CARSON, Calif. – In an offseason of change and uncertainty at Chivas USA, the future of Dan Kennedy has been a constant source of speculation.
But the veteran goalkeeper’s absence from Saturday’s scrimmage with UC Irvine wasn’t a precursor to a trade, according to Chivas head coach José Luis Sánchez Solá. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.
“At this time, he’s my captain,” Sánchez Solá said of the 30-year-old netminder. “I need him more than anyone else.”
Kennedy won’t follow the marching list of holdovers headed out of town this offseason, “Chelís” added, saying the 30-year-old is “totally in my plans” moving forward and one of his main priorities.
His absence in Saturday’s 4-1 scrimmage victory over the nearby university side was due, rather, to a hand injury, according to Sánchez Solá.
Kennedy, who has two injured fingers on his left hand, watched from the sidelines as Patrick McLain got the start in goal. His absence was precautionary more than anything else, Sánchez Solá said. Kennedy is listed as day-to-day.
“If today’s game was a league game, he’d be in goal,” Sánchez Solá said. “It was a practice game, so there’s no need to risk it. I decided that he wouldn’t be needed in goal.”
Kennedy, who signed a multi-year contract extension with the club following the 2011 season, is coming off consecutive 32-start, 100-save seasons. He recorded seven shutouts in 2012 and was named Chivas USA’s player of the year in 2011.
