CARSON, Calif. - For Chivas USA, results in the preseason are like Grammy-award winning performances in the shower: no one's going to know - or care - about it in the long run.
Chivas USA tied New York 2-2 on Wednesday, days after a spirited 1-1 draw against Houston, which followed up a 2-1 loss to Chicago. Results, though, were not on the forefront of the players' minds nor have they been during any preseason friendlies.
"Certainly you always want to win but you have to be smart in the preseason," Chivas USA striker Ante Razov said. "There are no trophies handed out for preseason competition."
For Razov, the preseason has served as a chance to start the season off with a cautious approach. Razov started strong a year ago but wore down at the end of the season. Meanwhile, for players like Amado Guevara and Maykel Galindo, friendlies give players a chance to fit in with the club and help head coach Preki figure out their respective roles.
Also, Preki has yet to finish sorting out his starting lineup. Brad Guzan and Preston Burpo have each taken turns in goal. Galindo has shared time with rookie John Cunliffe, trialist Laurent Merlin and returning forward Matt Taylor up top. Jonathan Bornstein is out with injury.
"Obviously the most important thing is to get fitness first of all and get a certain group of players out there to establish what the best lineup is for us when we take the field on April 7," said Preki, who will debut as coach that day against Toronto FC.
Chivas USA have had three distinct preseasons in their three-year history. In 2005, the club went from zero players to a more than three dozen in a span of two months and tried to make it all gel in February of that year. Last season, the club all but started from scratch with a core group of veteran MLS players, talented rookies and a new coach.
This season, though, the club has some established players in their positions, such as central defender Claudio Suarez, left midfielder Francisco Mendoza and central midfielder Jesse Marsch.
For those guys, though, preseason games are still important.
"More than the results is making sure that we as a team understand what games are like, what the pace is like, what the physical aspect is like," Marsch said. "We're a team that likes to pass and play soccer but it's not always enough. There has to be more. Partly the new guys, partly to re-orientate the old guys but the intensity level we've got to have a good understanding of what it's like to play a real MLS game."
Still, that doesn't mean players take kindly to ties or losses. After the Houston friendly, Razov said his club dominated the match and should have won. Marsch, meanwhile, said the result should have gone his club's way against New York.
For now, the players eventually shrug off results. But when games count for three points and help clubs jockey for position, certain parts of the preseason will carry over more than others.
"The score, obviously as you get closer you don't want to lose games but more importantly is your mentality," Marsch said.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
