Sporting Kansas City 2, LA Galaxy 1
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Maya Yoshida.
Q. Thank you for taking the time, as always. This team feels like they're sort of stuck in neutral, right? Like there's not a lot that you're getting in terms of results even if you have some good moments in play. What do you see that needs to change for you guys right now?
MAYA YOSHIDA: In terms of today, the final third. Obviously we needed to score first half. Big opportunities in the second half. Instead they have only three, four shot on target, and they score two. It was very soft, as well.
As you know, we shouldn't have lost today. I don't get it. Same way last season. They didn't shot an on goal. We lost 1-0. It's very difficult to accept today and the last game, as well.
Today especially we play well and dominated the game. We play almost double time passing against them, but the finishing is most difficult at important part of soccer. Again, it's very difficult to accept, but this is what it is.
Realistically some top teams already have six points ahead, and we have to get more points. That's very obvious, but realistically, again, another realistic thing is we have game in Jamaica, very important game, next week midweek, and difficult game against Portland away and tough and traveling a lot.
Only the solution and the best solution is winning. Jamaica we win. Portland we win. We come back. This is only the best way to get back from this chaos right now. That's my feeling.
Q. Maya, you, of course, want these games. You want to be playing in Jamaica. You want the Champions Cup. That's what you played for. It has made for a very difficult schedule in that you are going midweek, weekend, midweek, weekend, traveling long distance. You're not getting the time on the training field that especially early in the season that you would like to get to get everything together. How much does this team need some time on the training field, and what are the things that you need to address on the training field that will then play out once you get into the games?
MAYA YOSHIDA: Good things is probably, I mentioned last time when I was here, so now the most of the players understand how we play. Like new player from last season, Elijah, Lucas, some young players as well. We have Justin, Jakob, Erik has been here MLS long time. I would say it's not big problem for us to need to play two hours every day to understand each other. More importantly, we have to keep our fitness. This is most important.
As I say, Jamaica. Last couple of weeks ago Panama, the distance is crazy long. To maintain the fitness is very, very important. Also, away trip to different city in MLS, that's also very important to get the points, as you know. So these two games next ahead is very, very massive for us.
Q. First two league matches. Only one goal conceded in the last two league matches now. It's been six conceded. What's been the difference?
MAYA YOSHIDA: Red card. Red card. I told you. One game and then you say, yes, very good. I say, wait, we have to see. It's just started, and we have to have more consistency. Consistency comes from, like, really strong base. Even we rotate the players, whoever we play, we have to have a solid mentality, solid organization.
Today especially first goal, the last minutes of the first half, and we have to kill the game. At least 0-0, in the second half we are always good, especially home especially. This is our home. We have to read the game. We have to understand the game, and we have to finish the first half safely. Then we go again.
We shouldn't consider that goal. It was really, really cheap. We need to prepare better, yeah. Again, we have to -- like many games, the best way is making clean sheet and more get back our confidence.
Q. It was your first time starting next Justin Haak tonight. What did you see out of him?
MAYA YOSHIDA: He could play both, No. 6 and the center back, especially the -- I think the Coach is thinking rotation of the center backs and midfielder as well. So he has to be ready for both position, which is not easy, but as I say, he has been already long time MLS enough, and he has good experience and skills and potential.
I spoke to him a couple of times. Playing midfield is very important for him, because any time you can come back in the future. Also, having the playing time, especially with me with Jakob, that's another important thing for him to get experience as the center back, because center back is like need to have -- have to be mature time by time, and midfielder have to be more mobile.
So he has both potential, and he has good mentality. He's preparing very well, professional. Probably he's very shy. Still, I think he's a great mentality so far.
Q. As someone who wears the captain's armband and is a leader of this team, do you feel aside from Greg, a leadership thing among the boys itself in the dressing room, just maybe talking to him, getting their spirits up when they're down, especially some of the guys that maybe have been here last year that went through the losing? Do you feel that sort of responsibility or something you like to do as sort of talk to the guys individually, get them mentally uplifted, especially when the results aren't coming?
MAYA YOSHIDA: Things are easier when things are going well, when we're winning. I think leadership is tested when the difficult moment. Last season I would say it was very difficult for me to lead the team, because we couldn't make result. Also, my performance wasn't good enough probably, I would say.
It's not convincible, and we have to be -- first, I have to play well. Then people listen to me. This is very obvious. This is most important things not only here, but also everywhere, national team, (inaudible), something, wherever.
As a leadership, I often talk with Marco and some key senior players, or player who has been long time, JT, Jakob, Edwin as well. Of course, that's important to talk individually to young players, but also, they have to show the desire, because I'm not here 24/7 for him, for somebody, but I haven't seen many good players who improve a lot.
They are already very desire. They are thirsty to improve. They want to grow up as quick as possible. So I don't have to talk. They come, and still they watching, they checking what need from Marco, from me, or experienced players or even Coach what Coach wanted from hisself. This is coming from natural way.
The good players already know that. Of course, sometime I speak. Sometime (smiling).
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports