CARSON, Calif. – Jelle Van Damme will be playing the LA Galaxy’s Western Conference Semifinal second leg against the Colorado Rapids under yellow card watch, but don’t expect the big boisterous Belgian to rein in his trademark aggressiveness on Sunday.
The 33-year-old central defender heads into the Galaxy’s second leg under threat of yellow card accumulation after picking up a caution during the Galaxy’s 1-0 win over the Rapids last weekend.
The occurrence is nothing new for Van Damme who is no stranger to playing under the specter of a potential suspension. The Belgian center back earned nine yellow cards this season and was twice suspended for yellow card accumulation.
Although another yellow card on Sunday will see him ruled out of a potential Conference Championship first leg, Van Damme won’t let the threat of a suspension deter his hard-charging playing style.
“I don’t think that you have to think about it too much. I remember the games that I did, it was in my head, and I didn’t have the best games,” Van Damme told LA Galaxy Insider. “I think me as a player, my head needs to be clear and not focused on not taking a yellow card because eventually, you’ll take one or you won’t be 100 percent, and in a 1v1, I need to be able to go 100 percent. Worst case scenario, I’ll take a second yellow if I have to, and it’s up to other players to step up.”
