CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH VELJKO PAUNOVIC
On the team’s performance:
“Well for us it feels like a loss. We believe that the first half was great. We also think that the injuries that happened actually helped them, because it stopped our pace and our rhythm of the game that we boasted from the start. And from that moment at the start of the second substitution, we lost and we couldn’t find the rhythm again. In the second half, I think we came a little too casual, in one of our strengths, which is our defensive set pieces. We conceded two goals too easily. Too easy. And very, very similar. No reaction is something that concerns me, but on the other side, I think after the Galaxy’s goals the team reacted and we had good opportunities to score. Overall, I think a tie is….for both teams you get something, but for us we are not happy because we could have one this game.”
On what he wanted to see from his team in the second half:
“We have to kill the game. There is progression. We got a point on the road. We were the better team in the first half in my opinion and that’s something I like to see after the game in Toronto and the game in New York and now in LA. There is a huge progression. But with opportunities like this, we have to convert with three points. Today was very close.”
On what positives he takes away from the match:
“I think our shape and defensive style and approach to the game is getting better. Possession was much better also in the first half; also, the execution of our game plan. We have to learn to adapt to the adjustments that the opponents makes, and from there that’s what one team has to do to get better. Adjust, adapt…you have to be very smart and very quick to get what’s going on and make adjustments.”
On Bastian Schweinsteiger’s performance and leadership:
“He’s doing well. He’s trying to influence the guys and he’s doing that. Sometimes you have to get everybody on the same page and it’s difficult. We wanted to play long balls, but in the second half we wanted to start simple and play behind their back, but we just couldn’t get there. The mindset with which we came out in the second half wasn’t good. We thought the game was over and we addressed that in the locker room.”
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER
On the result:
“When you’re 2-0 up and you control the game, and at the end you play to a draw, it feels like a loss.”
On Galaxy’s second-half comeback:
“Maybe we thought the game was done. We spoke about it at halftime. That was not the case. We didn’t find the free man, we rushed, we lost the ball too easy, then you lose a little bit of the control of the game.”
On the LA Galaxy:
“They have actually good players, and their individuals were strong, and if you think about Boateng, Giovani; they have players that can win a one against one. They are definitely not a bad team.”
On life in Chicago, and playing in MLS:
“Life in Chicago is great. Playing in MLS is interesting. I’m not satisfied 100-percent, because we lost too many easy points. We gave them away. Otherwise we would have a better position in the standings. So I’m not satisfied with this, and also, sometimes in a game we can make it easier if you find the right player. In the first half we did quite well, but we have to show that in the 90 minutes.”
On reaching his best level of play:
“Yeah, it’s getting better. Of course it’s much easier when the team plays well. You play 11 against 11. Not one against one. So I try to help as much as I can in the team, and I hope that we will improve our games more and more from week to week. It’s just sad that we couldn’t win today, because a few points would be great for us.”
On his playing position:
“If you know my career, then you know exactly which position I was playing, but it just depends on our team. Which players we are playing. There I try to help as much as I can. Today started more on the offensive position, then later on I tried to play from behind. So yeah. When we have the ball to find the right player, the free player, and we have to work on it more and more. The first half was good. It was alright, but we have to show 90 minutes. Not 45. We have to improve. It’s a point. Actually in New York we could won the match as well, so today we should’ve won the match. It’s a little bit sad. We just had one point instead of six points.”
CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER JUNINHO
On being back in LA:
“It was special. When I was in the player tunnel, a lot of memories came to my head for sure. It was a very emotional moment, walking out to the field and seeing all those fans again, the crowd, the supporters, the whole environment for me was very special.”
On whether he spoke to anyone from LA before the game:
“At the end of the game, when I could shake hands with everybody, my old teammates. It was special to see them too. Now maybe I’ll try to see some more guys and shake more hands. I was glad to be back.”
On having to go to a different locker room at StubHub Center:
“It was weird. I was telling my teammates, it’s going to be weird coming to the visiting locker room, with warm-ups in the other side of the field, so it was a little weird but it’s part of it.”
[Translated from Spanish]
On the game:
“I think we controlled the game better in the first half. We did a good job controlling the game, we scored the goals, but they knew they had to come out and win at home in front of their fans. I think they did that and we weren’t able to hold on to the lead.”
On what happened to Chicago in the second half:
“That happens when a team is playing at home, with the support of their home crowd. Unfortunately, we let in two goals from set pieces but now we just have to work hard and take it game by game.”
On having Bastian Schweinsteiger as a teammate:
“It’s a pleasure to play alongside a world class player. I have had the opportunity to play with others as well, but it’s really a pleasure to play with him. He’s a player with a lot of experience, on and off the field, he’s positive and knows a lot about soccer so we hope to continue to work together and get results on the field.”
