Ahead of Saturday's third and final El Tráfico of the the 2024 MLS Regular Season, LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney and Midfielder Riqui Puig spoke to the media about the rivalry match and the implications that the result will have on the standings and playoff picture.
Head Coach Greg Vanney
On the importance of the game for the playoffs:
Whenever you’re playing the highest level of games in our league then it becomes about details, it becomes about moments and that’s what these games end up being. It becomes about some of the little things inside the game. It’s important. You hope over the course of the season you get better and tighten up some of those things and you learn a little bit about each other. We’ve learned a little about each other enough but there might be a nuance here or there or wrinkle that they’ll try or vice versa so it’s a good match. But now that you’re at the end of the season, there’s a battle for the West. Obviously playoff position is always nice to have for home field when you’re getting into the playoff runs but there’s a lot that rests on this.
On potentially going ahead of LAFC by seven points while being two games ahead:
I think that’s one of the reasons why this game is really important for our group. With those two games in hand and knowing the quality of their group, they don’t drop too man points too often. You want to try to get on the front side of those two games in hand and get the points and create as much separation as you can down the stretch. This is why for us, I do think for us to win the West we do need to win this game. I do think that this is going to be important with the games in hand there and if we draw, maybe we can still do it but if we really want to win the West this is a game we need to find the right way to get three points.
Midfielder Riqui Puig
On protecting the Galaxy’s unbeaten record this season at Dignity Health Sports Park:
I think if we want to be one of the teams that can win the MLS [Cup] we need to be strong here at home. I think that at the end of the season, [if] we don’t lose a game here it’s really important for the team and also for other teams to know that they need to come here and it’s a tough place and we need to keep going because it’s really important for us.
On chemistry with Marco Reus:
To have Marco on the team is really important for us also because he has a lot of experience. I’m a young player and I can learn a lot from this guy. An amazing player who made really good things in Europe and we can learn a lot. For the team, I think he’s going to help a lot. He comes with a really good [expectations] to be important in the LA Galaxy and MLS and I think that’s really important for us.
