Austin FC 2, LA Galaxy 1
Q. Joseph, one thing Greg said tonight was a missed opportunity. Your thoughts on the night. You guys had a chance to win a third straight game but came up short here before head to go LAFC Saturday.
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, I think first off there was like not too much intensity from our side. We had some small mistakes that lead to the chances also that they had.
It's a little bit disappointing, but, yeah, this is football. We just need to take it and just work towards it and just face what has happened today, put it away, and focus on Saturday.
That's the most important thing because this is like a cracker game that's LAFC and LA Galaxy really, really want those points. This is something we have to put the negativity and whatever happens today apart and just focus on Saturday. That's the most important thing.
I hope that the team will turn around from there.
Q. Why do you think the first half was just a lack of intensity? Was it the start and stop with the ball starting off the game?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, it's one of these games, you know. Sometimes it's not always going to be always like going hard, hard, hard. Sometimes it's one of these games and we just have to always put in our mind that whenever we are playing at home we need to really go all out.
But as you can see, it's not going to be always the same game, like the two games we won. Sometimes the body language, you know, some players have the body language; others also have it. All we need to do is come together and just raise each and every one up and just fight to the end no matter what happens.
As we know, this is football. Anything can happen. Yeah, we won against the second place and they also won against us. We will take it, but it's really disappointing that we couldn't go three in a row. But it's something that we need to take and just focus on the next game.
Q. You had a shot there at the end of the game get palmed away. Gabriel Pec hits the post and it comes out. Does it seem like you guys left three points on the table? Thank you.
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, I think we should have had these three points for ourselves, but this is something that you cannot dictate, this is something that you cannot predict. It's football and they're also here to win and also here to play and also here to find a result for themselves.
We are also fighting for us to also win, but unfortunately at the end of the game that's the most important thing. We couldn't have the three points. We try to come back but it was a little bit late for us.
We have to focus and never let this happen and just, yeah, be the men we have always been since last year, and even when things are not going on well I'm always having the positive mindset that no matter what, we still keep going.
Q. Joseph, are you frustrated by the lack -- by your lack of goals so far this year? Is it weighing on you knowing the Galaxy are at the bottom of the table and the scoring hasn't been there for you?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: I'm not disappointed in myself. Like I said, every season is always a different season. All I need to do is just to keep going. We have more games to go. Who knows? I can score more goals. Gabriel Pec can also score more goals. Things can change so quickly.
As you can see, even last year even the team that was really in the last place or last two, someone was even having like 15 goes or something. So the goals right now is important, but really not important for us. The most important thing is for us to get the three point. Whoever scores I don't really mind. If I score, kudos. If Gabriel scores. If the defender scores. The most important thing is us to come together and win the game.
Even we win the game and I don't score, even ten matches and I don't score and we keep winning, that's what we are always working for and what we have to do.
I am a strong guy and I always focus on giving all my best, no matter how the negativity and the pressure and everything. I just need to focus on LA Galaxy. Whatever happens I need to play my heart out. Whatever happens we leave it to God. He will just do the rest.
Q. We noticed yourself and Paintsil doing a lot more after defensive effort in recent games. Feels like we've seen you tracking back a lot more, spending a lot more time inside of your own box. Could you tell me how you feel like that's modified how you play, and do you feel like you've given up maybe some attacking output because of that?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, I would say it's something that we have to do as an offensive player. We don't need to leave it for only the defenders. As you can see, if you defend together, work together, is always result in a perfect ending game. We tried, I tried, Gabriel tried. Like I said, it's always like this. Anything can happen. I'll always do my best like I said, track back. Sometimes I feel tired tracking back and going forward again.
My main task is always be always offensive. But now at this point of time we just have to focus on defending and attacking. That's the most important thing. Where we are now is not really LA Galaxy, so each and every player needs to step up, even if we have to defend and defend together. We all go attack, attack together. It doesn't matter. We just need to do what the coach said.
I have to also help my defenders any time I'm in that position. For me it's a plus. I'm also working on it. It will also lead me in the long run for me even in the next season and the few games to come because most of coaches always says we don't defend.
So if we do this kind of things they have nothing to about us and we have to take our chances and keep going and just try our best no matter what.
Q. Joseph, the right back today, you were giving him a lot of problems. I could just see it. He couldn't handle you. Did you feel that presence, like I need to go at this guy for the majority of the game?
JOSEPH PAINTSIL: Yeah, I think the first half he was really having a lot of confidence because I lost some few balls in my legs, so he was really having a lot of confidence.
But, yeah, I told myself to just keep going and just make him think twice, like I always do, always have to run behind him. That's the most important thing, because that's my energy. That's what I am really capable of.
As you can see, when they have the chances they don't really -- cannot even run with me. They always tell me, why I'm always running too much. It's just part of me and I cannot stop it. I just need to keep going. Yeah, even the next game against LAFC I have to do the same thing and just have the result.
So I will just always do my possible best. Take one against one. Try. No matter how feel I feel, I still need to keep trying and keep going. That's the mindset of a player who always wants to learn and always want to come out like a better player.
For me I will always do what I have to do. Take on defenders. If you succeed, yes. If you don't, kudos.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports