CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy drew a favorable group in the 2015-16 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, but head coach Bruce Arena is quick to state that there will be no easy matches for the defending MLS Cup champions.
On Monday, the Galaxy were drawn against Guatemalan champion Comunicaciones and Trinidad and Tobago side Central FC. Avoiding one of the Costa Rican or Honduran clubs is a major boost for the Galaxy, but Arena understands that LA’s Group D draw has plenty of challenges.
“I’ll wait until we get our schedule. The draw is fine. The schedule will determine a lot. There’s a lot of travel, but it will be interesting to see how we piece it all together,” Arena, who has led the Galaxy to knockout round in the last three tournaments that they have participated in, said. “None of these games are easy regardless of who you play. MLS teams would not be easier but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
The foremost challenges for the Galaxy will likely be the rigorous travel to Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago packed amid an already congested league schedule. Central FC poses the biggest hurdle travel-wise as the Galaxy will be head on a 10 plus hour flight midweek to play the three-year-old Trinidadian club.
“There's a lot of pluses and minuses with everything. We'll just have to wait and see, wait until we get the schedule, figure out how we're going to approach those games, and move on,” said Arena. “But there's no reason to believe we're not capable of winning the group and advancing to the quarterfinals.”
