CARSON, Calif. — Four games into the 2012 MLS season, the LA Galaxy have obtained just three points and sit dead last in the Western Conference.
What is going on with the defending MLS Cup champs?
“I would say the Yankees and the Red Sox weren’t out of the American League race over the weekend,” quipped Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, referencing the Major League Baseball powers' combined 0-6 to start their respective 2012 seasons.
Heading into Saturday’s home match against Portland, the Galaxy hold a meager 1-3-0 mark. But while the sky may seem to be falling to some, it’s only that way because of their vantage point.
“That’s where the negative reaction is — the fans and everyone outside this team,” Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza said. “As a fan, I guess that’s their worries: ‘Are we going to play better?’ But inside this team, we know we can do better, we know we will do better.”
One thing Arena said is certain: For better or worse, you can’t draw a conclusion on much of anything right now.
“These things all go in cycles and, whether you’re doing real well or real bad, there’s all these little cycles and you never know what it adds up to,” Arena said. “You really don’t. Sometimes you have periods where you don’t play real well and you steal one every now and then.”
While the club is not getting the results, making too much of why the club is losing is also going down an inconclusive path, Arena said.
“The bottom line at the end of the day ... the only thing I look at is the score,” Arena said. “They can’t dissect whether it’s good, bad or indifferent. That’s the only thing that counts. That’s why you’re in a professional league. You get paid to be successful. The result is important. ... To be successful, you have to have a period of time where you win games, period. We’ve got to get on one of those rolls.”
Luis Bueno covers the LA Galaxy for MLSsoccer.com and can be reached by e-mail at buenodad@gmail.com.
