CARSON, Calif. - Throughout all of 2007, Chivas USA players worked on building a strong approach to the game. And all the way through the campaign, the club improved both on the field and with their mentality.
But despite having suffered few losses on their roster, the mental part of the season needs to go through its own building process as well.
"You have to re-establish those things: playing for each other, fighting for balls, chemistry, that all has to be re-established," Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "It's not like you just step on the field and it's all right there again."
The club built a strong foundation in 2006 in several areas of the game. Then-coach Bob Bradley instilled a strong work ethic in 2006 and was carried on by Preki. Bradley disciples such as Marsch and Ante Razov set the tone in training.
The club added to their talent base early last season with players such as Maykel Galindo, Paulo Nagamura and Shavar Thomas. It took time for players to learn to play alongside each other but it also took time for learning to play as a unit.
This year is no different. However, the quality of fields Chivas USA trained and played on was not what the players necessarily would have wanted.
"It starts every day in training, pushing each other every day the right way but it's something you build up to," Razov said. "We haven't had an opportunity to play on some quality pitches to kind of get it going but I think it's coming along."
In recent training sessions, however, the intensity and pace has picked up considerably. During small-sided games, some of the leaders of the club have been louder and more assertive now as the season approaches than in the start of training camp. Recent training sessions have featured an increase in physical play between players as well.
While the fitness has been steadily improving, the mental part won't truly be tested until the season starts.
"We haven't played very many competitive preseason games on good fields so most of our games have been exercises in mentality and fighting for balls and sticking together, which is good," Marsch said. "I still think the soccer part of things is something that comes a little more naturally to our group than the mentality part. The preseason has been good on that end but maybe not as challenging as we would have liked."
Chivas USA begins its fourth season on Sunday at FC Dallas and while the quest to defend the Western Conference crown will be challenging, all players will have to pick up the slack when it comes to the club's overall frame of mind.
"It's something as the games come the older guys know it, sense it and hopefully the younger guys can kind of pick up on it," Razov said. "We've had a group together for a long time. We know the soccer isn't going to be perfect at the beginning but that's OK."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
