David Villa scored in 100th MLS appearance
Back to fourth-season in MLS NYCFC made huge impact in the home opener with 24-h soccer front of Rockefeller Center, not only that but David Villa scored for the first time this season in his 100th MLS appearance. He’s now scored in all four of the Club’s home openers.
Sebastien Ibeagha filled in for the suspended Maxime Chanot for his first career MLS start.
Anton Tinnerholm opened his NYCFC scoring account in his debut at Yankee Stadium.
Midfielder Ebenezer Ofori came on for Jesus Medina in the 60th minute for his first appearance as an NYCFC player.
With the win today, the Boys in Blue have started the season with two consecutive wins for the first time in Club history.
QUOTES
NYCFC HEAD COACH PATRICK VIEIRA:
On if NYCFC made it more difficult for themselves during today’s match… “I don’t think we make it more difficult for ourselves. Galaxy played better in some parts of the game and I think when you play against a quality team, you get to a point during the game where you have to suffer, and of course when you concede the goal, it becomes more difficult because of the quality of players that they have on the team. But, I’m really happy, really pleased to win that game because it was against a tough opponent.”
On if it is difficult to define roles with a deep NYCFC squad this season… “No, not difficult at all. I think we have a clear idea of how we want to play the game. Of course having more quality players on the bench makes it more easy for me to change, to rotate them. Today, Eben [Ofori], Ismael [Tajouri] and [Matarrita] came on because we needed fresh legs, we needed help and it’s going to be like that through the season. It will be really easy for me to change my starting 11 because of the quality of players I have on the team.”
On Jesus Medina’s performance tonight compared with the opener & him being subbed off… “I think he played a really good game today. I love the way that he works for the team and how he creates space for the players and he’s got the quality to make the assist or to make the pass before the assist – he understands the game really well….But what I love about him as well, was he wasn’t happy to come off. And when players are not happy to come off, that means they enjoyed being on the field and that’s really good.”
NYCFC DEFENDER SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA:
On how he fits in with the team: “I just think it comes with the coaching. They do a very good job of integrating players and finding players they believe fit the system and then making sure that we’re very intuitive with the way they want us to play and stuff like that.”
On playing in the USL and if it prepared him: “The USL season is also long, so is the MLS season, so with fatigue and all that kind of stuff, my body is pretty much used to that. The daily grind in the USL is almost the same as the MLS and just that mentality and knowing it going forward is a lot.”
On how he felt coming into today’s game… “I was ready to go and I had all the confidence in the players and the staff and in everyone and that goes a long way. I just did my job as was necessary and that’s what everyone is here for.”
On the biggest differences between USL and MLS… “The biggest change, I guess, is just the details, which foot to play, where to take your touch, just little details. Everyone is smarter and faster here and that little off-second that you have can lead to a goal.”
On his connection with Anton Tinnerholm… “It’s good. I think that’s one of the bigger partnerships is the right center back, right back and Anton is a great player and he scored a great goal today, defensively he works hard and he covers me and I make sure to cover him. It’s just communication, which is a big part, and we have it.”
On how he keeps locked in and focused at the end of a tight game… “I think it’s just anticipating it and just knowing it’s going to come. You’re up 2-1, 10 minutes left, 5 minutes left, and you know they’re going to start hitting as many balls into the box and trying to get anything. You just have to be focused and know that every ball needs to be cleared out.”
On experiencing the Yankee Stadium crowd for the first time… “It was awesome. It’s huge – like I said, someone asked me a question before and I said the connection to the fans is understated. Tonight they showed their worth and they really pushed us in the dying minutes of the game.”
On growth since his time with Houston and how NYCFC is different… “I think there’s many things. I think as a player and as a person I’ve grown a lot more. I think I’m more seasoned, especially with playing in the U.S. because I hadn’t really played in the U.S. apart from college before and then just coming in and knowing that grind and knowing players. I think Houston still also helped me because I still knew the level and even when I went down to USL it wasn’t like I wasn’t good enough – it was more like I needed to get more acclimated to the level again and get back into it.
NYCFC DEFENDER BEN SWEAT:
On starting the season with two wins… “It’s a good way to start the season. We go through pre-season and you win, tie, lose it and the result doesn’t matter but what’s important was we got on the same page with how we want to play and we’ve come in where it really matters and we’ve improved and shown that we want to be a top team and top competitor this year. We’ve beat two top clubs already and we’re just going to get ready for Orlando.”
On almost scoring a goal… “The first game was close with David almost sliding into me and this game, the third time’s a charm. Hopefully this next game against Orlando I have an opportunity to put it away.”
On creating goal scoring opportunities… “It’s just how some of the games have opened up. I’ve been able to make long runs out of the back and coach expects his outside backs to attack forward just like last season, so I’m going to continue to attack and continue to get forward as much as possible.”
On how he and Ronald Matarrita push each other… “He’s got two starting left-backs, so whoever he plays, he’s going to get the same out of both of us. Matarrita is a great player and if he puts ‘Mata’ at left wing and me behind, or vice versa, nothing is going to change tactically.
NYCFC DEFENDER ANTON TINNERHOLM
On scoring a goal … “Super goal for me, I’m not used to scoring that kind of goals. Proud moment for me, at the home opener and score directly and I felt like we played really well today, especially in the first half we can score more goals than that, especially in the beginning of the second as well, we need to score three nil and the game is dead, now they get 2-1 from nowhere and the game is still alive, but we keep fighting as a team and that’s the strength of the team we keep fighting together”
On the atmosphere of the stadium for the home opener … “It felt great, really great fans, I heard them a lot in Kansas as well so a bit surprised that it’s that popular in the US. I like it in here and a lot of fans here, I had a couple friends here that were impressed by the fans here.”
On Patrick’s playing style and of the league … “We have a clear idea of how we want to play and I feel like you saw it today especially in the first half, we want to keep the ball with the team and I think a lot of teams will have a lot of problems when they come here and even when we play away. We want to have the ball on the ground, keep it with the team and let the opponents run a lot, so we have a clear idea of how we want to play, I’m not going to tell you that much but today I felt like we dominated the game the way we wanted the only thing we need to improve is to score the three nil goal and the match is done.”
On Rodney and Jesus Switching sides in-game … “No it doesn’t matter to be honest, first game I played a little more with Jesus and he (played) a great game and (played) a great game today as well, I think it’s more of a feel for them if they aren’t getting in the game for five to ten minutes, they maybe need a change for them to get a little more into the game get a little more touches stuff like that, for me it doesn’t matter if its Rodney or Jesus, it doesn’t matter who is in front of me.”
On the Yankee Stadium Field … “No, it’s more like its small. I’m used to a little bit bigger field in Sweden but I think it can be positive for us, we want to press the opponents very high and they won’t have that much time with the ball, so I think a lot of them will be surprised that we are pressing them very high. As I said before, it’s going to be tough for them to play here when we press them again.”
On LA Galaxy’s second half … “I think it was more about the 2-1 goal, they got a lot of energy when they scored and we didn’t panic but it is what it iss football it’s strange but when you have the lead 2-0 and have the chance to score 3-0 and instead the opponents score 2-1 they take over the game and they will have the possession a little more but it’s great as a team to work together and we win and we take the three point that’s the main thing, then it doesn’t matter if we win 2-1 or 3-1 it makes no difference to me.”
NYCFC FORWARD DAVID VILLA
How does Jesus Medina compare to Jack Harrison
“Jesus did well in the position, I said in the interview that we may need to forget Jack, not in the memory of course. He’s an amazing guy and we love him but try to forget him on the field.”
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On his overall view of the game… “I thought we started off slowly. I think that’s my fault, a little bit in terms of our preparation. I felt we had our press wrong. In the second half we talked about that. I was really proud with the way the team fought. I thought we fought and we battled and we showed a lot of character in the second half.”
On playing against NYCFC… “They are a good team. Their nucleus on that team is the same as it was last year. There is a better cohesion in their group right now than it is for us but that is something that will come (for us).”
On LA Galaxy chemistry… “It is still going to take time. Even Sebastian Lletget who we did not want to start this early he’s playing, he’s running and he’s working but you know his little touches just the timing of what he does is not there yet. That is going to take 5 or 6 games.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER SEBASTIAN LLETGET:
On his overall view of the game… “I thought it was a good effort from the group, we are still getting to know each other. The pitch definitely played a factor, it is something we are not used to, we knew this going into this, this is not an excuse.But I give credit to New York, they had a good way of playing, but we got the hang of it and we put some pressure on them and we created some chances but we couldn’t compromise.
On how the defense played… “Yeah I think defensively we should have been more prepared in that sense. We should have communicated a bit better and anticipated a couple more things. Other than that it was a great effort. I mean we don’t like to lose, we are going to learn from this and it is a long season so…”
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