LA Galaxy 2, LAFC 2
Q. This game doesn't end your winless streak but maybe some positives in there, one of them being the midfield play. Both you and Lucas sort of playing next to each other, seemed like tonight was your best look at that?
EDWIN CERRILLO: Yeah, especially with him feeling more comfortable and having that confidence, and me just encouraging him a little bit more to come out of his shell and just play his game.
I think as time went on, he's been more comfortable, a little less shy, and I think just that and the off-field, talking to him more, getting him with different groups of people within our team just to feel more welcome and feel part of this team. I think that's helped him a lot and today he showcased that confidence and I feel very secure in the midfield with him and there's moments in the game where me included can find solutions a little bit better. But good performance for him.
Q. You talked about you. What does that do for you to know that you guys are sort of maybe on the same page now and things can go forward for you?
EDWIN CERRILLO: I think sometimes just with him having that confidence, and me having confidence within him. I don't have to kind of do both jobs or have jobs here and there.
It's a lot more clear of what I need to do, and just knowing that he's understanding what he needs to do as well. Just be more connected. That makes us feel a lot more comfortable and makes me feel a lot more comfortable.
Q. The winless streak but Greg Vanney gets a contract extension in the middle of the week, and then you get the draw. Are things shifting to a more positive light that can kick start the season going forward?
EDWIN CERRILLO: I think from the best games we had to take the positives out of each and every performance that we had and obviously improve some things.
Yeah, with the news of Greg, everyone is happy. Because we all believe in him and he's given us the solutions to go out and perform and set us up in a way that we can win.
Ultimately it's for us to go out on the field and showcase and pay him back with results. I think watching from the outside in, against Philadelphia, I wanted to be in there fighting with those guys and I wasn't able to. Today in a big game with our fans back home, we had to put in a performance to showcase that we're together, and this team is good and we're going to keep building on that. We don't win but we take a positive performance and we can definitely build on that.
Q. Marco Reus with two goals today, two assists the last game. Just how important of a presence has he been in the locker room now that he's back and seems to be part of the squad as you guys are trying to get momentum? How important has he been as a mentor, as well?
EDWIN CERRILLO: Yeah, it's important for to us have him on the field as much as possible. I think none of us are surprised by this quality. Even me on the pre-kick goal, I just stood there because I had so much faith that he was going to make it.
It's important to have him on the field because we can rely on him to change the game as Riqui did last year, and Riqui is not there but we have Marco Reus.
So just to have him in the locker room with his experience and going through this tough stretch of games, he's the guy that continues with positivity around the locker room, and everybody respects every time he speaks.
Q. The East Coast trip didn't go so well, but seems like this rivalry game might have injected a bit of energy afterwards. Did you feel that way as well?
EDWIN CERRILLO: Yeah, I think when you come into a game like this, no matter if we're in first place or in the position that we're in now, this means a lot more because it's a rivalry. And we all had to get out of our shell and get out of the slum that we're in, and the past results are the past results, and we had to come out and play. I think the guys did well.
And obviously not satisfied with the draw but again we are going to continue building and hopefully this turns the season around.
Q. You talked earlier about Sanabria, how have you seen him get out of that shyness, is it just on the practice field or hanging out with the guys how have you seen his game grow from day one to right now?
EDWIN CERRILLO: I think yeah, when he first got here, he kind of only talked to Julian because they are pretty much the same age and drinking mate a, even Diego and Marco is in it as well. You see him laughing and being happy off the field. He came into a team, a winning team from last year, and I think maybe the pressure can get to him. We are all human, and he's a young kid.
It was definitely going to take a little time to adapt. Again, on these trips, when we're gone for so long, you spend more time with each other. From the outside looking in, I was with Tucker and Mauricio, so I felt the responsibility to kind of get to know him a little bit better and tell him that I'm there for him no matter what, and I showcased that on the field and I have his back and he has my back. Definitely going to build on that. He showed his qualities today with his play, and really important player for us going forward.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports