In just three years of existence, Chivas USA have experienced life from both ends of the spectrum. From the depths of the first year to the highs of 2007, the range of emotions the club has lived through in a short amount of time has been vast.
Through it all, three players have been there for every step of the way.
Brad Guzan, Francisco Mendoza and Orlando Perez are the only remaining links to the first-year club. Each player has served a different role but a bond exists between the trio of originals.
"Me, Brad and Panchito, we've been here from the beginning," Perez said. "We've been through it all, the bad times and the good times and I think that our hard work and dedication paid off for us. There have been many players in and out and we've seemed to do what we got to do to stick around."
As Chivas USA prepares for Kansas City and the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, the club is just two years removed from a 22-loss season. The focus these days is on competing for and winning championships, realistic goals these days that in the past seemed nothing short of dreams.
In 2005, it took Chivas USA six games to notch one victory and 18 to get to two wins. The club went through two coaches and numerous starting lineups to try and find a formula that ultimately wouldn't work.
Perez said the club erred in trying to replicate Club Deportivo Guadalajara's look on the field.
"Their biggest mistake was trying to play the way Chivas play in Mexico, their style and formation in Mexico," said, who played in a career-high 27 games in 2005. "In this league, with the players we had that year, it was kind of not impossible but it's just we didn't have the right mix of players and guys to do it and it showed."
Whether it was the club's first-ever coach in Thomas Rongen or former Guadalajara boss Hans Westerhof, the tactics did not waver.
"The coaches, they pushed for everything and kept training and playing the same formation," Perez said. "And we would do well at times. We'd play well, had great possession but when it came down to it we were attacking with way too many players and defending with too few and you can't do that in this league."
While Perez had been used to the rigors of Major League Soccer by that point -- he had played for three different clubs before joining the Red-and-White -- both Mendoza and Guzan received a rude awakening to life as a professional soccer player.
But both persevered.
"I've been fortunate," Guzan said. "I've been able to learn from other people's mistakes, I've been able to learn from other people's successes. It was a good situation and luckily I've been able to take advantage of it."
The first-ever SuperDraft choice in club history, Guzan was thrown into the fire earlier than anticipated because of injury. He developed on the field and by the middle of the season had started to show signs of that development. Still, his statistics were startling as he finished with 46 goals allowed in 24 games played, a far cry from his 25 goals allowed and league-high 13 shutouts in 2007.
Mendoza was also called into action early. The native of El Salto, Jalisco, has the distinction of being the first-ever substitute in club history as he replaced Francisco Gomez in the midfield in the 32nd minute of the first-ever game, a 2-0 loss to D.C. United on April 2, 2005.
"It was difficult at the beginning to adapt to a new team and a new way of life. But I adjusted little by little. It's been a great process," Mendoza said. "Things with the club have been steadily improving and when the club does well, it goes well for you also."
Change came quickly and swiftly from the end of the 2005 season to the start of the 2006 campaign. Former Fire and MetroStars coach Bob Bradley joined Chivas USA as their third head coach in one year.
Key first-year players were jettisoned and new talent joined the squad. But Mendoza, Perez and Guzan remained in their positions.
The atmosphere changed tremendously in 2006.
"Definitely night and day when Bob came in last season," Perez said. "He brings a mentality and he demands from every player 100 percent every game and every training session and it's very competitive to fight for your spot on the field."
Chivas USA improved. The club notched its first winning season and reached the playoffs for the first time, and the trio again played key roles. Mendoza became a fixture in the midfield and started 31 games on the left side. Guzan overcame a midseason benching and helped the club secure its playoff spot down the stretch while Perez appeared in 23 games.
The club has continued along its path of success under Preki.
"(Bradley) coming in and bringing the players he did he turned the team around. Preki took over and kind of went in the same direction," Perez said. "Bob came in and set the standard and guys who were last year knew that, knew what it took and Preki brought in a couple of other players who've helped out the cause and I think we're headed in the right direction."
Having gone through every step of Chivas USA's existence with Perez and Mendoza, Guzan said there is certainly a connection among the three. But the family-like atmosphere the club had in its first year is still present in the locker room this year.
"Those guys were here with myself and experienced that first year. We have a bond with everybody now," Guzan said. "This is a family here and whether it's your first year or you were here last year, we're in this thing together."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
