CARSON, Calif. – One of LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena’s least favorite subjects is coaching comparisons, but such a topic of discussion is difficult to ignore regarding Saturday’s matchup between the five-time MLS Cup champions (6-3-8, 26 points) and Seattle Sounders (5-9-2, 17 points) at CenturyLink Field (noon, ESPN).
Arena and Schmid, two of the most successful coaches in U.S. soccer history, have combined for 423 regular-season wins, seven MLS Cups, six Supporters’ Shields, six U.S. Open Cups and eight NCAA Championships.
So it’s understandable that a little more attention than usual is being paid to who will be manning the sideline. MLSSoccer.com, in fact, has called Arena and Schmid “godfathers” in the buildup to this weekend’s match.
Arena doesn’t exactly agree with that kind of hype.
“I never look at any game as the coaches being the focal point, as a starting point,” he said. “But having said that, there can’t be a much more accomplished and deserving coach than Sigi.
“Any talk of any of that stuff to me is very foolish. Can I make that any clearer?”
If Arena doesn’t want to talk about coaching comparisons, there is plenty to discuss regarding the respective players. The Sounders, for starters, have been struggling with just one victory in their last seven games (1-5-1), but U.S. international Clint Dempsey could be making his first appearance since May 21. Rookie Jordan Morris also has a team-leading six goals.
The Galaxy, on the other hand, are coming off a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Robbie Keane returned from international duty with his fifth goal of the season and the defense will get a boost from the return of defenders Ashley Cole and Jelle Van Damme, who missed the game because of a red-card ejection and yellow-card accumulation, respectively.
Van Damme said his return to action couldn’t come soon enough.
“I get nervous watching the games,” he said. “Playing games is my habitat. That’s where I feel comfortable.”
Speaking of comfort, the Galaxy’s Steven Gerrard has been at his best since a recent move to attacking midfielder. The former Liverpool legend has seven assists – including two in Monday’s victory -- and described himself this week as a “happy footballer.”
Arena earlier this week gave his side a “B minus” for its performance in the first half of the season, and Gerrard said that must change.
“I think whatever the manager gives you, you can always push for more and rightly so,” he said. “There’s still a few gears and a few levels we can push to.
“We’re moving into a critical stage of the season. We need to keep taking maximum points. I look back on the first half of the season and see where we let too many good positions slip and dropped silly points.”
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. LA GALAXY
CenturyLink Field • Seattle, Washington
July 9, 2016 • Week 18 • MLS Game #175
12 pm PT (ESPN, MLS LIVE)
- Jordan Morris scored the sixth league goal of his rookie season, as Sounders FC answered back-to-back losses with a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC on Saturday evening. Sounders FC have one win in their last seven MLS games.
- In his return to the Galaxy lineup after missing five games to international duty, Robbie Keane netted his fifth goal of the season in his club’s 2-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Monday evening at StubHub Center. Steven Gerrard assisted on both LA goals, now with seven assists for the season.
- The teams met three times a season ago in league play, the Galaxy winning two, both matches at StubHub Center, a 1-0 win April 12 and a 3-1 win Aug. 9. The teams reached a 1-1 draw Oct. 4 at CenturyLink Field.
- Sounders FC have not won at the Galaxy since 2009, now 11 trips in league and MLS Cup play without a win.
- The teams also met in the Knockout Round in the MLS Cup Playoffs last year, Sounders FC winning 3-2 at CenturyLink Field. The teams have met four times in the last six seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs; last year’s victory was the first time Sounders FC have advanced.
