Through 10 games, Chivas USA have the worst record in the league, have given up the most goals and have scored the third-fewest goals.
It came as no surprise, then, that club president and co-owner Antonio Cue said the club will make major changes after Chivas USA's 2-0 loss to the Galaxy on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. Cue divulged little in terms of whether the changes involved only players or if coach Thomas Rongen was on his way out, however. The only thing he confirmed was that Monday at 10 a.m. PT the changes would be made public.
"On Monday, we will make various changes," Cue said. "Reinforcements are important. We know that up front we are missing that final ingredient that can finish and score goals which in turn lead to points."
The impending moves are not a knee-jerk reaction and the same moves would have been made had Chivas USA beat the Galaxy.
"The decisions have been made for quite some time now and Monday we will confirm it," Cue said. "Changes have to be planned out and thought over. You can't make changes based on reactions. Changes have to be made according to the blueprint and that's all we're doing."
Speculation about his job security is not on Rongen's mind, however.
"I really focus on first and foremost putting Chivas USA on the map," Rongen said. "You don't have time as a coach to reflect on those personal issues because you're so focused on improving the team each and every day. That's my focus and energy."
Rongen refused to put the onus on the players, however. He again said that he had not found the ideal lineup in which to get results and he was still tinkering with the starting 11.
"I firmly believe the players are still responding," Rongen said. "I don't think the results are indicative of a team that doesn't believe... I'm not going to sit here and say that we were dealt a bad hand or are inferior," Rongen said. "I don't think that's fair to the 28 guys that are in the locker room."
Cue would not say who the reinforcements were nor what team they played for last season.
"Chivas has an important tournament right now which is (Copa) Libertadores," Cue said. "After Libertadores, we'll be able to make plans within the Chivas (Guadalajara) roster."
However, Cue said the club has been careful to stay under the salary cap to position themselves for a potential move.
"We left room on our roster and with our salary cap to make adjustments," Cue said. "We didn't know at the beginning of the season just where we would need reinforcements. We now know where we need the most help and we've started to make some moves within the team accordingly."
Whoever Chivas USA brings in, though, won't be able to play until Aug. 15 per FIFA's international transfer window, should the club bring in Mexican players as Cue promised.
"The season is a third of the way complete," Cue said. "This next phase we will have to apply ourselves and gain points because we want to make a run at the playoffs. I'm convinced we can do it and I feel this team will give people a lot to talk about.
"I'm very upset. I hate losing. Nobody likes to lose," Cue said. "But I'm optimistic about the people we're bringing into this organization."
Overall, Cue said the club has a clear path it intends to follow. Rongen's part in it has been positive, Cue said.
"Results are one thing but you have to look at the entire picture," Cue said. "This is a team that has come a long way, a team that's only been playing for three months. There are teams that have 10 years together. There are good things about our team, there are things we need to improve and there are things we need to improve a great deal on."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
