CARSON, Calif. -- There's going to be a new team in Los Angeles, and the area's reigning power is looking forward to building a real rivalry with it.
The LA Galaxy called the arrival the MLS Los Angeles team, known as LAFC and due to start playing in 2017, “exciting” news and expect it could develop a derby with the new club that surpasses the SuperClasico they had with Chivas USA.
“I think it's great,” Landon Donovan said following the Galaxy's training session Thursday morning, just as the new team was being unveiled at an event in Hollywood. “I think this city, when Chivas USA were good, it made this rivalry good, and it made it special for everyone.
“I think having a chance to have new ownership, obviously a new brand and a new team is fantastic for this market. And I think it can only bring positives.”
Chivas USA ceased operations earlier this week after 10 seasons as the Galaxy's in-stadium rivals.
Galaxy captain Robbie Keane noted that the new club could bolster soccer in Southern California and looked forward to seeing how its relationship with the Galaxy progresses.
“I think it's good,” he said. “We need a first rivalry here. If you look at Seattle and Portland and stuff like that, they're good rivalries. I wouldn't call [Chivas USA] a rivalry, to be honest with you. I'm used to playing in these derby games [in the English Premier League], where there's 60,000 people throwing abuse at each other. Which is good, as long as it's done in a friendly way. We didn't really have that here. So, hopefully, we can have it with the new team.”
