CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA's first and second seasons were mirror images of each other.
While the 2005 club looked lost and feeble as the season wore on, the 2006 edition only grew stronger with each passing game. Last season ended with a whimper and the Red-and-White were only a memory by the time the MLS Cup Playoffs kicked off.
This year, however, Chivas USA are alive and well and appear capable of making a run toward the MLS Cup.
Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley said making the playoffs was necessary.
"It's important for the organization but it's especially nice for (owner) Antonio (Cue), who has I think from the beginning put his heart and soul into Chivas USA," Bradley said. "I think all of us feel good about the progress we made. It's an important step to now be in the playoffs and now have an opportunity to compete for MLS Cup."
In their second year, Chivas improved in all areas. The club had six more wins, seven more draws and - perhaps most indicative of its turnaround - 13 fewer losses. Last year, only one club had fewer than Chivas' 31 goals, but this year only two clubs had more than Chivas' 45 goals.
To those who were around a year ago, even if just for the final third of the season, completing the change from doormat to title contender carried importance to more than just those in the locker room.
"It's very important to everybody. Last year we suffered through something very sad and broke the worst record in league history," Juan Pablo Garcia said. "This is important for everybody from the front office, coaching staff and players. This is a prize for everybody who has worked hard for this organization."
Since the beginning of the season, Chivas players have talked about making the playoffs. On the eve of the postseason and days before their first-ever playoff game, they said they can relieve themselves of some of the pressure they carried during the year.
"I feel pretty good about what we've been able to accomplish this year. A huge weight has been lifted off of our shoulders because we accomplished what we set out to do, which is to make the playoffs," Chivas midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "I feel like anything we do from here on out is a bonus."
Though seven clubs had more wins than Chivas' 10 this year, Chivas competed in nearly all of their regular-season games this year.
"We've made good strides. If you look at the ability to compete and not lose games ... I feel like competing is the start," Bradley said. "Knowing how to go on the road, knowing how to play intelligently and the last part is certainly managing leads."
The team-building process the club started since the beginning bore fruit.
"We've kind of had a good mentality from day one and Bob set the tone and that we're going to be a team that comes to work every day and plays for each other and pushes each other and I think we've accomplished that," Marsch said. "When our fans watch us play, they feel proud of the team they're cheering on. Everyone on the inside feels pretty proud of the team we've become."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
