LA Galaxy looking to be 'mistake-free' in second leg away to Tigres
The LA Galaxy is one of the worst-defending champions in MLS history to start 2025, but those historically bad comparisons will not matter in LA’s Concacaf Champions Cup quarter-final match against Tigres on Tuesday night.
Following one of the worst offensive showings in recent LA Galaxy history in Utah on Saturday, the club now looks to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the most prestigious tournament in North America.
“We're focused on the game. That's where our energy is. That's where our mindset is at; everybody is locked in on that,” said Head Coach Greg Vanney during a Monday evening press conference in Mexico.
Tigres have been one of the powerhouses of Mexican soccer in the last decade but the club has stagnated in the last few years. Despite that, its home stadium, nicknamed “El Volcan” (The Volcano), provides one of the best atmospheres on the continent. The 57-year-old stadium is located on the campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.
Vanney is no stranger to “El Volcán”; his 2018 Toronto FC side played Tigres and advanced in the series due to the away goal rule favoring the Canadian side.
That Toronto FC squad featured a handful of veteran players who were used to these electric environments. Sebastian Giovnico, Micheal Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Gregory van der Wiel, and Víctor Vázquez spent portions of their career playing in Europe, where the atmosphere of games is at another level.
This current LA Galaxy team isn’t as experienced as the 2018 Toronto FC team, but Vanney is hoping this group can step up and win in Mexico. Advancing would easily be the result of the season and give LA much-needed confidence for the next stretch of the season.
“We know how important the away goal is and we have that as one of our objectives for tomorrow,” said striker Christian Ramirez to reporters in Spanish. “We are ready to have moments of control in the game and know there are moments in El Volcán where you have to suffer but we have to move forward.”
The Galaxy will have to prevent mistakes from costing them dearly in this second leg. The Galaxy can take advantage of the away goals rule to create some cushion during the game but must also make sure that it doesn’t allow Tigres to find its way back into the game.
“We know that we have to be able to be mistake-free coming down here, which is a big ask, and we know we need to be able to use the ball well, have our fair share of possession and find ways to try to make the game complicated for them,” said Vanney about Tuesday’s match.
“But it's a very good team that we're going to have to keep neutralized for a lot, lot of the game, and figure out the right ways to try to break them down and score goals.”
The Galaxy has been error-prone in 2025 and it has been costly in the MLS standings. LA is the only team in the Western Conference without a win this season. The club looks like it's in the midst of a complete rebuild despite winning the MLS Cup last season. While injuries to the key players have been a major part of this underwhelming story, it's still notable that there have been very few moments in this early season that are reminiscent of last season's championship squad.
“I think each of our results are a reflection of those games individually, mistakes that were made, things that we didn't accomplish. But I think each game is its own game, and you have to reflect upon it and learn from it and go,” said Vanney when asked to reflect on the season.
“You can ask Christian [Ramirez] here, guys are locked in. They see that tomorrow is a huge opportunity to come out and try to make a difference in a season that hasn't started so well. You win tomorrow, and it's a good statement for our group and where we're at and where we're headed. So we're gonna, we're gonna give it a good run,” said Vanney.
The LA Galaxy’s start to the season indicates it's a long way away from being a contender for the MLS Cup in 2025, but that will not matter on Tuesday night.
A victory in Mexico will inject much-needed life into a season that has yet to produce any signature moments.