CARSON, Calif. ā The LA Galaxy have changed wholesale since Jelle Van Damme arrived last season. Courted by Bruce Arena to play on a team with Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard, now Van Damme is the captain and veteran leader of new head coach Curt Onalfoās team as several players from LA Galaxy II come in to fill gaps left by the Designated Players' departures.
The prospect of having to guide these younger players, especially in the early going with fullbacks Robbie Rogers and Ashley Cole still on the mend, doesnāt bother Van Damme. Heās was captain at his former club Standard Liege, in Belgium's top flight, and knows what the job entails.
āI think Iām pretty good at handling people,ā he said. āEvery other player needs a different approach. Some players you can go hard on them, other players you canāt. You have to help them another way. It will be fine.
āItās an honor, taking over for Robbie [Keane], who was a great captain for this team. Iāll try to do the same: lead by example, be a good captain on and off the pitch.ā
Onalfo not only looks for Van Damme to coach up the youngsters, but also to bring toughness on the pitch. Itās something he is known for, but not necessarily a quality ascribed to previous versions of the Galaxy.
āHeās got just such a winning attitude,ā said Onalfo. āHeās a fighter, but at the same time heās very likeable. Heās someone the players look up to. Whenever he steps on the field, heās doing whatever he can to win. Heās done a great job in the preseason, and we expect him to do the same all the way through.ā
So far in the preseason, Van Damme has been paired with Daniel Steres at the center back position, with Rafael Garcia and Dave Romney getting time at fullback with Rogers and Cole injured. Thus Van Damme may well be anchoring a backline on opening Day that ā outside of himself ā is made up entirely of Galaxy II prospects.
Players are often called on to grow up fast in MLS, but Saturday's season opener against an FC Dallas team already in ready mode from playing two CONCACAF Champions League games before the season started could be a trial by fire. Van Damme isnāt too bothered by the changes.
āI think changes are good sometimes,ā he said. āWe have a whole new coaching staff and Iām happy with them too. They are doing a great job during the preseason.ā
As far as FCD are concerned, Van Damme sees their readiness as something exploitable more than an advantage. Dallas are coming off a midweek match in Panama, advancing to the CCL semifinals on a 5-2 aggregate despite a 2-1 loss to Arabe Unido in the second leg of the quarters.
āThey played [Wednesday] and theyāre traveling, so we have to try and take advantage of that as well," Van Damme said. "Theyāre a good team. I remember them last year; theyāre an organized team. Should be a good game.ā