CARSON, Calif. – No one can blame LA Galaxy coach Curt Onalfo for being unafraid to make changes to shake the five-time MLS Cup champions out of their early season doldrums.
He went with a 4-2-3-1 formation, for example, in Saturday’s 0-0 tie with winless Philadelphia in front of a crowd of 25,008 at StubHub Center. If not for a bit more luck, the Galaxy (2-5-1) easily would have earned their first victory in three weeks.
Onalfo also went with Bradley Diallo at right back, and the native of Marseille, France gave a solid performance in his second start of the season.
“I feel good out there,” the 26-year-old said. “I just try to do my best and do what is asked of me.”
Right back has been a dilemma for Onalfo all season, ever since he lost Robbie Rogers to a foot injury that has left Rogers’ playing future uncertain at best. Onalfo also has gone with Rafa Garcia and Nathan Smith at that position, but Diallo has been impressive in his two starts.
Center back Daniel Steres, who played next to Diallo on the Galaxy’s back line, said Diallo’s consistent performances should not be that surprising.
“He’s a lockdown type of defender,” Steres said Saturday. “You don’t have to worry about him on the wing.”
Diallo also came close to scoring his first MLS goal against the Union, but all he got for his efforts was a yellow card, compliments of referee Alan Kelly. Time was running out late in the match when Diallo went for a loose ball deep in the Philadelphia penalty area. He missed on his shot attempt and appeared to clip Union defender Jack Elliott on his follow-through. Kelly thought the contact warranted a caution for the Galaxy defender.
“I didn’t even touch the guy,” Diallo said with a grin after the game. “It’s all right. That was the decision of the referee and I can’t do anything about that.”
What he can do is continue to make an impression on Onalfo and his staff. Steres, who said he used to drive Diallo to training at Stub Hub Center, has been impressed with the play of the Frenchman, who originally signed with Galaxy II ahead of the 2014 season but only now is fully recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that limited him to only five appearances in 2016. He signed with the parent club in late February.
“He’s always confident, he knows what he can do well and he does that,” Steres said. “He’s been like that since Galaxy II. Obviously he’s getting more confident as he plays more games here, especially at the right back position.
“He’s a guy that can give that same performance every day.”
And if that leads to more playing time, so much the better as far as Diallo is concerned. That’s been his plan all along.
“I’m really happy to be in this position,” he said. “But I would be even happier if we get titles and I get a lot of games, too.”
