CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena called Raul Mendiola on Wednesday night and told the young midfielder he might start Saturday against the Columbus Crew. But he also said he wasn’t sure of his plans.
Mendiola, who didn’t have a single career MLS start on his resume, said he first was taken aback at the news. But he quickly calmed down.
“You can’t say no to that, right?” he said with a straight face after the Galaxy broke a six-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory over the Crew in front of 24,693 at StubHub Center.
The 22-year-old, signed as a Homegrown Player in February, 2014, spent all of 2015 with Galaxy II, for whom he had 10 assists and helped lead to the USL Western Conference championship. He also previously spent three seasons with the Galaxy academy.
But there he was Saturday, giving a strong account of himself and helping Arena get through a demanding week in which a series of injuries to three starters (Steven Gerrard, Jelle Van Damme and Gyasi Zardes) and the absence of striker Robbie Keane for international duty forced the long-time coach to reshuffle his starting lineup.
The Galaxy’s Baggio Husidic, who scored the winning goal Saturday, said Mendiola’s turn as a starter was well-deserved.
“I’m a huge fan of Raul,” Husidic said. “He’s an honest kid and such a hard worker in training.
“I couldn’t be happier for him. It’s great seeing guys like this make it to this level.”
Mendiola was slowed by a leg cramp in the 80th minute and had to be replaced by Rafael Garcia – “I did my best to try and get up, but it hurt too much,” Mendiola said – but he left a favorable impression on midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, now in his 12th season.
“He looked good,” he said. “He’s a hard-working kid with a really good attitude. He’s got all the skills. Now it’s just about getting the opportunities.
“I didn’t know it was his first MLS start. I think he’s going to grow.”
Mendiola, a native of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, said once he got over an early case of jitters he felt okay. Arena inserted him into the lineup because he thought his energy and work ethic would make a difference, and Mendiola was more than happy to do his part in that regard.
“When I’m on the field I work for my teammates,” Mendiola said. “They’re my family, so whatever I have to do … it’s my mentality to work hard.
“I was really excited. I wanted to go out there and show what I can do.”
