CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy resumed training Thursday, but coach Bruce Arena did not have much to divulge on absent starters Juan Pablo Angel, Omar Gonzalez and Donovan Ricketts. The three first-choice players were not in the lineup on Tuesday when the Galaxy opened the season at Seattle.
Galaxy players were back at The Home Depot Center on Thursday, but most of the regulars did not train on the field. Arena, though, said the three players were moving in the right direction.
"They're making progress," Arena told MLSsoccer.com. "We haven't made any decisions on them, but they're making progress."
Ricketts initially suffered a hamstring injury in the Galaxy's friendly against Club Tijuana in San Diego and is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's home opener against New England. Ángel (illness) and Gonzalez (shoulder) are listed as probable on the injury report.
"It was a little more last-minute," Arena said. "The only one we were aware that was a possibility some weeks ago was Donovan Ricketts. Juan and Omar were last-minute kinds of decisions."
Even without the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, a finalist for Defender of the Year and a striker who has scored 58 goals in the last four seasons, the Galaxy fared well in Seattle as the club's quest for an MLS championship began with a 1-0 win in the Emerald City.
Josh Saunders made six saves, including a stop of Fredy Montero from point-blank range, while A.J. DeLaGarza and Mike Magee also earned starts.
Dealing with missing players is part and parcel for any club.
"That's all part of it for every team. We'd love to have everybody healthy but that's never going to be the case. We just happened to start the season missing a couple of players," Arena said. "You can't panic over it. It's all part of the game and we're going to experience that throughout the year. It's not the worst thing to have to experience it in the early going and see how our team reacts to it."
On Sunday, March 20, the Galaxy will host the New England Revolution in their home opener, presented by Pechanga Resort & Casino, at 5 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. The first 15,000 fans will receive 2011 magnet schedules. Tickets are available for that match, starting at $25. BUY NOW
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