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...
difficult field players points saw season starting teams three
It was a very difficult game. I think you could see that the two teams were very tired. You can see that the season is starting to take its toll. But it was important for us to get the three points and this is why you saw the players that we put on the field for the most part that will be the same look on Wednesday.
allowed champions god national ourselves players prepare team thank
Something has to be done where the champions of MLS are allowed to prepare more effectively. We put ourselves at a disadvantage right from the get-go. Thank God we have players who have been with the national team who are now fit.
boost chris couple difference early goal opportunity
A couple of opportunities early in the game, I think that would have made a difference for us. I think Chris Albright's opportunity which Garlick saves, psychologically was a big boost for them, and then for us to take the own goal in the first half.
ability form gain leading looking night wednesday winning
This is a part of that. Our ability to play well Wednesday night is not only important to winning a cup, but also to gain that form that we're looking for leading into the playoffs. It's part of the process, and it's very important to us.
energy level playing raise results successful teams tough year
For us to be successful we have to play with much better energy. Teams are playing us tough and for us to get any results this year we're going to have to raise our level significantly.
becomes colleagues goes objective
competitiveness becomes the first objective and being colleagues goes out the window.
certainly game handle opening saturday
Certainly the opening game on Saturday is going to be very emotional. How we handle that is going to be very important.
challenges friends-or-friendship good growth job last mutual poker respect seen soccer sunday understand understood
It's not as if we're friends that play poker every Sunday night, ... We're colleagues, and there's mutual respect there. Certainly, he understood the challenges of the '98 team; I understand the challenges that he's had and what a good job he's done with the team. The growth that soccer has seen over the last 10 years - he's been a big part of that. We don't have any problems.
afford against careful eliminate errors far free giving kinds san silly team
You can't afford to give up so many of those kinds of opportunities. You have to eliminate the unforced errors and the silly fouls. You have to be very, very careful against a team like San Jose as far as giving away too many opportunities where they can set up free kicks. They're used to this field. They know how to use it.
ability absolutely attack beautiful continue football middle necessary repeat series type work
There was one series (on Saturday) that was absolutely beautiful one-touch soccer. That's the type of football that I want to play. It's necessary that we have the ability to attack in the middle channel, that we have the ability to attack on the flanks. So yes, we continue to work on varying the way we attack. That's the only way we're going to repeat as champions.
coach consistency consistent difficult enjoyable final league national players rely sacrifices team
It's going to be enjoyable to have everyone here for the most part so I can rely on some consistent players, ... I'm not going to use it as an excuse, players going in and out of their national team, but I think any coach would like consistency and it has been difficult but everyone's making sacrifices around the league and now we should have our team in place in preparation for these final matches.
deal hope leave stay together
I hope we can leave all together tonight, with Hamilton's remains, but if I have to stay here to deal with this matter, then I will.
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.
chances defense gave pleased result second team tidy work
I'm disappointed at some of the chances we gave in the second half. These are the things we have to tidy up, ... Don't get me wrong. I'm very pleased with the result but we have to play better team defense going up and that's something we're going to work on.