It's no secret that Edson Buddle will be joining the LA Galaxy, but LA boss Bruce Arena expects the veteran forward to contribute in the upcoming season.
Arena revealed on Monday that the Galaxy will be signing the forward before the end of week after a successful preseason training stint with the club. Buddle will look to return to form with the Galaxy after two difficult seasons with the Colorado Rapids, but despite his difficulties with the Rapids, Arena has full confidence in Buddle to perform in 2015.
"He's an experienced forward. He's scored 100 goals in this league and there's no reason to believe that he can't score a few more," he said. "He's a good experienced forward. He can hold the ball up, he's hard to play against. He's going to play a role for us this year. We're going to have a lot of games this year and it's going to help having an experienced forward on the field."
THE GALAXY WANT TO MAKE STUBHUB CENTER A FORTRESS
The LA Galaxy had a nearly unblemished record at StubHub Center in 2015, and if the club is to repeat as MLS Cup champions, the belief is that they must continue to dominate at home.
A year ago, the Galaxy went a stunning 15-1-4 at home in all MLS competitions with their lone loss came in club's season opener way back on March 8, 2014. As the Galaxy prepare for the upcoming season, team captain Robbie Keane believes that staying perfect at home is key for LA's hopes of another title.
"We need to continue to do the same [thing we did last year]," said Robbie Keane. "We need to make sure that this place is difficult for players and teams to come. We want them to not enjoy coming here and know that it'll be a difficult game when you play against the LA Galaxy."
BRUCE ARENA: LA GALAXY AREN'T "DEFENDING" ANYTHING IN 2015
The LA Galaxy will enter the 2015 season as the defending champions of Major League Soccer, but Galaxy boss Bruce Arena has a qualm with the use of the word "defending."
"We're not defending anything," said Arena. "Its' a new season. We're trying to win a championship, we're not defending one."
