The LA Galaxy will get their first taste of action on their European Tour on Monday when they take on Swedish club Hammarby in the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm at 11:30 a.m. PT (7:30 p.m. local time).
Hammarby enter 2015 on a high after achieving promotion to the Allsvenskan after five difficult seasons in the Swedish second division. The club’s promotion in 2014 also ensured that the club will have the honor of playing their centennial season fighting for the Swedish first division crown.
“It’ll be a good game and a tough match for us,” Galaxy captain Robbie Keane said after the team’s training session in Dublin earlier in the week. “These are two good teams and it’ll be nice for some of the guys to get over and play again.”
Added Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, “This is one of the games you want to do well in. You can measure yourself against a good team that just got promoted and is looking to have a great season themselves. It’s always fun to play teams from other countries to see where you’re at.”
The match will be a homecoming of sorts for LA’s Stefan Ishizaki, a native of Stockholm and midfielder Baggio Husidic who played for the Bajen from 2012 to 2013.
Although Ishizaki is returning to his hometown, he wishes he could have more time in the Swedish capital.
“We won't have any time to do anything, really,” said Ishizaki. “Just ‘this is the airport and this is where you get your tax-free money back.’”
Even though the club’s time in Stockholm is a short one, Gonzalez is looking forward to his brief sojourn.
“The excitement is all there from us,” said Gonzalez. "Everyone is ready to take in the city, take in the sights, and get ready for a great match against Hammarby.”
While the Galaxy are no doubt heading to Stockholm with hopes of victory, for their captain, the emphasis is not on winning, but on getting a good test under their belt ahead of the MLS regular season opener.
“You want to win every game that you play in, but the most important thing is the fitness,” said Keane. “The sixth of March is the most important thing as long as the players push themselves and know that come the game against Chicago that everyone is ready to go.
“I wouldn’t be worried too much about results at this stage anyway. The most important thing is fitness.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
