On Jan. 1, coach despatched a textual content to his greatest participant, wishing him a contented new yr. The following day responded, however his reply didn’t alter the resolutions Vanney had made for 2026.
Puig, who missed all of 2025 due to a torn ACL in his left knee, instructed his coach he wanted one other surgical procedure, one that can sideline him this season as effectively. But after the shock wore off, Vanney and basic supervisor Will Kuntz determined to stay with the plans they took into the offseason reasonably than blowing them up as a result of Puig
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“We wished to bolster the again line. We would have liked to search for a [striker]. We’ve completed each of these issues efficiently,” Vanney stated. “The distinction is that we don’t have Riqui’s qualities, which I believe over the course of final yr we discovered just a little bit about ourselves and the best way to cope with it.”
Certainly, after going winless of their first 16 video games — the worst begin ever for a reigning MLS champion — the Galaxy discovered the best way to play with out their playmaker within the second half, going 7-6-5 in MLS and beating three of Mexico’s high groups within the Leagues Cup.
They carried that momentum into the preseason this yr, going 3-1-1 in opposition to MLS groups with two shutouts, 15 objectives scored and seven allowed.
The Galaxy will begin enjoying for retains Thursday when it opens CONCACAF Champions Cup in Panama in opposition to Sporting San Miguelito. They begin their MLS season three days later in opposition to New York Metropolis FC at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park, a part of a dash that can see them play 4 instances in two international locations in simply 9 days.
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Will probably be one thing of a new-look Galaxy with three new starters in heart again Jakob Glesnes, midfielder/heart again Justin Haak and striker Joao Klauss. The group gave up 66 objectives final season, one off the franchise file, and the addition of Glesnes, a former league defender of the yr, and Haak, give the Galaxy each depth and chew on the again.
Klauss, who came to visit from St. Louis Metropolis two weeks into coaching camp in change for $2.375 million, will take Puig’s designated participant spot on the roster and, maybe, his focal spot within the group’s offense.
“He’s a man with confidence. And you’ll inform he’s so good,” stated defender John Nelson, who performed with Klauss in St. Louis. “He’s a beast within the air. Has good toes for a giant man too. So the followers must be actually excited.”
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Klauss joins a group at an vital crossroads. In 2024, the Galaxy gained a file sixth MLS Cup, tied a modern-day franchise file with 19 wins and have been undefeated at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park. Final season they gained a franchise-low seven video games, have been winless on the highway and missed the playoffs.
So which group will present up this yr? The lack of Puig, who could be essentially the most irreplaceable participant in MLS, will definitely sting. However the Galaxy have already discovered the best way to cope with that. Now they should do it once more.
“We’re not going to be the very same group that we’d be if Riqui was roaming the midfield,” Vanney stated. “We’re stronger in loads of different positions. That’s going to assist this group as a result of within the second half of [last] yr we have been aggressive with everyone.
Joao Klauss, who performed for St. Louis Metropolis final yr, shall be certainly one of three new starters for the Galaxy this season. (Jeff Roberson / Related Press)
“So if we get stronger in our defending, get extra objectives from our 9 place, we [can] make progress.”
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Solely two gamers — defender Julian Aude and goalkeeper Novak Micovic — stay from the roster Kuntz inherited when he joined the group because the senior vp of participant personnel in April 2023. And the most recent additions add to the depth Vanney might want to climate a withering schedule.
If the Galaxy make it by means of to the second spherical of the CONCACAF match, they’ll play 9 video games within the season’s first 4 weeks, touring by means of 4 time zones to three states and three international locations.
Because of this, Vanney most likely will play the early MLS video games with one lineup and the CONCACAF video games with one other.
“The video games are going to occur so quick, it’s one thing we’ve positively been pondering,” he stated.
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The vagaries of the schedule are one thing that figures to hamper MLS groups all season. The league will play the primary 15 video games of its 34-game schedule by late Might, then pause seven weeks for the World Cup. When play resumes in mid-July, groups will play their last 19 video games in 3½ months.
“The schedule, we will’t management. Now we have to handle it,” defender Maya Yoshida stated. “It’s not simple however that is a part of MLS and we already know the best way to cope with it.”
As the top of final season confirmed, the Galaxy have discovered the best way to play with out Puig as effectively. Now they simply have to do this once more.
This story initially appeared in .