CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy may appear to be emphasizing experience in their off-season retooling of the roster, but their younger players aren’t exactly planning to stand idly by.
Take Jose Villarreal, for example. The 22-year-old native of Inglewood stated his case for more playing time by scoring both of his team’s goals in Saturday’s 2-1 preseason victory over Armenian side FC Shirak in front of a crowd of 11,013 at StubHub Center
Not that Arena needed to take notice again of the 5-foot-8, 160-pounder who is entering his fifth season with Los Angeles and always has been regarded as one of the club’s brightest prospects. But last year was a forgettable one for the forward and featured only two goals and four assists in just nine starts because of a series of hamstring and knee injuries.
Villarreal said he’s already moved on from that disappointment.
“That year is past,” he said. “This is a fresh year. I don’t think about what happened last year. I’m just trying to do what’s best for the team this year and whatever I can do to help I’ll do it.”
Villarreal, one of a number of second-half substitutes Saturday, gave the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute when he redirected a crossing pass from Oscar Sorto right in front of the Shirak net. He put the Galaxy ahead to stay in the 80th minute with another point-blank effort after a pass from Raul Mendiola.
Arena understandably liked what he saw on those plays.
“Two good goals, no question about that,” he said. “You could see his fitness has to get a little better; that’s always a challenge for Jose.
“He’s a good player, a player we think has a future with the Galaxy. We keep pushing him every year to get him a little bit better. Last year was a difficult year for him. He started off well and just suffered a series of injuries that kind of put him out last year.
“We’re hopeful he can stay healthy and get some experience this year.”
Villarreal, who originally signed with the Galaxy as a Homegrown Player on Dec. 22, 2011 and returned to LA in August of 2014 after a stint with Mexican side Cruz Azul, said he feels healthy despite it being so early in the preseason. He also downplayed any thought that his two goals helped reinforce his standing on a team in which minutes may be hard to come by this season.
“That’s not on my mind,” he said. “The most important thing for me, and for the group in the second half, was to play well and show what we can do. Obviously if that means coming off the bench or a starting role in the future so they know we can step up and play.
“The team did well and made me look even better. I just want to work hard every day and get starting minutes or off the bench.”