CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy are in mourning after the loss of A.J. DeLaGarza's newborn son and club president Chris Klein insists that the team will continue to support him and his family in their time of need.
Klein spoke to reporters ahead of the Galaxy's match with the Colorado Rapids on the ways in which the team was honoring Luca.
(On when A.J. will return to the field...)
KLEIN: It’s entirely up to him, kind of the speed with what he does. Bruce has been great with him and defers to him with whatever he’s comfortable doing.
(On how A.J. is doing...)
KLEIN: I don’t know that I could put myself in his shoes. And know what it is that he and Megan were going through and have been going through, not only last week but the last couple months. AJ is a very tough kid, but you can’t prepare yourself for going through something like this. All we could do is come around him as his extended family and support him as best as we could.
AJ was at training this week, through this has been a release for him to come and be around the guys. This week, we’ve had people talking to him consistently.
(On Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni wearing the armband...)
KLEIN: It’s not only Pablo but to see the support from players, from teams in our sport and other sports to se the reaction and how other people set everything else aside and come to the support of one family. It’s been incredible. I don’t know that AJ has seen all of it, but even to sit and look at it all has been something pretty cool. Pablo is part of our family as well, and AJ is someone that everyone likes. To have that is pretty amazing.
(On if the match is an emotional one...)
KLEIN: It is. Anytime you have a teammate that’s going through something it’s emotional, but to have someone like AJ who has been a part of us for so long and to have this group that’s so close is something you can’t describe. The guys are going to be emotional. You saw last week and I think you’ll see it again tonight.
(On the plan to honor DeLaGarza with cheers at the 20 minute mark...)
KLEIN: whose idea I don’t know. It is cool. Things just started to come out. We don’t have the right words to say, but anything we can do that our supporters and fans can do to support AJ and his family.
