picked them, and then a bounce here or there, and then we were going another way. You saw that moment where we picked them, and Diego was in on goal and gets fouled.
So realizing those moments, and adjusting a little bit quicker to what the opposition is doing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports