LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 12, 2021

Sebastien Ibeagha

Press Conference

Los Angeles FC 3, Real Salt Lake 2.

Q. You made your first two starts for LAFC in the last two games which resulted in two wins. Can you talk about how that's been for you?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: It's been good. I mean, obviously every time you play, you want to win. So I think we've had two really, really good performances and we were able to get six points out of these past two weeks, and so for me it's just about kind of keep pushing, keep pushing the guys, keep pushing the team as a whole, and just kind of push for that playoff spot.

Q. How settled do you feel now with the team?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: Really settled. When I came in, the first week was pretty easy kind of meshing with the guys and settling in, and then being able to come in in a couple games, the Atlanta game, and then I think two games after that, I can't remember which game that was, and then the L.A. game as well, it was good.

I mean, I feel really comfortable with the group. I feel really comfortable at the position that Bob has me playing, and you know, communicating whether it's Latif or Moon, and then Muri and Fall to my left, it's been an easy fit and I feel pretty comfortable.

Q. What have you seen from the team in terms of the grind and the mentality to come out on top, especially in this past couple games?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: Well, I think -- I mean, our team is attacking, is always going to create chances.

So I think one of the things was just us realizing that that's going to happen, being patient, and just making sure we concede less goals. That's kind of the biggest thing I think that we've done is having the confidence in our squad, and knowing that we will create those chances. And all we have to do is limit other teams to their chances, and we'll be good and just kind of flipping that switch and just, I guess, grinding out games like this one.

Q. Along those lines what have you been able to share with the team of your experience; this is also a really young group, but the grind in games like this, where before results would go out the window and being able to secure that and get the points?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: Yeah, Bob talks about it a lot. It's just about being checked in the whole 90, and limiting those seconds or I guess decisive seconds where something can go wrong.

And so I think that's just the biggest thing is making sure that everyone on this team is clued in, checked in at all times, and just kind of being confident in themselves.

Like I said, this is a really, really good team and great players and they are all pretty young and that's the biggest thing is making sure that the little things are going right.

Q. Another important win against a direct opponent from the Western Conference. What will that mean for you guys at this moment in the season moving forward?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: It's great. It's another stepping stone. We're still not there. We're still one spot out of the playoff race. Just a steppingstone, and we're trying to push this streak and go into the playoffs with a streak. So it's a great win, but we still have a lot of work to do.

Q. Could you talk about the last push? Bob talked about the frantic feel of the games going back and forth at the end of the season, and can you talk about what to expect over the last 11 games in terms of that?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: Yeah, I think there's going to be some sort of, you know, like you said, that crazy, wild feeling aspect of games, just because especially teams who are trying to get into playoffs.

So I think for us with the quality we have on the squad, it's about in those moments, being composed and being calm and letting our football kind of shine in a way.

I think that's the biggest part because like I said earlier, this team is really, really talented and if we are able to quiet down all the noise, I think we can be really, really successful.

Q. In these last three matches, seven points out of nine, a winless streak of eight matches, can things change that fast? Can the mood in the locker room change? Can you forget the troubles and all that has disappeared and you're moving forward you? What's the mental stitch you guys are working on?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: I wouldn't say you forget because obviously if you get too complacent, a loss here can lead to another loss.

It's obviously understanding what we were feeling then, understanding how much that hurt, and then pushing on to these other games and understanding that -- no one wants to lose at the end of the day, but it's more about pushing forward and pushing together collectively and that's kind of the big thing is all of us collectively doing it. You know, not being individuals and trying to get big team wins and stuff like that.

Q. Four of the last 11 are here in L.A. which means you're on the road for seven. What does that do for you just in terms of the challenges you guys face, how much more difficult is it?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: It makes it difficult. But I mean, I think like I said, again, this team is talented, and I believe that if -- again, that's part of the noise I talk about. If we are able to quiet all that noise and just play the way we know how to play, I think we can be successful, and being away doesn't change too much.

Q. Congratulations on the win. You already mentioned earlier that LAFC is a really offensive team in. That sense, you as a defender, what are the things that Bob asks you to do?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: I think the biggest thing is just win your moments. There are certain moments in games where you have to make a play and that's kind of what he tasked us to do.

You know, there are certain elements to the game, whether it's offensive marking and stuff like that, that we -- me, Muri and Fall have to look at and make sure we're organized and make sure we, I guess, try to preserve zero, try to get a shutout because we know at the end of the day we will get chances and we know that goals will come.

Q. How is the chemistry going with Murillo? There is obviously a language barrier but soccer language is universal. How is it going?

SEBASTIEN IBEAGHA: It's going good. We talk a lot. I don't know how much of it gets understood. But no, I mean, at the end of the day we can talk and we understand the game. So it's pretty easy to in certain scenarios to talk it out and figure out what each of us are saying.

The chemistry is good, and Fall, as well. I think we mesh really well, and we are able to look at certain situations on the field and kind of just react with what each other does. It's been really good and been pretty easy to fit in there with them.