CARSON, Calif. – It has not been the best of weeks for LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena.
Not only did midfielder Nigel de Jong abruptly part ways with the five-time MLS Cup champions to ply his trade in Turkey, but midfielder Steven Gerrard was sidelined with a hamstring injury, forward Gyasi Zardes was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season with a broken foot and center back Jelle Van Damme was ruled out for at least two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
The latter injury is a particularly painful one for a Galaxy defense that has allowed only 26 goals, second in MLS to Colorado’s 22.
Arena, however, was confident his roster can withstand the sudden upheaval, although it apparently has taken a toll.
“It’s been an awkward year with all of this stuff,” he told reporters this week. “We haven’t been able to wrestle to a point where we’ve got the whole team on the field. We just haven’t been able to do it for a variety of reasons.
“That’s why we build a roster. We build a roster to deal with adversity and injuries. That’s what we’re doing.”
In the case of Van Damme, Arena does have his share of capable replacements. One is veteran A.J. DeLaGarza, who has started at center back five times across all competitions this season but mostly has played at right back.
But now that Robbie Rogers has returned from ankle surgery, DeLaGarza could move into the middle again because his experience and savvy are so badly needed.
There is also Leonardo, who made his first start last Saturday against Vancouver since July 4 against the same Whitecaps. Leonardo has made just three starts but said he feels ready to answer the call if he gets it.
“I just have to keep working,” said Leonardo, who has missed a great deal of time while recovering from a sixth surgery on his right knee in February. He suffered a potentially career-threatening injury to the same knee in April of 2011. “I think I’m going to get more opportunities with guys hurt.”
Leonardo, voted last season’s Galaxy Defender of the Year by the media, also suffered a quadricep injury in a U.S. Open Cup match against La Maquina on June 14, but he was confident any health issues were well behind him.
“I have no problems,” he said. “I feel good. I have to work every day and be ready for the chance, not just with my body but my head, too. My confidence and fitness will help me.”
Another candidate for central defense is David Romney, who has started four games at center back and eight times at left back. The former Galaxy II standout said he’s ready to play anywhere on the defensive front if Arena looks his way.
“I’ll play anything,” he said. “There’s nothing better than getting minutes.”
Romney admitted Van Damme will be difficult to replace.
“He’s been a really strong player for us this year,” he said. “The guy’s been easy to follow in the locker room and he brings a really good attitude.
“It’s easy to follow someone that passionate about our team, the game and battling as hard as he can every game. It’s easy to look up to someone like that, but to step into his shoes is difficult.”
