CARSON, Calif. – Last season, the LA Galaxy dominated the MLS Regular Season en route to the Supporters’ Shield title and then eventually cut through the MLS Cup Playoffs to win the 2011 MLS Cup.
With potentially just 90 minutes remaining in their season, the LA Galaxy agree that without a title their season cannot be judged as a success. Currently down 1-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes heading into the Western Conference Semifinal Second Leg, the Galaxy need to win to force extratime and potentially penalties.
Only if LA can beat San Jose by more than two goals, then the Galaxy will advance to the Western Conference Championship for the fourth straight season. A loss or tie and the Galaxy will head home.
Below head coach Bruce Arena, midfielder David Beckham, and Landon Donovan state that LA’s season can only be judged a success is if the Galaxy win the title.
ARENA: “I don’t mind judging our team that way. That means that we’ve built a good team and have high expectation so when you fall short of a championship then it’s disappointing. I don’t mind living with that as opposed to the other way and never being in position to succeed in anything. I think that’s okay. That’s what sport is and we don’t mind the pressure of trying to be a champion.”
BECKHAM: “there’s no season that can be a success if you don’t win any silverware at the end of it. We enjoyed that, we had a taste of it last season, we loved it. Of course, any season without a championship is unsuccessful.”
DONOVAN: “For this team yeah. There’s a lot invested in this team, both financially and otherwise. We get great support and there’s high expectations and that’s part of it. For us, the goal is to win a championship and we got a big hurdle on Wednesday, but we think that we can do it.
