Minnesota 2, LA Galaxy 2
Q. I know you talked earlier this week about sort of your connection with Minnesota, you coming back here, and how special that was. How can you get received whenever you came to the stadium, and what does it feel like to score in the stadium with the Galaxy?
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ: Yeah, it was a nice reception. Last year was the first time I had been back to the stadium since the first time I got traded. It was a bit more of emotions last time.
This time around, I saw some familiar faces and I saw the fans, and yeah, I'm thankful I've been able to score tonight -- this afternoon, sorry.
Yeah, it was cool to score in this stadium because I always used to drive past it as it was being built. So it's a thing I wanted to do and check off the list.
Q. Can you talk to us a little bit about that play? I know Miki went to the line there and I think you started cutting across the front post. He had to sort of put that in a weird little spot for you because you were almost clearing that front post. Did you know to flick that to the back? What did you see from the speed of that play?
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ: Yeah, I saw the play being built. Center half hits me early, and then loses track of me, and I was able to beat the next one to the spot. I thought Miki was going to play it on the ground, but sort of the grass wasn't great on that side of the 18-yard box, so I scuffs it a little bit, and I just have to adjust. I know that the goalie is committed to the near post and somebody is on my back, so I'm just trying to redirect it.
Q. I was talking to Greg about what he sees from you and whether or not he sees your comfort. We talked about you settle willing in a little bit at home but maybe you're settling in certainly on the field as well, third goal in three games. Do you feel like things are starting to click for you a little bit?
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ:
Yeah, I think I always knew it was a process, and just getting acclimated with guys and having an understanding of my movement and where I'll be in the box. And also, it's become more clear in moments that I need to appear, in moments that I need to stay away.
So yeah, it's the more I get comfortable, the more opportunities that will come my way, and it goes to say, the more healthy we get and the more dangerous we are, I'll be on the receiving end of more.
So that's just a matter of me staying hungry and putting myself in those spots.
Q. Does it feel like you guys are getting that momentum now? You have two points on the road back-to-back. You're going home against Orlando. Does it feel like things are starting to feel better for the whole team?
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ: Yeah, definitely. I think we played well for large stretches and we know how difficult this team can play. Especially here with how they played with set pieces, silver lines on them and just dumping balls in your own box.
So proud of the guys to be able to fight back and face some adversity and figure out a way to get a result, especially late in the game. But yeah, the more that we continue to buy in and see results, the more our confidence grows.
So it would have been a little sour to leave here with a 2-1 also but being the performance that we put together, and now we come home in front of our fans and hopefully get a couple more pieces back in a very crucial stretch that we have coming up, with Champions League, as well. We'll just focus on the next one and go from there.
Q. Your experience so far playing under a coach like Greg Vanney, and how are you feeling being a seasoned player, how that's helping your game improving, as well, playing under him.
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ: Yeah, he sees the game in a certain way and he sees me a certain way in his game model. It helps, especially I'm coming from another manager who is very respected in this league; and Greg is that, and his track record's proven it. He's so passionate about this club and the philosophy that he has.
For me, it's just picking little things, and also adding to that. We continue to build trust and I continue to learn. Always no matter my age, I've always told my myself that I continue to learn from anyone that's coached me or that I play with, so I just soak everything in. He has a brilliant mind and it will help me not just now but in the future down the line if I'm coaching as well.
Q. From a curiosity perspective, as such an experienced player coming in, you've played the game at all levels but coming into a team like LA Galaxy, six MLS Cups, do you feel a different type of pressure or stress playing the game, or is it the same for you?
CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ: Yeah, I mean, you obviously know when you put these colors on and you have that badge on above your heart, it's about trophies. It's about winning, day-in and day-out. And you also have to be able to balance that.
But I enjoy that. I mean, I think in my third game, I was booed off at home. So it doesn't get much worse than that. So I just stay level-headed with the good and the bad, and I'm hungry to raise the trophy with my childhood cup.
Hopefully that's something down the line. It's an added pressure to play for this club but it's one that's welcoming, and I think everybody who embraces that and raises their game, yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports