CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena recently was preparing a report for the team handbook when curiosity got the best of him and prompted him to look into last season’s slow start.
At least he thought it was slow. A closer inspection actually revealed the defending MLS Cup champions were 7-4-6 in their first 17 games en route to their record fifth championship. He had long believed his team was struggling through early season doldrums a year ago and was pleasantly surprised to see it was just the opposite.
“We weren’t bad,” he said as the Galaxy prepared for Friday’s MLS regular-season opener against the Chicago Fire at StubHub Center (7 p.m., UniMas). “We just kind of allow ourselves to be fooled if we don’t win all the time we’re doing bad. We weren’t bad. We were like in last place for a while, but we played only four games and everyone else had seven.
“I would like to go 34-0 and win the MLS Cup and all the other stuff. Who the hell ever knows?”
The Galaxy, winners of three of the last four Cups, have had mixed early-season results since they won the first of their consecutive titles in 2011. That year, for example, the Galaxy started an impressive 8-2-5 en route to finishing with the league’s best record at 19-5-10. A year later, they started a disappointing 3-8-3, finished fourth in the Western Conference at 16-12-6 and still secured another championship. The 2013 season featured a 6-6-2 start. They finished third in the West at 15-11-8 and lost in the conference semifinals to Real Salt Lake.
Midfielder Stefan Ishizaki is hopeful for a fast start because the Galaxy have big plans this season, starting with owning the best record in MLS.
“Obviously we want to get as many points as we can because this year we definitely want the Supporters’ Shield,” he said. “It’s going to be tough; the Western Conference looks even tougher this year than it did last year.
“It’s going to be tough and we’re going to need all the points we can get, so why not starting getting them straight away?”
Midfielder Baggio Husidic said the importance of playing well early in the season can’t be stressed enough.
“Of course you want to start off well,” he said. “I think in the past whatever team gains momentum at the right time ends up doing well. I’m not saying having a good start isn’t important, but you can put yourself in a better position. We didn’t do that last year and we have to try and improve it this year.”
Defender Dan Gargan, about to begin his 10th season, cautioned the Galaxy must remain realistic in its overall approach.
“I think we all know that it’s a long season and you’re going to go through ups and downs,” he said. “But I think it is important to remain committed to one another and have a good dynamic getting into these first games.
“I think what’s important for us is to be able to utilize what we had from last year and continue to push that forward. I think everyone on this field and in the preseason and now being prepared to move forward with the season Friday night is ready to do that.”
