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Galaxy seek solutions for hapless 0-3 start

March 8, 2025

Injuries and departures have left the Galaxy searching for answers through the first three games.

Heading into Sunday’s return to MLS play, the Galaxy have mustered only one goal, leaving the club winless (0-2) and on the brink of elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

“We need to be getting better as a group,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney sad. “We have some really important players that are going to be coming back into our team, hopefully over the next few weeks. Each guy right now, in my opinion, without those guys, it’s about within what we’re trying to do is understand how to take the appropriate amount of responsibility in each of the situations.

“Part of the reason our attack is not creating as many good chances is because we’re not advancing numbers in the way we should be advancing numbers. So when we get into attack, we’re always numerically deficient in the final action, because we’re not advancing the ball from the back line when we should be carrying the ball to drive and attack somebody. So now, when we give the ball to Gabe (Gabriel Pec), he has to beat three guys. We’ve got to be better at advancing the ball, to bring pressure to us, so that Gabe can play more one-on-one or we can play three versus two or we can create superiority.

“We’re used to giving the ball to someone like Riqui (Puig) who can then make a play and (now) that’s not going to happen. We have to, each individual, take a high level of responsibility to make things function on the field and doing it faster, recognizing the solution faster. This is the process that we’re going through.”

Answers will be needed if the Galaxy want to snap their slow start to the season. St. Louis City SC visits Dignity Health Sports Park Sunday (4 p.m.). St. Louis has yet to score or allow a goal through two games.

The concern will then shift to Wednesday, when the Galaxy will need at least two goals to advance out of their Round of 16 Champions Cup series against Herediano.

“Our margins are thin right now,” Vanney said. “We don’t have the speed of Joe (Joseph Paintsil), we don’t have the speed we normally have on the attacking side with Riqui and others, we don’t have that same dynamic level, so we have to be precise. The timing has to be perfect or else we lose those advantages and it becomes more difficult to score the goal.

“In order to create chances in a possession style, you’ve got to end up in the right places at the right times and be moving at the right speeds, and it all has to fit together and right now, we’re just a little bit … at times a little bit, at times a lot, off on these details. The margins are thin right now.”

Goalkeeper update

Novak Micovic started the first two games. Last year’s starter John McCarthy was in goal in Costa Rica for the first leg against Herediano.

“We’ll probably find ways to use them both here while it’s really busy,” Vanney said. “But at some point here in the not too distant future, I’ll be more precise about who is going to lead us as we continue to move forward.

“With all young players, we have to give Novak the opportunity and a little bit of a run of games to see how he can adapt and grow into the role. I also think that it’s hard to grow into a role when things in front of you aren’t as smooth as you would like them to be and you’re a young goalkeeper. So, I think we’ve got to give him some space to grow and not just dump him on the bench and leave him there, but at the same time, we know we have a great goalkeeper in John, who because of experience can step in and do the job.”

St. Louis City SC at Galaxy

When: 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park

How to watch: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)

Orange County Register

News Details

Galaxy seek solutions for hapless 0-3 start

Goalkeeper update

St. Louis City SC at Galaxy

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