CARSON, Calif. – With the chance of a postseason appearance long gone, Chivas USA players and coaches would be focused on building the foundation for 2013 if it weren’t for the vast unknown.
Jorge Vergara bought out Antonio Cue to become Chivas’ full owner in August and since then there has been wild speculation surrounding nearly every facet of the club.
The situation has piled more questions atop an already loaded plate.
“I don’t think anybody really knows what there’s going to be next year, who’s going to be there or anything,” defender Danny Califf said on Thursday. “We haven’t gotten any indication as to the direction or anything like that. It’s kind of hard to draw some parallels.”
At this point, the club is simply playing out its calendar, with Saturday’s match against Colorado (10:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online) closing out the home schedule before the season finale at FC Dallas on Oct. 28.
Chivas' Vagenas: It sounds crazy, but we're a good team
The plan is to collect a couple wins and put on a show for the home fans, in addition to maintaining a semblance of personal pride. Players are also very much aware that the final two games will also serve as an audition, a chance to prove why they should be on the 2013 version of Chivas USA, whatever that ends up being.
“Each and every one of us has looked in the mirror and tried to wrap their head around what the future is going to hold,” Califf said. “It’s been really hard because there has just been no indication of anything. We’re very much playing for our jobs.”
For some, going about their business as usual is perhaps the only option.
“Every week is about improvement,” head coach Robin Fraser said. “And every week is about continuing to find the combination that works and continuing to assess who the players are that are best going to help you going forward. Until I don’t have that job, that is my job.”
That sentiment applies to everyone involved with the club, including the players, who are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
“We’re waiting to hear,” Califf said. “I’ve got a family and three kids and we made that midseason move less than eight months ago and to turn around and having to pack the house up again would be quite a process.”
Luis Bueno covers Chivas USA for MLSsoccer.com. Contact him at buenodad@gmail.com.
