LOS ANGELES – Rivalries in soccer always have an added dimension to them. The games are often more intense and played with an extra edge. Fans are riveted, with a win or loss taking on added emotions, context and meaning. With a weekend full of MLS rivalry matches taking place we asked Bruce Arena and Sebastian Lletget what rivalries mean to them and how important they are for their teams and MLS as a whole.
Arena has been around the league since its beginning in 1996 and knows a thing or two about rivalries within MLS, whether it’s the Atlantic Cup history he helped write with D.C. United in the early days of the league or the California Clasico history that he’s helping continue to write as the league enters its third decade of existence.
“We have a great one here with San Jose that has always been a traditional rivalry. Both franchises have been in the league since 1996 and we’re 20 years in now and I think the fans continue to believe it’s the most important game of the year. It’s a great matchup. Its intense and it’s a rivalry that we think we will continue to have. San Jose and LA are always going to be teams that feel they have a competitive right amongst each other.”
The California Clasico is a rivalry with a lot of passion and history that continues to grow each and every season. With the two teams so close in the standings this year and the Western Conference being so tough, a game like this means so much to both teams, not just because of the rivalry, but because every point is crucial.
“I think it’s an important game in the West,” Arena said. “Over the last number of years the Western Conference has been unbelievably competitive so every game is important. These are important games and when we play at home we demand three points out of ourselves.”
Beyond the scope of the rivalry games taking place this weekend, there is also a space where fans can immerse themselves in the games in a space that celebrates the game and the culture. Lletget gave us his impressions on The Heineken House:
“It’s awesome. I didn’t expect all of this done. All the details they put into it with the clubs and the jerseys is just amazing. I’m glad they did it. I think the Heineken House is amazing and looks fantastic. I didn’t expect all of this but what they have done and the way they built it out looks amazing.
“I think something like this is very important for the continued growth of the game. I think a lot of the growth for soccer in the United States has to come from what takes place off the field because it’s all about exposure and this gives fans access to having a good time and feel like they are a part of all of this.”
The event even had a little sentimental meaning for Arena, who dropped a little piece of his own personal history:
“Side note to Heineken, when I went to Cornell one of my best friends father was the chief importer for Heineken in the United States. My graduation present was a case of Heineken so I’ve had a long tradition with Heineken as well. So this is a very special event for me as well. “
