CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Galaxy open the 2015 MLS regular season on Friday, and will do so with a near clean bill of health.
First team regulars A.J. DeLaGarza, Baggio Husidic, Jaime Penedo and Gyasi Zardes as well as trialist Edson Buddle missed out on the Galaxy's final preseason game of 2015 on Saturday, but Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena says that the team will be close to full health when they open the season on Friday against the Chicago Fire.
"I think that we're in good shape heading into the first game. We've been very conservative with our players this preseason. Given that we had such a long year last year, we didn't want to kill anybody. We're just taking it in stride. We'll be fine... They're all here training."
TIME TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE FOR THE CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SAYS ARENA
The Galaxy will not begin their CONCACAF Champions League campaign for nearly five months, but Bruce Arena says that the club will do their best to win the continental tournament.
Currently, MLS entrants D.C. United and the Montreal Impact are long shots to reach the semifinals of the now rebranded Scotia Bank CONCACAF Champions League which may force MLS to wait another year for the a team to challenge for the regional championship. During the 2015-16 tournament, the Galaxy will be joined by D.C. United, Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC who will attempt to become the first team to win the title.
Winning the Champions League has been a tall order for MLS clubs, and according to Arena, it will continue to be a challenge for MLS teams if the schedule remains the same.
“We want to win it,” said Arena. “Unfortunately for our league, it’s not fair for our teams to play this competition in February. We’re put behind the eight ball right away. It’s the job of U.S. Soccer and MLS to work with CONCACAF and provide some dates that allow us to be more competitive in the competition.
BRUCE ARENA TELLS MLS TO "BRING IT ON" AS LA LOOK TO REPEAT
The LA Galaxy will begin their MLS regular season campaign on Friday with 19 teams gunning to take away their title as MLS Cup champions. Typically that places a bulls-eye on the winning team, but that's of little matter to Bruce Arena.
When asked on Monday if the Galaxy will face considerable pressure this season to repeat as champions, the LA head coach and general manager responded in his typically glib manner.
"Yeah, bring it on. Whatever. I think that's what I signed up for," Arena said.
Even if the Galaxy will head into the season as the favorites to repeat as MLS Cup champions, Arena is eager to get the season started.
"We don't need anymore preseason," Arena said. "I'm sick of it. I'd rather be criticized right away."
