The Galaxy are the worst group in Main League Soccer. That’s not subjective opinion, it’s goal truth. Simply have a look at the MLS standings, the place the Galaxy are lifeless final after Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders, a sport that wasn’t practically as shut because the rating would point out.
However the Galaxy are additionally one of many 4 finest groups in Main League Soccer. That, too, just isn’t subjective opinion however goal truth as a result of, after an unbeaten run by means of Leagues Cup group play, the Galaxy are considered one of simply 4 MLS groups to advance to the match quarterfinals.
How can each issues be true concurrently? That’s a great query — and one that may be solely be answered subjectively.
“It takes time for a group to come together and a team to find out who they are,” Galaxy basic supervisor Will Kuntz supplied. “We had to discover ourselves a little bit.”
The Galaxy’s Mauricio Cuevas lies on the sector and covers his face along with his fingers throughout his group’s 4-0 loss to the Sounders in Seattle on Sunday.
(Luiza Moraes / Getty Pictures)
That doesn’t actually seize the depth of the Galaxy’s decline. The group had probably the most profitable seasons in franchise historical past final yr, matching the modern-era report for victories (19) and going unbeaten in 21 video games at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park en path to their sixth MLS Cup.
This season, they obtained off to the worst begin ever for a reigning champion, going 16 video games with no win whereas being outscored 36-13. Since Might 31, nonetheless, the Galaxy are 5-3-4 in all competitors, with two of the wins coming towards Mexican golf equipment Tijuana and Santos Laguna, whom they outscored 9-2 in Leagues Cup matches.
In between there have been no trades, no acquisitions and no main lineup or strategic modifications. Nor are there prone to be any for the explanation of the season; though there are 10 days left within the MLS summer time switch window, Kuntz stated “I don’t foresee us doing anything.”
So it’s just about been the identical gamers and can just about keep the identical gamers. Solely now they’re enjoying (barely) higher.
“The rosters are the same, but the minutes and who’s getting them have maybe changed a little bit. Our start of the season was more of an aberration than where we’re at now,” Kuntz stated.
Defender Mauricio Cuevas, for instance, began simply two of the group’s first 24 MLS video games, however he began two of the Leagues Cup video games and contributed three assists. The Galaxy had been winless in league play when ahead Matheus Nascimento made his first begin; with Nascimento scoring six targets, they’ve misplaced simply 4 of 13 video games in all competitors since then. And winger Joseph Paintsil, who appeared misplaced early within the season, has discovered his kind from a yr in the past, notching six targets and an help in his final eight matches.
Nonetheless, Kuntz’s subjective evaluation looks like a little bit of a cop-out because the Galaxy returned 10 of the 14 gamers who appeared in final yr’s MLS Cup closing, a sport midfielder Riqui Puig, the group’s most indispensable participant, missed with damage.
But it surely’s not a lot what number of gamers left as it’s the place they performed that issues, the GM stated. Two of the three gamers he traded — Mark Delgado and Gastón Brugman — had been midfielders. And with Puig but to play this yr, the Galaxy began the season lacking three of their prime 5 midfielders when it comes to minutes performed in 2024.
“The midfield is the heart of any team,” Kuntz stated. “That’s not to say we haven’t had some players who underperformed or took longer to get to speed than we thought. But the midfield consistency also impacts guys. Everything’s sort of interrelated.”
Coach Greg Vanney agreed. His group’s decline, he stated, can’t be blamed on one factor.
“There are a lot of things,” he stated. “I don’t think we have a super deep group when it comes to a lot of games in a short period to match some of the physicality.
“We haven’t executed. We have given up goals soft. We’ve never been able to catch any sort of consistent sort of form and rhythm inside of the league and gotten results out of it and closed out games when we need to.”
And that’s simply the quick checklist.
The Galaxy’s tepid turnaround — “We’ve been a lot better over the last stretch,” Vanney stated — hasn’t been practically ok to elevate the group out of the deep, deep gap it dug within the first three months of the season since their 3-15-7 report has them buried on the backside of the MLS desk and their 52 targets allowed are most within the league.
Cruz Azul ahead Carlos Rotondi and Galaxy ahead Gabriel Pec struggle for the ball throughout a Leagues Cup match on Aug. 3 in Carson.
(Eric Thayer / Related Press)
But a win over Mexico’s Pachuca subsequent week, at dwelling, would go away the Galaxy a win away from a berth in subsequent season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup and two victories away from elevating the Leagues Cup, giving them a second main title in 9 months.
They usually have one other probability at {hardware} in October’s Campeones Cup towards Mexican champion Toluca, whom they may additionally face within the Leagues Cup closing.
“It is important to compete for trophies, right?” Kuntz requested. “The other thing you’ve see in this tournament is a bit of a fresh start for us. And guys kind of embrace that. It’s like this is what you’d see if the MLS season started today. This is kind of where we’d be.”
The place they’re is final. Successful a trophy whereas ending on the backside of the MLS standings has been carried out earlier than; in 2013, DC United set an MLS report for fewest wins in a season with three and broke the report for fewest factors in a 34-game season with 16.
“Hey, you can still qualify for Champions [Cup]. Pretty incredible,” Kuntz stated. “You need to be a goldfish, right? Have a short memory. It’s important that you not dwell on what’s already passed.
“Because the most important stretch is what comes next.”
That’s not subjective opinion. It’s goal truth.
⚽ You could have learn the newest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a highlight on distinctive tales. Hearken to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.
