Steve Sampson
Steve Sampson
Steve Sampsonis a soccer coach, currently of the men's soccer program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is also the former head coach of both the United States men's national team and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. By the media, he is nicknamed Uncle Sam...
goal koreans obviously touch trying
Obviously (Lee) is an exceptional player. It was pretty obvious to me that the Koreans were trying to find him. The first touch that he made on the first goal was in my estimation brilliant.
ancient decade far france half history moved
Let's put it this way France '98 was half a decade ago - it's ancient history as far as I'm concerned. I've moved on.
against days exactly great koreans opportunity playing speed team technical test time training work
We've been in training for 12 days now and we're playing against a team that's very experienced. This is an opportunity to see where we're at. The technical speed of the Koreans will be more than we'll see at any other time of the year. It will be a great test for us and we'll be able to take from this exactly what we need to work on.
ahead beat difficult early further given great last league matches playing quickly team time work year
Playing matches like this is great preparation for us. We know very quickly the things we need to work on. We're much further ahead this year at this time than we were last year, but we had to be, given the early competition. I like most of what I see with my team and I think we're going to be very difficult to beat in league play.
challenge challenges club meet physical players travel
Our players have had the challenge of, like every other club in the country, to meet the physical challenges of travel and on many occasions, Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday games,
defense game holding leaving left loss lost marshall middle quite tyrone
I thought that Tyrone Marshall leaving the game was a big loss for us because I think he was holding the middle of the defense quite well for us. When he left we lost the middle of the defense.
ceremony couple created emotion evaluate game hopefully minutes played quite stepped
I thought that the first 20-25 minutes of the game we played quite well. We created a couple opportunities. If we put one of those away it's a different game. I think the emotion of the match, and all the pre-game ceremony before we stepped on the pitch, hopefully wasn't that much of a distraction but in the end I think we'll evaluate that it was.
along england further last time year
I think we're further along this time of year than we were last year at the same time. We also know that New England and Chicago, our first two matches, are going to be tough.
attention details last midway paying
I think we're concentrating more. I think we're paying attention to details a lot better than we did midway through last season.
against atmosphere competition decide difficult expect good job league letting ourselves players prepare teams together union wants win
I think we have to do a better job of letting our teams prepare for this event. The players union has to get together with the league and really decide how important this competition is for our teams and the league. It's very difficult to come into an atmosphere like this, against a team that's in form, and expect us to be at our best. Our league wants to win CONCACAF championships, and we're good enough. We have to give ourselves a better chance.
close felt greater measure meet needs normally scoring since small team tonight urgency win
I think we're very close to being very good, but that small measure comes in the way of scoring goals, and we have to get better. Normally I don't meet with the team (after a game). I felt that tonight it warranted it. There needs to be a much greater since of urgency to get the win and I felt there wasn't enough urgency out there.
environment fare field guys ideal league rise stars step time
I think American players, of this league especially, a league on the rise -- any time these guys can get on the field and play international competition, they fare well. I think our all stars are going to do very well. Unfortunately it is not the most ideal preparation, but once they get on the field and see the environment I think they will step up and play respectfully.
best escaped fans field giving good happy importance longer man money playing product relates single win
It is not good enough any longer just to win championships. We want to put out a product on that field where every single day our fans feel like we're giving the very best possible. It has not escaped me, the importance of us playing well and how it relates to making money for this club. I'm not a happy man when we're not consistent.
again match necessary prepare solutions stretch
It is not only an important match, points-wise, but also it is an important match to once again find the solutions necessary for us to play well going down the stretch and prepare for Wednesday,