LA Galaxy 3, Charlotte 0
Q. Maya, four games in; you guys only allowed two goals. Greg talked about relationships you guys have had to build on on the field. Where is that process at now? You think this group has turned a corner away from last year, 66 goals allowed?
MAYA YOSHIDA: I think two reasons: One, the players who play last year already understand how we play and how we like try to dominate the game. Like Elijah, Lucas, even young players understand what we want to play.
Second, like Justin, Jakob already knows MLS and already has more than good enough experience in here, so they adapt very quickly. Still we need to improve many things and it's too early to talk about these kind of things after four games.
I feel good so far, and as you say since last season we are progressing so far. That's my feeling, yeah.
Q. Maya, we've had many talks after games about how the defense needs to be better and how it's not up to your standard.
MAYA YOSHIDA: Uh-huh.
Q. I would imagine tonight a game where I think Novak had to make one save and a game where you get a three-goal lead and get to defend for a large portion of that game might fit your standards?
MAYA YOSHIDA: Again, still just four games. You know, the game against Panama is different level, so too early to talk.
Just repeating same things, but I feel good. We are still progressing and I feel like we can still improve many things. How to avoid the pressure, how to distribute, how to defend, how to chase the opponent.
Today after 3-nil it's -- was a bit difficult because 3-nil feel like just too much relax; then some casual mistakes happen. In the end we just close the things tight in the end, and this kind of mentality is very good. As I say, Jakob has already great experience and good shape so far.
(Indiscernible) is already adapting long time in MLS; Miki as well. So we have like kind of two horses and one ready for the weekend and one ready for midweek as well. Again, the March we have six games, and still tough games. Traveling to Jamaica is not easy, and Portland as well.
So we need to focus on what we need to do and keep building our confidence and the relationship to step by step. Ever step we have to make sure this is right, this is right, this is right, because that kind of details we are missing long time last season.
Now we just restart to build the team again and since pre-season we are very, very careful and organized and talking a lot, communication. And also most of the majority of the squad looks the same as last season and we just add some experience.
So this is working well so far.
Q. Several questions about sort of the team, the progress as a team, the team defending. I remember last season I think it was the season exit interviews you -- I don't want to say you were critical. You were maybe questioning a little bit where you were at individually. You said, I need to put in some work during the offseason and kind of see where at an advanced age in my career I am actually at. You looked very sharp today. You've looked sharp. I wanted to check in. Where did that end up? What conclusion did you come to and how do you feel?
MAYA YOSHIDA: Individually, offseason straight after the season finish last year, I try to change things, nutrition, training, recover y stuff. Especially like two days in between, like today since last game, so I need to perform well; I have to be sharp.
So far it's working. But again, this is still February. MLS is very long season, especially including traveling and CONCACAF, so the main object for me to go through the season is just keep my -- because I understand my quality here is good enough, but the conditioning is more important, especially my age. One game very good and next game very bad, maybe 20 years old they can accept. Okay, this could be happen.
For me if I play well and then next game play bad you guys start talking, right? So, yeah. Well, so far I feel good. We'll see. In the summer if I still as you see sharp enough, then it works. We'll see. I don't decide. You decide.
Q. João Klauss is off to a great start. A lot of praise for his work ethic off the pitch as well. How is he fitting into the team as a teammate and what is he like?
MAYA YOSHIDA: Klauss is very good experienced players and very team player as well. That's helping Nasci in the back a little bit. Same as like Brazilian vibes. But he's very more global international and understand MLS so he can bring these two young players to the good side.
So I really appreciate what he's trying and he's very good guy. Always every team for the strikers first goal is very difficult. He already score three, and this is good start. I hope he can continue like that. That's we missing last year a lot.
Especially unfortunately the Riqui situation and we got him same. Same as Jakob and Justin, he's already had great experience here, so I have no doubt. If we play like today he has more chance to play, to score. That help the team a lot.
Q. Quick question for you. Congrats on winning today. As a captain, do you feel more pressure when the team is leading or is it when the team is chasing the game or the result?
MAYA YOSHIDA: As a captain, no. As a player, yes. But everybody should feel. Like, again, fortunately we could be 3-nil after 15 minutes. Then the main key is how to maintain the game the rest of the game.
Of course every game I feel pressure but I'm good enough to -- I understand that I believe that I'm good enough to control myself, to manage this kind of pressure and concentration.
Yeah, so I'm okay so far.
But sometime if it -- because the thing is going well, captain, no stress, no pressure. Everybody talk well. If things going bad like last season then it's more difficult. Then my responsibility is getting more large.
So I try to recover, try to maintain the things last year, but that was really difficult. Unfortunately we couldn't do well. But then this season, this is very big opportunity for me and this is important test for me as my -- as you know I turn 38 this summer.
One season not well, I'm out. So every season I have to be best of my shape.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports