CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA and Amado Guevara have parted ways.
"He's not with the team," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "I told him at this point in time we're going into a different direction."
Chivas USA and Toronto FC had a trade in place but it fell through in part because of Guevara's reluctance to play in Toronto. Regardless, Guevara is no longer a part of Chivas USA even though he is technically still on the club's roster.
Guevara cleaned out his locker and said goodbye to his teammates on Wednesday morning. The club trained on Wednesday and Thursday without Guevara and their high-profile offseason acquisition is no longer a part of the club's future.
"I have a vision of where this club is going and he's not part of it," Preki said after training on Thursday.
Chivas USA traded their designated player slot to the New York Red Bulls in November for Guevara. At the time, Bob Bradley was Chivas USA's coach and the two had done well together in New York. Guevara was named Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player in 2004 when he scored 10 goals and had 10 assists for the MetroStars. In 2005, Guevara had 11 goals and 11 assists.
After a season of transition - as changes in the club's name, colors, front office and coaching staff took place - Guevara had said he wanted a change in scenery.
But the Bradley-Guevara reunion lasted less than two weeks. Bradley left Chivas USA in early December to take over the reins of the United States national team on an interim basis.
Once training camp started and the club began playing games, though, Preki said it was clear to him that Guevara was not going to fit.
"The guy has been a good player for the league. I don't argue with that," Preki said. "But in terms of how I see things, I see it a little different. I didn't know him before I came here that well. I gave him two or three months to see how things work. If I don't see things aren't going to work out, I might as well do it right away instead of waiting down the line and then that becomes an issue when we're facing the crucial part of the year."
Although Chivas USA won two of their first three games, Guevara did not play a large role in either win, a 2-0 decision against Toronto FC and a 4-0 rout of Real Salt Lake.
"Not one offensive thing came from Amado," Preki said. "From that standpoint, the team will be fine."
On Saturday, Preki expected Guevara to produce against the Galaxy. Instead, Preki took out Guevara in the 56th minute and after the match questioned Guevara's desire.
"I didn't think that in the first three games things were great," Preki said. "In the biggest game of the year I expected some things. For me, if you can't get yourself going in the biggest game, that tells me that maybe we've got to look somewhere else."
The decision to part ways with Guevara is not one that was made over the course of the regular season, though.
"It wasn't just four games. It's been eight games: preseason, this season. As far as I'm concerned it's a lot of games," Preki said. "But it's not just about four games, three games, two games. It's everyday habits. That's what I'm looking at."
Preki said Guevara was someone that needed coaching on a daily basis. Though that may have been fine with former coach Bradley, Preki said he did not want to dedicate so much effort on one player.
"Bob is more experienced. He's been around for a long time. He maybe wants to work with guys on a daily basis," Preki said. "But I feel like this team is more than just one guy or two guys."
Regardless of his reputation as a locker-room distraction in New York, Guevara fit in well with Chivas USA off the field.
"I never had a problem with Amado. Amado was OK. He always has a smile on his face," Preki said. "This is a big club and I was looking for something different. He has a different style of play than what I want to play and we want to play here in Chivas. That's the way things go in life."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
