Everyone has that one week a year where everything must go their way.
For the LA Galaxy, that’s this upcoming week’s games against St. Louis, Portland, and San Diego.
“I think it’s the most important week this year… this is the type of week that shows the strength of the group,” said Joao Kluass after Thursday’s training.
Head Coach Greg Vanney also agreed with his striker.
“You get to this time of year and a three-game week in which two of the three are at home, there’s a huge opportunity in that. We are in a playoff position right now. We have a very small cushion. I think this gives you a chance to even create separation if you can have a really good week,” he said.
LA is coming off back-to-back come-from-behind wins in the MLS and now will be tested against St. Louis City SC. The midwestern club sits second in the Western Conference and in the midst of a 19-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
It’s not an easy task for the Galaxy, more so with the news that winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano will be out for a couple of weeks due to a hamstring injury, according to Vanney.
But the Galaxy’s main beacon of light is the return of Klauss. After a four-month injury absence, the Brazilian striker scored in his last two games for the G’s. Even with that absence, his seven goals scored this season are tied for first on the team with veteran Marco Reus
Sunday’s matchup means even more, given he was a key pillar to the genesis of St. Louis City SC’s history. One of the first signings the club made and the face of their historic inaugural season in MLS.
“Very special place. When I arrived there, the stadium wasn’t ready, so I watched all the process. Then the first year, the expansion year. So yeah, a lot of great memories from St. Louis. A lot of friends there. Excited to be back there and see everyone,” said Klauss to the media.
“I think most of the people there have a good relationship. Not all of them, but with the fans, I always showed a lot of respect for them, for the club, for the future of the club, for the owners. So yeah, I’m sure it would be nice to be back there, see everyone, and see the fans again,” he added.
It won’t be the only reunion on Sunday night.
St. Louis Head Coach Yoann Damet spent a sometime with LA Galaxy as manager of LA Galaxy II and a brief stint on Vanney’s coaching staff in 2022. He wasn’t with the club for a long time, but it was a crucial moment in his journey to becoming an MLS head coach.
Seeing Damet lead St. Louis City to positive results didn’t come as a shock for Vanney.
“It doesn’t surprise me, really. He’s a guy that always had interest in working with when he was here. I saw those same attributes, so it doesn’t surprise me really,” said Vanney.
Damet’s first experience in MLS was with FC Cincinnati, where he was briefly the interim head coach at 29 years old. After he moved on from the Galaxy, he spent time as an assistant with Wilfred Nancy’s Columbus Crew.
City gave him his first head coaching job and is now reaping the fruits of giving him time to implement his system, even if the results weren’t there at first
“I spoke to him early in the season when they weren’t getting results. I said to him, “You just guys got to keep doing what you’re doing because you’re just not taking chances when you have moments that you can score,”. They looked solid, and I think they’d won one in 10 to start the season,” said Vanney.
St. Louis keeps rolling and finding ways to keep getting results. Vanney has emphasized that getting a win on Sunday night will come down to more than just grit.
“We got to be stingier on the defensive end, and we’ve got to take advantage because a lot of these games will come down to just moments”, he said.
“We’ve got to be calculated and clean when we have the ball and the build outs, and they are pressing us in man-on-man. I think there’s opportunity inside of those moments, but in seeking those opportunities, we got to make sure that we don’t put ourselves in bad situations. So, I think it’s going to be an interesting game,” said Vanney.
This match kicks off a busy week and one where LA can’t afford to give up ground for the last few playoff spots. This week is an all-hands-on-deck situation.
“In weeks like this, it’s impossible to play 11 players for 90 minutes three times. We’re going to need everyone,” said Klauss.
The call has been made, but will LA answer it?