LA Galaxy 3, Vancouver 0
Q. How important was it for you to score the two goals tonight? We've seen you the last couple games get into good spots and maybe frustrations might have showed out the last couple games but how important for you personally to score the two goals tonight?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: It's really important because I really needed this kind of momentum. I really needed these kind of goals. I've been missing some chances that I need to score. But that's football, and sometimes you need to raise your head and focus on the next game and do what you have to do.
I feel sometimes a little bit disappointed in myself because of chances I need to score and these kind of things. But I always tell myself, never to look down on myself and just keep focusing on the right part because in life there is no failure. There is all a learning part.
So it's just a learning part for me to just focus and do what I enjoy and love to do as footballer. There is always a backlash and a lot of comments calling me "Monkey" and someone, they will kill my mom and all these kind of things.
But this is something that is always footballers are going to go through, and I take it in hand.
But yeah, we just keep focusing, and I will just do whatever I need to do in my power. I cannot do everything in this club. I will just do what I have to do and just leave the rest to God and He will handle the rest.
Q. On the penalty, why did you take it? Was it your confidence; you felt it was there for you
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, because I approached the ball first and I decided to just take it. Because if it was -- if Gabriel took it, I would give it to him. But I was the one that was really close to the ball and everyone was okay with it and I just took it.
Q. When you scored that first goal, the entire team surrounds you, they are hugging you. What did that mean to have the entire squad celebrate that moment with you?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: As you can see, it means a lot because they know what I've been through, what the team have been through. They know the kind of emotions and a lot of ups and downs that we have been through as a team, especially me, especially the forward. It's not really clicking. It's not really coming.
But as you can see, they are happy because it's something that they knew mand they know I really wanted and since it happened, I was really happy, and they were also really happy because they gave me that energy and they always tell me to smile, as someone who is not always smiling, but inside of me, I'm always happy.
Q. Obviously been a rough season, second win. What does it mean to have that winning feeling again and celebrate a victory in the locker room with your teammates? What does it mean to build some momentum and maybe start to climb back into a playoff spot?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: I think this is a step forward. As you can see, we played one of the two clubs in the top league, in the rank, and as you can see, we dominated. We did whatever we need to do. They had no chance. It was just a rough start for us. That's what I would say. It was just a rough start for us.
Yeah, we just need to do whatever we need to do, and as you can see today was an excellent game for the LA Galaxy, for the fans and everybody, and we just keep the momentum and we just go against D.C., the next game and we just need to win. We need to make sure we win our home games and also our away games.
Now you can see teams are really afraid, even though they play against us, but it's just that we are unlucky sometimes and make some mistakes that we shouldn't make. But as I said, it's just football and we just keep moving forward and we just keep trying.
Q. Over the last couple games, we have seen your understanding with Marco Reus develop. What has that relationship been like, and you've got these goals today, the first one, an assist from Marco. Are you looking for him specifically to pick you out on the field?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, Marco has been talking to me, also, a lot. Not only in the game but also in training. We have been talking and trying to make sure that he always tried to find me wherever it's possible, and as you can see, even though I was a little bit late in the first goal but the chance tame and I just do whatever I need to do.
Me and Marco, it's a good connection, as you can see, but we still have more time to go. We are still working on whatever we need to do. Sometimes there is some ways that are blocked. Sometimes there's a way that we need to change and then make it possible. But with Marco having an experience player in the league in the team means a lot, as you can see, with his confidence, with his view everything and means a lot for us. As the wingers, it's a cue to our goal and the finish that we need to do.
Q. Do you have family here tonight?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, my mom is here, my girlfriend and my kid.
Q. First time your mom has seen you play?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yes.
Q. Since when?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: That was in Ghana. That was in 2014, 2015.
Q. Why did she come and visit now? How does that add to the moment?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, with your mom's prayer and with your mom's presence, it means a lot, because she has been with us for so long, praying for us, even though we are sleeping we can hear her voice every time. Mom's spirit is always the best. We had a prayer ceremony this morning early today, and He told me to just be myself and I'm going to score.
As you can see I was also doing everything for my mom today and my kid, and I was putting more effort, running everywhere to defend, and I knew that it's going to happen. It's really going to happen. She was in Belgium when I came to L.A., so she couldn't also see me play, so I think it's an amazing moment for me and for my family that I just had these two goals, and I really thank God for everything.
Q. Is she going to stay for a while?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, she's staying for four months.
Q. Four months?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah.
Q. So you have to score more goals for mom.
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports