CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said he is optimistic about the five-time MLS Cup champions, but he also confessed he will have a better read on his team in a couple of months.
Unfortunately he doesn’t have the luxury of waiting that long, since the Galaxy open the regular season Sunday at StubHub Center against D.C. United (7 p.m., UniMas).
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“The feel I have right now is it’s going to be a good team,” Arena said.
“It’s just going to take time. We have to start playing games now and see what we’re about.
“We have the makings of a good team.”
The Galaxy ended the 2015 season in dubious fashion by allowing 14 goals in their last seven regular-season games and then were eliminated in the knockout round of the MLS Cup playoffs. Arena vowed to make changes and outdid himself with the acquisition of nine new players, including highly regarded internationals such as left back Ashley Cole, midfielder Nigel de Jong and center back Jelle Van Damme. He also brought in veteran goalkeeper Dan Kennedy in a trade with FC Dallas.
Early results have been mixed, including a 4-0 loss to Mexican side Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. But players weren’t about to sound any alarms.
“I feel like we’ve put in a lot of good work,” Kennedy said. “It’s preseason and we’re ready to go.”
“I think we’re OK,” said Robbie Keane, who is coming off a year in which he scored a career-high 20 goals. “Obviously you take away the Santos game and I certainly think that as a group everyone’s ready now. Our season really starts now on Sunday, so we’re ready as we can be.
“The preseason has gone well and I think everybody is looking forward to the MLS season to start.”
The Galaxy, who finished 14-11-9 last season, including 12-2-3 at home, will be facing a D.C. United team that also were bounced out of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals (by Queretaro) and were 15-13-6 a year ago. But United also were just 4-10-3 on the road, including a 2-9-3 record in their last 14 games away from home. United scored just six goals during that stretch, finished with a league-low nine road goals and haven’t won in Carson since 2005, a span of 10 matches.
The Galaxy, however, aren’t concerned so much with United as they are with their team chemistry. Almost to a player, they agree it will take time to mesh so many new personalities. But they are hopeful that will be accomplished sooner rather than later.
“It will take time,” said midfielder Steven Gerrard, who turns 36 in late May and could be playing in the final season of his storied career.
“Especially for the European guys coming into a new environment, new players, new staff, new way of playing.
“That’s why things in preseason are never smooth. It’s always up and down. We don’t want to use that as an excuse; we want to get off to a flying start.”
Keane said he likes the makeup of this year’s squad and was not surprised at the number of changes in personnel.
“When you perform as you did, normally on any team regardless of who you are, there are always going to be changes,” he said. “We made the changes and I think the players we brought in … we brought back Mikey (Magee), Dan Kennedy’s an experienced player, Van Damme, Ashley, top, top players … certainly if you look on paper we’re a very strong team.
“I’m sure you’ll see an exciting Galaxy team this year.”
LA GALAXY vs. D.C. UNITED
STUBHUB CENTER, Carson, Calif.
March 6, 2016 (WEEK 1, MLS Game #10)
7 PM PT (UniMás)
One of the longest running rivalries in all of Major League Soccer is renewed to open the 2016 season when the LA Galaxy play host to D.C. United at StubHub Center on Sunday evening. The Galaxy again reached the MLS Cup Playoffs – a seventh consecutive year – in 2015, but fell in the Knockout Round after winning the league title three of the previous four seasons. United also reached the postseason for a second consecutive year, but were knocked out in the quarterfinals following a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
- Both clubs face the second legs of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series before meeting in the MLS season opener. The Galaxy travel to Torreón, Mexico for their second leg, after playing to a scoreless draw in the opener last week at StubHub Center.
- United must overcome a two-goal deficit in their second leg on Tuesday if they are to advance, falling to a pair of late goals in a 2-0 defeat by Queretaro FC in Mexico last week.
- D.C. United won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 victory March 28 at RFK Stadium, ending a 10-game Galaxy undefeated streak in the all-time series. The Galaxy had won five of the matches in between, with five draws, dating back to 2008.
- The Galaxy have a 10-year, eight-match home undefeated streak alive vs. United. D.C.’s last victory vs. the Galaxy in Carson came July 23, 2005, a 2-1 triumph.
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REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Hanson; 4th: David Gantar
MLS Career: 276 games; FC/gm: 25.5; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 69; pens: 71
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (42 meetings): Galaxy 19 wins (0 shootout), 67 goals … United 14 wins (1 shootout), 53 goals … Ties 9
AT LA (20 meetings): Galaxy 10 wins (0 shootout), 31 goals … United 5 wins (1 shootout), 19 goals … Ties 5
LAST YEAR (MLS)
3/28: DC 1, LA 0 (Pontius 93+)
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- D.C. United won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 victory March 28 at RFK Stadium, ending a 10-game Galaxy undefeated streak in the all-time series. The Galaxy had won five of the matches in between, with five draws, dating back to 2008.
- The Galaxy have a 10-year, eight-match home undefeated streak alive vs. United. D.C.’s last victory vs. the Galaxy in Carson came July 23, 2005, a 2-1 triumph.
- Coaches record: Ben Olsen vs. LA: P7 W1 L3 D3 … Bruce Arena vs. DC: P16 W6 L4 D6
