CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy are trying to lay down a foundation in the final 10 games of the season—for what exactly, remains to be seen.
Will the Galaxy embark upon a thrilling run to a postseason berth, or will the team be looking to prepare to come back on top in 2018?
With the team mired in ninth place in the Western Conference on a nine-game league winless streak that dates all the way back to June 21, Sigi Schmid’s LA Galaxy team finds itself at a crossroads with the hopes of the postseason fading fast.
After imploring his team to be leaders following their 2-0 defeat to Columbus Crew SC Wednesday, Schmid said his group must get back to basics during the final months of the year.
“The thing is that we want to continue to play good soccer. We want to get as many points as we can get this year for our own satisfaction if it turns out something strange happens and we can get into the playoffs then we have to be prepared to take full advantage of the situation. If not, we really have to prepare ourselves for what we want to accomplish next season,” Schmid said. “When I was with Columbus in 2007, we didn’t make the playoffs, but we played very well in the last 10 games, and that became the foundation for winning MLS Cup next year. For us, we still want to make the playoffs next year, we’ll never give up, but we want to make the foundation so we can accomplish what we want next year.”
Galaxy striker Giovani dos Santos, who has not been immune to the season’s fluctuations with six goals and no tallies since May, agrees with his boss that the team must continue to fight regardless of the outcome.
“It’s been a very difficult year for us. We still have 10 games, and we fight and give it everything that we have,” dos Santos told LA Galaxy Insider. “This year needs to be a lesson for everyone because this league is getting better every year. It’s a chance for everyone to give the best that they have for the rest of the season.”
