Against the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, the LA Galaxy enjoyed several good moments, but also a couple moments that were not as good as LA played to a 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Throughout Sunday's clash against San Jose, LA's defense did well to limit San Jose's wide play as well as their reliance on second balls, which have been an important part to the club's success this season. However, on San Jose's two goals-- both of which came on set pieces --the Galaxy defenders admitted that their marking could have been much cleaner. With Sunday's match against Seattle Sounders FC serving as the final tune up ahead of next Thursday's Western Conference Knockout Round against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, defender Omar Gonzalez believes that LA's must iron out any kinks as soon as possible.
“I think from here on out it’s just about worrying about ourselves and the way we show up to games and how we start halves. Last game we started the game very well, but then second half we didn’t start so well. I think there’s just crucial moments in the game where we have to have our heads right," said Gonzalez. "And that’s beginning of games, the beginning of the second half, every time there’s some kind of stoppage just be focused and be mentally prepared to make plays. I think if we worry about ourselves and how we go into the game and how we’re going to play, it’s going to be really hard for teams to beat us.”
(On preparing for a game where the result doesn’t have an impact...)
GONZALEZ: “I think first and foremost you never want to go out with that kind of mindset. You always want to go out to win a game and to put your best effort out there. So for us it’s all about fine-tuning things that we need to right before Thursday’s game. It’s a crucial game, because it’s getting close and after Sunday’s game it’s going to be a brand new season, the postseason, playoffs start and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
