LA Galaxy 4, Sporting KC 1
Q. Any added emotion for the night having played with the Galaxy so many years ago and now leading the group for a night at least?
DAN CALICHMAN: Yeah, there was added emotion. I'm glad we won. Didn't want to have to face Greg in the locker room with a loss. Certainly didn't want to do that. Yeah, it was a lot of fun being there and stepping up and coaching the team.
But it's easy, right? Any of the assistant coaches could do the same job. Greg does a great job mentoring us and we spend a lot of time working out on the training field, so the game is the showcase. The work has been done. And yeah, it was nice being out there tonight.
Q. You look at the showcase, you see Joseph Paintsil getting a hat trick. How did you see his night develop there? The group as a whole. You guys created a lot of chances, scored four. Probably want more than that.
DAN CALICHMAN: Yeah, probably could have had more than that, but don't need to be greedy. It's great to see Joe scoring goals. Kansas City play an interesting way. Tactically they send both fullbacks high. That exposes a team. It's no blame on Kansas City. They're a wonderful team. That's just how they play, but it opens them up when they lose the ball.
With Joe's speed and Gabe's ability to get wide, it can cause people trouble. I felt like we did a nice job of exposing certain areas when they sent players forward. I thought we did a nice job with that.
But guys were on today. Whether it was just typical night that coach was up, I am sure that gave them incentive. They wanted to win for Greg, right, who was watching the game. I think that incentivized them. Watching from up top can see all.
You know, they worked hard tonight. They deserved the W.
Q. Congratulations on the win as well. You mentioned Greg looking from on high. You were in another position as well. Did you happen to notice anything different from your point of view, changed point of view this evening? Was it more of the same?
DAN CALICHMAN: Kind of more the same. I stood up more. I usually don't stand up as much when I'm the assistant. I stood up and tried to get the team going at times that I felt like we were a little sluggish. That's what Greg does, right? So, yeah, it was different in that way.
But, again, I would reiterate that the work has been done already. These guys know what's coming at them. They're prepared. They know what they need to do to be at our best. It's reminding them at times that this is what we need to do.
Q. Emiro made his return tonight.
DAN CALICHMAN: Rusty, man. He looked awfully rusty to me.
Q. I was about to ask you what you thought of his performance and what he brings back to this defense?
DAN CALICHMAN: Emiro is wonderful. He is wonderful and he is still a young defender, and it's great to have him back. But what he brings is he's tenacious and he has speed that is second to none in this league. So that's what he brings.
He's been out with an injury and we're trying to get him back, and hopefully he'll be back for Wednesday. You know, he looked a little rusty. That's just fair.
Q. Speaking of Wednesday, what would you like to see improve defensively before the team goes into that title?
DAN CALICHMAN: I thought in the first half we had a is difficult time dealing with Kansas City straight down the middle. They were kind of playing either Decky (phonetic) or Mason Toye, right, the other striker. They were just kind of combining right through us.
I thought we just got to make sure that our pivots are staying connected with our centerbacks, that our forwards are staying connected with our pivots and not getting extended, and just be kind of tighter defensively.
Q. Mauricio Cuevas, two assists tonight; another wonderful performance. Just seems like this kid is getting are better and better every single day. Biggest thing really that we've seen is the decision making in the final third. You see that for the first goal, right? Instead of taking the shot himself, lays it off. Talk to us about his growth as a person, as a player, and what you think that next level is for him? Is it just being better in the final third and just taking the paces every day?
DAN CALICHMAN: Yeah, Mauricio was not rusty. He was sharp as can be and he has been. He's having a wonderful year, he had a wonderful game. He attacks so beautifully and he has great timing. He can cross a ball as good as anyone in this league.
But, yeah, I think you raise a good point as far as better decisions in the final third, finding the guy maybe a little better. What he can improve upon? We all can improve on our group to be better one-on-one defenders and team defenders.
There is occasions where sometimes our outside guys Mauricio included can get back-doored with a run. But all in all, Mauro is coming along beautifully. He's blossoming and he's tenacious. He's a competitive kid and he just wants to be out there and he wants to compete.
Again, he was able to find room, right, with Gabe coming inside and Mauricio coming around. That's a difficult combination, especially if you're playing in, let's say, a 4-4-2 and that guy is more of a winger. He doesn't really want to defend. He wants to kind of attack.
It's very difficult for the opposition then. Mauricio really hurt them tonight.
Q. First off for fans maybe not as familiar with yourself, give us some insight into your role, the work you do with players, planning, roster decisions?
DAN CALICHMAN: My name is Dan Calichman. I was born February 21, 1968. That makes me pretty old. I was around when the Galaxy started in 1996. Rumor has it I was the first captain. I played center back.
Yeah, I don't know what more you want. I have three children. Yeah, my role is, right, I'm one of the assistant coaches for Greg. Been with Greg since he moved to Toronto. I have been fortunate enough to stay with him when he moved to the Galaxy, you know, that he took me with him.
There is no greater pleasure for me to be coaching the Galaxy since this is the club that I first played for. It's a privilege. Every day I go out there and I'm just, yeah, grateful. I'm grateful. So hopefully you've learned enough about me.
Q. My dad is around your age. He there watching you in that '96 season.
DAN CALICHMAN: Yeah? He's a fan?
Q. Yes, sir.
DAN CALICHMAN: I love your dad.
Q. He loves you. Talking about the younger players, we just mentioned Mauricio Cuevas, Harbor Miller, Elijah Wynder, Rindov, they've really stepped in recently and it feels like they're ready for this level. Does that kind of open up some options in terms planning roster decisions for next year?
DAN CALICHMAN: Without a doubt. Without a doubt that all comes into play. They've all been doing really well. Harbor has been wonderful. Ruben came in today and played great. Cuevas we talked about already. Emiro Garcés is a young kid, 22, 23 maybe. Like we have some young guys. This group of players is only going to get better.
Who else? Yeah, kids coming out of Galaxy 2, right? Some talented players there as well. So I feel like, again, this is Greg's influence. First first team, but then making sure that through the academy we're all playing a similar way so when they move from one team to the next it's the same style of play so they don't have to really relearn. They just have to make decisions faster.
That's a lot easier than trying to learn new systems a have a million things in your head. You're just trying to play the game faster. The higher you go up, the faster the game gets.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports