CARSON, Calif. – A.J. DeLaGarza may not have been called up for the U.S. national team’s World Cup Qualifier against Honduras, but the LA Galaxy centerback is making the most of his opportunities at the club level.
DeLaGarza started Tuesday’s 3-0 preseason victory over the USL Pro’s Los Angeles Blues and went a total of 60 minutes in the win. During the match, DeLaGarza provided a vocal presence in the back alongside Tommy Meyer in the first and Leonardo in the second as he organized a Galaxy back four that overpowered the third division side’s offense.
After the club's well-documented disappointing start to the season in 2012, DeLaGarza admits that there is “a lot of improvement from last year already” in just two preseason matches.
But how does the defender feel about his own level since returning from International duty?
“I feel good,” DeLaGarza told reporters on Tuesday. “My confidence was high in camp and I thought I did pretty well. To not get called in, [for the Honduras World Cup Qualifier] obviously, my confidence was a little down, but now I’m back here and I’m making the most of my opportunity. I’m trying to get back in where I was fitness wise like everyone else.”
