PORTLAND, Ore.— The LA Galaxy remain in Portland ahead of their game on Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps, taking part in a 90 minute training session on Monday at the University of Portland.
A few notes from training:
- Pat Noonan participated in his second day of full training on Monday. The forward is currently listed as questionable due to a right quad strain. Noonan appeared fit and even scored a goal off a backheel towards the end of training.
- Omar Gonzalez also trained fully, looking quite spry during a short-sided game. More on him here
- Brian Rowe also had his second full training session with the club.
- The club's training session at Portland's Merlo Field was attended by 150 members of a local youth soccer camp.
Following training, I caught up with head coach Bruce Arena to discuss the preparations leading up to the match against Vancouver.
(On preparations for Vancovuer…)
ARENA: “We know Vancouver has been a team that’s had a quality and consistent year. They’re going through a rough stretch with a couple losses on the road, which is natural in the league, but at home they’re doing very well. It’s going to add up to be a big game especially with the fact that we’re so close to each other now in the conference standings.
They’ve got a good team, they’ve had a few changes as of late, bringing in Dane Richards and their designated player Robson so they’re finding each other a little more now and it’ll be a tough game. Our focus right now is just getting our guys recovered from the game on Saturday and beginning the preparations for Vancouver tomorrow”
(On Vancouver’s rookie forward Darren Mattocks…)
“He’s had a very good year; he’s an explosive player that’s scored goals. He’s explosive and certainly a threat to get back behind the defense.”
