Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
On the team’s possession…
I actually think that the easy way for me to say it is they were better than us. They were better than us through the run of play. They moved the ball very well, especially right up the middle. They were very good against us. We had the ball a lot, but I don't think we were dangerous enough with it for the final pass or at the final challenge. We had some good service in the box, but the runs weren't there at times or they were but the ball wasn't there at the same time. I just think overall they were better than us.
On LAFC…
They were good. Their movement off the ball and their willingness to play one touch and have support on every ball that they played was very good. I’m going to be honest. If you take the games that we played in MLS -- I'm not talking about the two other games we played (in Concacaf Champions Cup) -- but this was the game where I think this team, they were better than us tonight. The other games, we were in those games, but this team was better.
On the winless run…
If you look at the other games we played, I think in every one of those games easily we could have gotten results in different ways. But tonight was a difficult one for us. We didn't break them down. But I also think that they played, like I said, through the middle really, really well.
On LAFC’s absences…
So are we. I don't know how to answer that. Everyone right now is playing with players that are missing. That's really not the focus from our perspective. I think more it’s that they played well.
On the team’s progress…
We have got to win. I mean, we have got to win. I don't know what else to tell you. We have got to win.
On finding positives…
There are a lot of things that have been going very well. Tonight, we played a really good team and they played through us. Like I said, if you look at the games that we played up until this point, I think in all the other ones we were in very good positions in each one of those games in the way that we played to get results. Tonight, I don't think that we had that. Over those games, that’s the assessment that I have.
On Jansen Miller’s first start…
I think he's a bright spot. I really do. I think he played really well. He's got very good instincts in the game and in the position. He's a battler and very good in the air. I think he did himself proud today. I think he was a really bright spot in the game.
On getting ready for FC Dallas…
You have to be very good defensively. As opposed to the last game, we have to be much more crafty and deceptive in and around the box. We just need more urgency in and around the box for chances. We're always kind of right there, but the final pass or our timing is off. We're hitting the ball behind the guy instead of in front of him or we're just a step late. There has to just be more urgency in that area of the field.
On creating more chances…
Some of it's confidence. You have got to get some rewards for what you're doing. You have got to feel good about what it is that you do because then all of a sudden you're not thinking and it's a little more instinctive. It's coming natural as opposed to forcing it. When you think sometimes, you're a little too late. That’s the difficulty when you're not getting results, always.
On replacing Dejan Joveljic and Erik Thommy…
At the time, we just weren't getting in there. And I think it's an opportunity maybe to see if some other guys can open that up.
Sporting Kansas City defender Jansen Miller
On how he feels after his first pro start…
I’m not too happy. I know it was my first start, but it doesn't really mean much to me unless we win.
On takeaways from the game…
What I learned from the game is just little nuances and little things you have to do that you don't get away with in this level. You always have to be alert. You can't take a second off. The first goal happened just like that - bang, bang. It was different out there, but I feel like first half versus second half, I really settled in the second half. I felt good.
On his playing style…
I just like to play instinctual when I'm out there. Not that I don't like to think, but I just kind of play it as I see it and I feel like that's when I'm playing my best is when I'm just making plays.
On LAFC…
Their attack is very talented and they're all left footed, which you don't see a lot. I just thought that's pretty interesting. Defending a lefty versus a righty is different. Your body shape and orientation is different. You can see they're very young, talented players and we weren't up to speed with them on the night.
On the team’s progress…
I know it's hard to believe, but I do. The amount of times we were in their box and it was just the final touch we barely missed. I remember four or five that it was off by this much and that could be the difference in the game. It's not like we are in our half just getting destroyed. We have the ball a lot. Obviously that doesn't mean a ton, but I think we're penetrating and it’s just that final thing. It’s still five games into a 34 game season. I would be a lot more worried if we were getting dominated, which I don't feel that way out there.
