It was good for him to get minutes and he did well.
He spent many years in Spain, and his style of play is similar to mine, and I like that a lot. We understand each other well.
--On what it took to bring Gio in.
We feel great about the opportunity that we can provide to a player. We’re thankful that we have a club that has history, with good people involved from top to bottom. We want a certain type of player to be in our club. We have a list that we always come back to. We evaluate a number of different options and where that player is at in his career and what the cost is going to be. Gio’s name kept popping up at the top of the list. We’re thankful that we got the deal done. It was the right time for him and the right time for us.
--Does Gio signing combat retirement stereotype of MLS?
We’ve got players like Gyasi, players like Omar, players like Jose, Landon, the list goes on and on. The fact that Gerrard is here and that Keane keeps playing at 35 - they could play on a number of different teams around the world still. 1,2 players doesn’t make it a retirement league.
--Did LD retirement push Gio chase?
We look at our team as a whole.
I think the travel is a big part. You’re playing 100 percent humidity in Houston, altitude in Colorado, That’s a big adjustment. The style of play and the way that they’re playing is a little bit different than it is in Spain. It would be more spacier, a little slower pace, but he’s getting adjusted to playing with these players as well. It’s a little bit different.
He’s arrived, he played his first game, scored his first goal. That's the main piece. After that, there’s the travel. He’s in a great group here. So he has a lot of the tools here and a good environment.
When you look at different DPs and who can make an impact here, not just playing on the field, a DP for the Galaxy isn’t going to be the same as for any other club. He’s one that checks every box. It was no question that he was one of the top players we could get.
--On making Gio feel comfortable on the team.
I’ve just tried to be myself. That’s who I’ve been all along and I’m still that person. I’m trying to be a leader, the most I can, even to a young star like Gio. I just try to be myself, not look at them as the stars they are, but as teammates. I hope that’s refreshing for them in a way. We’ve had instant connection. He likes to laugh and smile and so do I. Anybody like that, I’m going to connect with right away. It’s been good so far.
We just joke around, laugh and smile.
Very eager. It’s been a long year. We had all this anticipation waiting for Gerrard, and Gio and then Keane was out a while, too. Finally, for them all to be here. We grinded it out earlier this year - we battled. Now it’s time to have a little bit of fun with everybody available and see what we can do. We’re just as curious as everybody else to see how it’s going to all play out and work hard and we’re anxious to see where it can all go.
I don’t think it’s all going to be supersmooth. I’m ready to lace them up and work hard.