CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy, after losing to the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, October 28, invited the media for a final availability on November 6. The club made several players available as well as Galaxy President Chris Klein.
Below you will find a complete transcript of those media interviews and the resulting answers. In all cases except for Jonathan dos Santos, the transcription was done by CoG. Dos Santos was translated from Spanish by the club.
It ends up being close to 6,000 words but is definitely worth the read to dig into all the details from each player.
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
ON THE SEASON
I think I had a good season individually. More than a good season. I scored 22 goals, I did some assists (10), but like I said it’s not a one-man show. It’s collective and we didn’t make it to the playoffs. I think we failed in the objectives that we had. In the last game what happened, I still don’t understand what happened. I think the fans deserved more than they got. Absolutely more. That’s why I was very disappointed. I didn’t want to thank them in that way. I want to thank them in a positive way, in a way that we give back and I don’t think we gave back to them. I feel so sorry for that because they absolutely deserved more than they got. That’s why the feeling after the game was a little bit different from my side, and it was … I still don’t understand what happened. I think we had everything under control. I think the season was like a roller coaster, it was up and down. Was not a good season. When they changed the coach we started to do things better and easier. To put yourself in a situation like that after 25 games is not a good season. Absolutely not. This is something new to me. I’m used to come number one and then everything is over. Here we are fighting for sixth place … if we would have made it everybody would have said ‘Hey, good season.’ For a couple of days, I was very disappointed. This is not the way we wanted to give back to the fans, especially the last game where everything was set up to give back and we failed to give back. They didn’t deserve that.
I’m in talks with the Galaxy. I’m optimistic and I’m positive.
For me to return, I want to be able to challenge for the trophy. I’m here for the challenge. I want to feel I have a chance to be the best in MLS … my team, not me. Because I am the best (grins). But I want to feel my team can compete against other ones. In a good way I think this season was … we were in a moment the last five games I think if we would make it to the playoffs we were already in that mindset. I think we had a good chance to destroy everybody. But in the long term, I don’t know how this looks.
This is new for me, I’m here seven months. Different conditions, also. But the club knows all my wishes, all my demands. It’s up to them what they want, but they are very positive. They have been very good to me. They have been very helpful, they help me and my family with whatever I need. I have a good relationship with everybody. Let’s say I’m not worried.
Let’s just say I’m happy, my family, everybody’s happy. We have a good time and a good life here. But I’m not here to have a vacation, let’s say.
HOW SOON FOR A RESOLUTION
As soon as possible. Everything is a work in progress. Everybody’s working. Let’s see, depends on how big a loan we get from the bank (smiles).
ON IF HE HAS A FEELING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER
This is only one way or the other way. There is nothing in between. I don’t know how to answer (laughs).
I’ll say I’m not worried. Let’s see what happens. I’m positive, I’m happy, I’m here, I have another year. I’m not worried.
ON RUMORS REGARDING AC MILAN
It’s no secret, there is interest from Europe. Absolutely, but my priority is Galaxy. I am here and I’m happy to be here. Interest, there will always be interest.
ON NOT GOING ON A LOAN
I don’t go abroad and do these things, loan. I don’t need that. If I belong to one club, I stay on one club and focus on that club. Give all my attention to that club, so that is not in my mind. I am here.
A big club like Galaxy, when you do not get results changes are supposed to be made. That’s the way it goes.
ON IF THE SEASON WAS WHAT HE EXPECTED WITH TRAVEL
It’s part of the profession. I think the schedule, before the last five games, was a waste of energy. Go two days before a game makes no sense because you become irritated, you waste energy for nothing. The last five games was perfect because we came the day before. We train here, we go there, we play the game and go home. Spend energy on the right thing. Go two days before makes no sense.
I played in Europe, we travel for five, six hours but we made it the day before. But this is (UEFA) championship. We talk about competition in MLS. Two days before to do what? We should focus on the right thing, focus on the game and put energy on the game. there are ups and downs during the whole season, there are things that are already good. This is a work in progress. But it was a good season, I’m happy. Let’s not forget I came from a bad injury. I’m happy to play football, I’m very thankful Galaxy gave me the opportunity to show myself who I am and I’m happy Galaxy gave you all something to write about because before I came here nothing to write about.
I have some wishes, I have some demands. But these are simple things. I had a meeting with the club, and they know about it. Nothing to worry about, of course. You’re happy to play football, you feel good, you are good. But with my mentality the way I’ve been doing my thing, where I’ve been, of course I want to challenge for the big thing. That is what I want. I don’t want to be here to be open for the media to do my thing. I want to be on the field and challenge for the big thing. That is how I give back to the fans.
The quality of the league, it doesn’t matter. Yesterday I said this season wasn’t about me playing my game. It was about me feeling free to play the way I played. The way I feel now, you put me wherever you want. It has nothing to do with a low level or a high level. I think the level in MLS, they have a lot to learn what they’re doing, but it’s becoming better and better. They have a lot of rules you have to follow and slowly they will get where they want to come. I want to be part of that process that brings them where they want to come.
People judged me, said it’s over, you cannot come back from that injury. That the injury is so bad. But I said if I come back I come back and show the world that I can still play like I did before the injury. This season was important because I played the whole season. I didn’t do … let’s say there are 30 games I did 15 … no. I did all the games I could play and all the training. There was no training I missed because I could not participate. I did everything, and that is what I am happy about. Because I could do a season without breaks or something because of my knee or something else. I was available all the time, so I’m happy for that. That means whenever you need me, I’m here.
ON HOW DOMINIC KINNEAR DID IN COACHING
I think he did a good job. He did a good job under a different environment, if you understand what I mean. I think he showed he should have a chance to show himself under his circumstances.
The last game I still don’t understand what happened. If somebody has an answer for me tell me.
CHRIS KLEIN
ON FIRING OF PETE VAGENAS
It’s always difficult. Pete’s done a lot for this club, both as a player and in the front office. But we had said we are evaluating our soccer operations. Don’t rest this at the feet of one person, but we all have to look at ourselves and take responsibility.
ON IF WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE FRONT OFFICE CHANGES
That can be for someone to come in and evaluate. We have some good people. I wouldn’t expect anything coming quickly, other than the news of someone being hired.
We’re looking for the right people. What you’re seeing in our league and in other leagues is assembling a group of talented people to tackle this as a team. we need to do that. And it’s not just a GM or a coach. It extends through our scouting and certainly beyond with development and things like that. We have a number of things to do.
We’re not going to discuss names publicly. We’ve never done that. We are going to bring in a new person to lead the soccer operations of our club.
I don’t like to put a timeline on it because then you have to stick to it, but we have a lot of things to do in the off-season and we need to get started fairly quickly. I wouldn’t expect this to take too long.
The priority for me is to hire a leader for our soccer operations. That is first step. And then we’ll go on from there. Obviously, we need a coach for next year (laughs). So, I would put that as priority 1B. But first things first and we’ll continue to move through it.
That person (leader of soccer operations) would be general manager. It would be one lead person.
ON ROSTER TURNOVER
that will be up to someone to come in and evaluate. We have some very good pieces that did some good things this year. But the team needs a little bit more structure and balance, and that would be up to the new coach, the new general manager to evaluate those decisions as head into 2019.
I don’t know if it’s “start over again,” but I think what it is since Bruce left, we were a club that was driven by one person on the soccer side for so long. And when we had to make changes quickly, I think we got the structure right but we didn’t get everything right. We’re going to structure our club right. For the short term and the long term so that we can succeed. We have to go out and get the right people.
ON ZLATAN RETURNING FOR 2019
Our plan is to have Zlatan back. What he did this year is certainly well-documented, both from the impact he had on our team with 22 goals and 10 assists, that is one thing. But he wants to win. And we want to win with him. Our intention is to bring him back and have him be part of the club in 2019.
We’re having conversations. I know he has certain things that he wants, as a club he’s a priority to keep him here. We’re just in initial conversations, the season just ended a week (ago), we’ve had very good conversations and continue to progress in those and hopefully to a resolution that is good for Zlatan and the club.
ON A POSSIBLE BUYOUT OF GIOVANI DOS SANTOS CONTRACT
We’re not going to comment on any individual players. Again, it would be up to someone else to come in and evaluate what is the best for individual players and the club as a whole.
ON ASHLEY COLE STAYING WITH THE CLUB
I don’t have to tell you guys Ashley has had an amazing career. He had a good season, too. But in saying that, he’s 37 years old, so it’s conversations between Ashley and the club, and see what he wants and what’s best for us heading into 2019.
ON COACHING CANDIDATES
We’ve had numerous conversations with coaching candidates. But at this point, we have to allow the lead person to come in and take that over. I believe very strongly that it is the most important partnership. The head coach is going to be the person most often in front of you (motions to the media) but has to be a partnership to build the club. And when we get that person hired they have a good understanding of all the people we’ve talked to as part of our interview process. And they’ll take that over.
ON KINNEAR’S PERFORMANCE
Very good. He came in and he structured the group. I think you saw that we had a good team organization, a good team spirit as well and the guys really battled and fought. I give him a tremendous amount of credit. One half didn’t allow us to get there. But as a club … I just said this to the guys in there… we have to look at the whole season. So, we have to go back and evaluate why we ended up in that position. What we saw in the last five games, if you saw that over the course of the year, maybe. But there’s 34 games in the season and we’re not in the business to deal with maybes.
The name we’ve considered, the name we’ve said publicly, is Dominic. But again, someone is going to come in and there has to be a relationship there and has to make the decision with the support of me and the support of ownership.
ON WHEN VAGENAS WAS TOLD HE WAS GOING TO BE FIRED AND ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT HIS JOB WAS SAVED BY SOMEONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON
I don’t know where you get your information from (chuckles). I had a conversation with Pete this weekend. Again, he’s been part of this club a long time and incredibly professional in the way that he dealt with that. I won’t go into the timing of our decision, but we talked about evaluating from a structure side, from a soccer operations side and looking at bringing in a new leader we felt that it was one change we need to make to give the new person a fresh start.
It needs leadership. I don’t believe that one person solves everything. It needs a team. You mentioned sports science, you mentioned scouting, you mentioned coaching. Certainly, a general manager can structure the club, but it needs a lot to build a modern club. And that’s our ambition, to be the best and to structure our club the right way with the right people and give it the right resources to be able to succeed and support those people. That’s the direction we’re going to take for 2019.
ON NOT HAVING A TIMELINE FOR HIRING GM
I don’t want to say there’s no timeline. We have an internal timeline, but I’m not going to tell you guys. We have a timeline because there are decisions that need to be made. Certainly, we don’t want to make those without people that are going to be in charge heading into next year. Our intention is to move through this as quickly as we can but still understanding we need to make the right decisions.
JONATHAN DOS SANTOS
(TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH BY LA GALAXY)
ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LA GALAXY THIS SEASON
I don’t know. It’s a bunch of things. I can say I have never been in these situations. But it’s everyone’s fault; the players, the coach, the front office, the club in general. I think the Galaxy can’t be in this situation. It’s a big club, we can’t depend on the last month to clinch a Playoff spot. We saw the potential this team has with the coaching change, and we didn’t take advantage from the beginning. If the Galaxy had had that momentum from the beginning and the drive to want to achieve great things, we could have done it. I am sad. I am disappointed. We couldn’t make the Playoffs for a second consecutive year but things happen for a reason. We hope that next year things change and that we can enjoy it. Personally, I want to enjoy playing soccer. I was able to enjoy it the last month; I was able to be happy. You could see the team was able to give everything. I want to apologize to the fans – they deserve our apologies because they were there for us and supported us every game at home and away. And like I said, we hope that next year we are able to take the Galaxy back to where the club deserves to be, and for fans to be happy.
ON CHANGES THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED HAPPENING AND IF HE EXPECTS MORE ROSTER CHANGES FOR NEXT SEASON
Well, that’s not my role. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen with the team. What I can tell you is that at the end of the season the team was performing well. We know that if we had made the Playoffs we would have had a great chance at being champions. We have great players. I don’t know what changes will take place to tell you the truth but I hope everything is for the best of the team.
ON HOW THE LAST HOME GAME AND THE SEASON ENDED
It was a big disappointment for me, not being able to be in the Playoffs and depend on the last 45 minutes of the match. We didn’t play well in the second half. We had everything in our hands and like I said we can’t depend on the last month. This is the Galaxy, we should have clinched a Playoff spot one month ago, we can’t depend on the last month to fight for a Playoff spot. Like I said, I hope that next year we have that chance to be able to demonstrate to our fans, which are the ones who matter the most, that we are a big club.
ON KINNEAR’S FINAL FIVE MATCHES AS INTERIM HEAD COACH
I am very grateful to him, very grateful. He did a great job; it was a hard situation we were in. We were tying, losing, we didn’t have any wins at home. With him, the team had a different face. We were playing soccer, the whole team wanted to play the ball. We were scoring goals. We were incredible defensively and I am very grateful to him. The past month I was able to feel like a player. I was happy. Before that month, if I’m being honest, there were times when I even cried because I wasn’t at my best form. I felt like the situation was never going to change. And thanks to God, even though we aren’t in the Playoffs, I was able to show this past month that Jonathan is here. I want to be one of the league’s best, which I couldn’t be this year due to different circumstances. But I hope that everything can change next year.
ON WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS BETWEEN THE COACHES
We also know the situation we were in. I won’t say Sigi [Schmid] didn’t do a great job because he did. In the end, every coach has a different way of working with players and it’s true that maybe Dom [Kinnear] was closer to the players. I have a lot of appreciation for him. He knows a lot about soccer, just like Sigi, but like I said, they each have different ways to work. They both did a great job, the best way they could and with Dom, we were very comfortable.
ON WHETHER HE’D LIKE TO SEE DOM KINNEAR COME BACK AS HEAD COACH NEXT SEASON
Of course. I have spoken with him and I have showed him my confidence. Because in the end, you saw the team that the Galaxy is, the last month we were superior than the teams we faced. Teams had no chance against us and everyone could see the great job he did. Hopefully, he can stay next year.
ON RUMORS ABOUT GIOVANI DOS SANTOS LEAVING THE TEAM:
Gio wants to stay here. He knows that this year was a complicated year. He had the misfortune and bad luck of not being able to play a lot of games. He had a lot of injuries. In the end if you aren’t healthy it’s very difficult. But he’s at ease, eager and very ambitious. With the hope of next year being the player he has always been, and he’s demonstrated that since playing here but unfortunately this year was a difficult one. He’s staying very positive. We always talk about it; we want to make history with this club. God willing and next year will be good for the both of us. We want to lift the Galaxy from where it’s at now.
ON WHETHER GIO IS STAYING:
Yes yes, he will stay.
ON WHETHER THEIR FUTURES ARE TIED TO EACH OTHER IF THE TEAM DECIDED TO BUY-OUT GIO’S CONTRACT
Well, I still have three more years on my contract here. We know what Giovani can offer. We honestly have not thought of that, about the team wanting to sell him. I think Giovani has to be here, he’s a great player, he’s an important player for us. I missed him and the whole team missed him a lot this past season. I would not depend on that decision on whether the team no longer wants Giovani in the Galaxy, I do not think that would happen. For me, Giovani is a player who has to be here. He has to be the best player on the team next season and show the great player he is.
ON WHETHER HE WOULD STAY AT THE CLUB WITH OR WITHOUT HIS BROTHER
Yes, yes. But like I said, I have not thought about that option. But whatever happens, I would stay here.
DAVID BINGHAM
ON THE SEASON AND JOINING THE GALAXY
I think the most important thing is we didn’t make the playoffs. And we know that. And for this club that’s not up to our standards and we all have to do better to get there. Personally, I’m happy with my ability to stay on the field and avoid injuries and such. But you always want to play better and help the team more and that’s a natural thing.
ON THE DEFENSE AND WHY IT WASN’T GOOD AND IF HE HAS ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE
Everyone has thoughts on what needs to change and whatnot. But that’s not our job. Our job is to go out there and do what the coach wants us to do. That’s what we need to do going into next year and I think you saw the last months of the year, with Dom (Kinnear) coming in we really tightened down and did what he wanted and it worked for us.
ON IF HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE KINNEAR STAY
Personally, I would love to see him continue as coach.
ON WHAT DOM DID TO CHANGE THE TEAM
He’s a good coach. He’s been around a long time. He’s personable. The guys work for him and he knows what he wants and he tells you exactly what he wants you to do. And if you don’t do it he’ll find someone to do it. And guys respect that. And we know exactly what we need to do and guys get it done.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM DURING THIS TRYING SEASON
I think we’re lucky here the locker room is really good. Guys get along. You see stuff with other teams where guys are in cliques and whatnot. That’s not really the case here. I don’t think that’s a great thing to have. But ultimately the results on the field is what matters. And like I said before, we have to do better next year.
ON THE TEAM HAVING SO MANY INJURIES
Anytime you miss key contributors it hurts. I mean there’s no way around it. Teams say ‘next guy up.’ That’s true, but at the end of the day, you have those big guys for a reason – because they’re good at what they do – and when you lose them it hurts. And obviously, it hurt us at times. At the end of the day, we all have to do our best to try to stay healthy and do whatever it takes to try and stay on the field.
ARE THERE BUILDING BLOCKS HEADED INTO NEXT SEASON TO BUILD AROUND
I think if you look at our roster when everyone’s healthy, it’s arguably the best in the whole league. I don’t think you can say that anyone’s roster is better than ours when you look top to bottom. That being said, you have to stay on the field. Doesn’t matter if you’re on the roster if you’re not playing. We got to stay healthy and move forward.
ON GOING INTO THE OFFSEASON WITH THIS MUCH UNCERTAINTY
It’s unfortunate. Obviously, as players, you like stability. And when you’re stable you play better. But at the end of the day, we’re all pros. We’ve all dealt with certain situations and this another situation we have to deal with. And whoever comes in, we’ve got to hop on board and go into 2019 with a positive attitude and be ready to win.
OLA KAMARA
ON HOW YOU ASSESS THE 2018 SEASON FOR THIS TEAM AND THEN FOR YOURSELF
I think we all know that we have a good team, but unfortunately, if you look over the whole season, we didn’t deserve to go into the playoffs. I think if we would win the last game, with the pressure we had in the last 5-6 games – if we could make it and go into the playoffs – we would deserve to be there and I think we would be a hot contender to win it. But seeing the whole season in one, it wasn’t enough.
ON IF YOU’RE UNDER CONTRACT FOR NEXT SEASON
Yeah.
ON WHAT IT’S LIKE AS A PLAYER GOING INTO AN OFFSEASON LIKE THIS (UNCERTAINTY)
I think for me first, I go with the National Team on Sunday and I play those games. Of course, you take some time off and get motivated to come back and try to win it next year. You’re playing for a big club and the expectation is to get trophies.
ON PLAYING WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM (NORWAY)
I always wanted to play for my National team. I scored a hattrick in just two games ago. So I feel like I should be there and now I’m back.
ON A SEASON THAT FORCED YOU TO PLAY OUT OF POSITION AROUND IBRAHIMOVIC
I think it was a challenge for me. Of course, because I was playing a lot of positions where you’re maybe not 100-percent comfortable. But you also develop. My mentality into it was I still want to score a couple almost around 15-goals, get to that. And I kind of did. But maybe it was 1 or 2 goals not enough to go into the playoffs. In the end, it was an okay number to land on and I learned a lot playing with Ibra on top.
DO YOU THINK YOU’RE A BETTER PLAYER NOW BECAUSE OF MOVING AROUND POSITIONALLY
I think it absolutely challenged myself. And I played a little bit 10, I played number 8 a little bit, I played left winger and I was still able to produce goals, an assist, or draw penalties or something like that. So I was still a dangerous player. Hopefully next year I can score more goals, but I’m not satisfied with the result.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DOM STAY AS THE HEAD COACH
I like Dom a lot. But I also know that the new GM or the board has to decide this, but I like Dom a lot.
ON THE ATTENTION BROUGHT TO THE LEAGUE AND THE TEAM BY ZLATAN PLAYING
Of course. I think it was good for the whole league that he was here because all eyes was on MLS because of it. Of course, there is a lot of good other players here. But Ibra being here was good.
ROMAIN ALESSANDRINI
ON HOW DO YOU APPROACH THIS OFFSEASON (UNCERTAINTY)
For a player, it’s always difficult to finish a season like that. Because we wanted to get into the playoffs. Now we have to just move forward, see what is going to happen, in terms of the players, the coaching staff, because there will be a lot of changes. We’ll have to see but we have to be, I think, we want to be better. We have to get better; the club and the team. Now we just have to get rest and be focused for the next season.
HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THESE LAST TWO YEARS
It’s hard. It’s hard for the players. Because I came here to get into the playoff and win championship. During the last two years, it was hard for us. The first season was different. We got a young coach with a young team. So it was difficult for us. This year was a little bit better. It was a tough season, but the last two months we get better and I think personally, I did my job. I tried to give the best I could. But collectively it was a little bit difficult. This year we were better. The team got a lot of experience, but it wasn’t enough to get into the playoff. Hopefully, we keep the same team maybe with 2 or 3 more players, and hopefully, we get into the playoff next year and, why not, win this championship. Everything can happen in this league. So we’ll see.
ON IF HE’D LIKE TO SEE DOM RETURN AS COACH
Why not? Why not? I think Dom is a good coach. He put a lot of energy the last two months. He changed the formation and we played better, I think, the last two months and I think he can handle this team. But it’s not my choice (he says laughing).
ON TAKING THE END OF THE SEASON ESPECIALLY HARD AND IF HE STILL HAS THAT FRUSTRATION
It’s a little bit better. I’ll say that you have to look forward, and move forward. You have to learn about that because it was tough for us to lose the last game. Because it was the last chance to get into the playoffs. And when you win 2-0 at the halftime you have to win the game. And that’s why have a little bit of frustration. But I told you we have to move forward and we have to think about the next season.
ON IF HE WANTS TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE GALAXY TO GET SOME FRESH PERSPECTIVE
No. No. I want to stay here. I want to play for this club. I feel good here. And when I was in Marseille it was a little bit difficult for me because I got a lot of injured. But here I feel good. I play. I score. I give assists. As I’ll say, collectively, it’s difficult. But personally, I feel very good that I’m going to stay here. I want to be here the next few years. So we’ll see.
IS IT EASIER TO TAKE MISSING OUT ON THE PLAYOFFS WITH LAFC ALSO GOING OUT EARLY IN THE PLAYOFFS.
Yeah. But they’re out too (laughing). It’s good for us. Because now we have a lot of rivalry in LA and I think we have to get better to be at the same level as LAFC. So it’s good for us. But now we see what they do – they lost against Salt Lake so they’re out. So we see next season.
ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH LA GALAXY
It’s difficult to say. Because we worked so hard this year to get into the playoffs but during the last two years, a lot of things change. It’s hard when you have a new players a new coach every year. So you don’t have the same chemistry, you know? So I think, as I said, if we keep the same team, maybe with 2 or 3 players more, we going to be better. And I can say like next year we get into the playoffs, and maybe we going to win this championship because we have the players to win this championship.
ON RUMORS OF A POSSIBLE TRADE WITH MONTREAL
I heard a little bit as rumors, you know? But I try to be focused on my team, LA Galaxy. I don’t know what the club want to do with me, but I have one year more here and I want to stay more here – maybe two/three years. But it’s not my choice, it’s the club. Me, I try to give the best I can. I’m here to give assists and score goals. Since two years I think I do a good job. But it’s not my job to decide this. I heard about that but I’m focused on my club, and I feel really good here with LA Galaxy.
SEBASTIAN LLETGET
ON THE CALL TO THE USMNT
It’s an amazing opportunity. I think it’s against two huge opponents – very respectable opponents – England, Italy. Like I said, a great opportunity for me, for the team to show what we can do and I’ve been wanting this for a long time now and last time, unfortunately, I picked up a slight injury, so I couldn’t be fully fit. But I feel great on this one and I feel even better than last time. So maybe it’s for a reason.
THE CALL-UP SORT OF COMES FULL CIRCLE WITH THAT
I was doing so well. Hopefully, I can pick up right where I left off. I haven’t seen the group yet or who got called up or not. But I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure it will be a good trip.
ON GOING INTO THE OFFSEASON WITH SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY
It’s a bit of a weird state to be in for everyone involved in the club. These last two seasons haven’t been, you know, our best. And we know it. And we need to improve in every department – players, staff. And we know we need to be better. It’s weird but hopefully everything kind of balance out the next couple months or certainly quicker than that. And we’ll see who gets the job and things like that.
ON BEING A PROFESSIONAL AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FUTURE IS LIKE
It’s just super weird, I mean, for all the players. There are players who are going to be here next year or not going to be here next year. Or players that are trying to be here next year. And you have a new coach that’s fresh and probably doesn’t know a lot of the guys, or he does but has a completely different opinion than the one that’s already here. It’s just a very weird place to be in as a player. But this is the business we’re in and we just have to deal with it. And unfortunately, we’re in this position. But saying that, I thought Dom was outstanding. And what he did in the last month and whatever happens he deserves that credit.
ON IF HE’D LIKE DOM TO BE THE HEAD COACH
Yeah. He was pretty good, man. This whole year, even as the assistant he was awesome. As a head coach, I think it all showed on the field. We all fought for him. I think it’s more on us if he doesn’t stay. It’s more on us.
- Transcription for the majority of the piece provided by Josh Guesman and Larry Morgan