CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy will take on K-League side Gangwon FC on Saturday in their fifth preseason match and final tune-up before taking on Club Tijuana on Feb. 19 at The Home Depot Center.
After limiting most players to 45 minutes stints during their previous preseason matches, head coach Bruce Arena promised additional minutes for starters against the K-League side.
“It’s another competition in the preseason, but as we get closer to March 3, they become more important. Tomorrow, we’ll try to give some extended minutes to some players and hopefully get them ready for [the season opener]. It’ll be important for building our team, individual fitness and tactical preparation for the opening game.”
A few other notes from Friday’s training session…
The Brazilian duo of Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas manned central midfield in LA’s scrimmage against UCLA and are once again expected to fill the starting lineup on Saturday and going forward this season. On Friday, Sarvas admitted that while LA’s tactics have not changed for 2013, the players must learn to play with one another again: “It is the same system, but we have different players who have different skills so we have to get to know each other. We have to figure out how to learn to play together and those are things that we’re doing well this preseason.”
Sarvas also offered his thoughts on LA’s pair of Brazilian trialists: “I just met them here. They’re young guys and I hope that they can make a good impression.”
*The biggest news of the day was the announcement by Robbie Rogers, who revealed that he is gay and is stepping away from soccer at the age of 25. Two of his former teammates A.J. DeLaGarza—Rogers’ teammate with Maryland—and Brian Perk – Rogers' teammate at the U.S. youth ranks — offered their thoughts and support to the Southern California native.
