The are the worst workforce in Main League Soccer. That’s not subjective opinion, it’s goal truth. Simply take a look at the MLS standings, the place the Galaxy are lifeless final after Sunday’s , a sport that wasn’t practically as shut because the rating would point out.
However the Galaxy are additionally one of many 4 greatest groups in Main League Soccer. That, too, will not be subjective opinion however goal truth as a result of, after an unbeaten run by Leagues Cup group play, the Galaxy are one in every of simply 4 MLS groups to advance to the match quarterfinals.
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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 bunch to return collectively and a workforce to search out out who they’re,” Galaxy supplied. “We needed to uncover ourselves a little bit bit.”
The Galaxy’s Mauricio Cuevas lies on the sector and covers his face along with his arms throughout his workforce’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 workforce had one of the 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 .
This season, they bought off to the worst begin ever for a reigning champion, going 16 video games with no win whereas being outscored 36-13. Since Could 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.
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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 rationale of the season; though there are 10 days left within the MLS summer season switch window, Kuntz stated “I don’t foresee us doing something.”
So it’s just about been the identical gamers and can just about keep the identical gamers. Solely now they’re taking part in (barely) higher.
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“The rosters are the identical, however the minutes and who’s getting them have possibly modified a little bit bit. Our begin of the season was extra of an aberration than the place we’re at now,” Kuntz stated.
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Defender Mauricio Cuevas, for instance, began simply two of the workforce’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 type from a yr in the past, notching six targets and an help in his final eight matches.
Nonetheless, Kuntz’s subjective evaluation appears like a little bit of a cop-out for the reason that Galaxy returned 10 of the 14 gamers who appeared in final yr’s MLS Cup ultimate, a sport midfielder Riqui Puig, the workforce’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 high 5 midfielders by way of minutes performed in 2024.
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“The midfield is the center of any workforce,” Kuntz stated. “That’s to not say we haven’t had some gamers who underperformed or took longer to get to hurry than we thought. However the midfield consistency additionally impacts guys. Every thing’s kind of interrelated.”
Coach Greg Vanney agreed. His workforce’s decline, he stated, can’t be blamed on one factor.
“There are a whole lot of issues,” he stated. “I do not suppose we now have a brilliant deep group in the case of a whole lot of video games in a brief interval to match a few of the physicality.
“We have not executed. We’ve given up targets comfortable. We have by no means been capable of catch any kind of constant kind of type and rhythm inside the league and gotten outcomes out of it and closed out video games when we have to.”
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And that’s simply the quick checklist.
The Galaxy’s tepid turnaround — “We’ve been loads higher during the last stretch,” Vanney stated — hasn’t been practically ok to raise the workforce 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 battle 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 house, would depart 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.
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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 ultimate.
“You will need to compete for trophies, proper?” Kuntz requested. “The opposite factor you’ve see on this match is a little bit of a recent begin for us. And guys form of embrace that. It’s like that is what you’d see if the MLS season began at this time. That is form of the place we’d be.”
The place they’re is final. Profitable a trophy whereas ending on the backside of the MLS standings has been finished 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’ll be able to nonetheless qualify for Champions [Cup]. Fairly unbelievable,” Kuntz stated. “It’s essential be a goldfish, proper? Have a brief reminiscence. It’s necessary that you simply not dwell on what’s already handed.
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“As a result of an important stretch is what comes subsequent.”
That’s not subjective opinion. It’s goal truth.
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This story initially appeared in .