LA Galaxy set sights on jumpstarting the 2025 campaign in Costa Rica
The LA Galaxy is already setting "must-win expectations" in just its third game of the season
“We have to get a result there. It's not maybe; it's a must. We need to make sure that we leave out of there with a positive.”
Diego Fagundez’s comments on Sunday following the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps showed the sense of urgency to avoid sinking early in the 2025 season.
The Galaxy once again struggled to be the dynamic and goal-threatening team that won last season’s MLS Cup. LA looked to position itself to take a point on the road, but a late goal from Vancouver’s Brian White gave the home side all three points and LA’s first 0-2 start to a season since 2017.
It wasn’t just the result that felt like a gut punch but the growing injury list the Galaxy is dealing with.
Miki Yamane (Hamstring) and Matheus Nascimento (thigh) were left off the squad and did not make the trip to Canada. Emiro Garces (Calf) and Lucas Sanabria (Collarbone) were forced to exit the match due to injuries sustained against the Whitecaps. In the postgame presser, Vanney told the media that Sanabria suffered a fractured collarbone.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Vanney told reporters that Garces is “good" and should be available for selection on Wednesday night.
Here is LA’s current list of injuries:
Riqui Puig (ACL)
Joseph Paintsil (thigh)
Mauricio Cuevas (hamstring)
Miki Yamane (Hamstring)
Matheus Nascimento (thigh)
Lucas Sanabria (Collarbone)
This is the most adversity the LA Galaxy has faced as a team since the 2023 season, which saw fan boycotts and season-ending injuries doom LA’s chances at being competitive that year.
“At the end of the day, everybody is going to be against us. We got a star last year and we got a ring, and we got a cup and now everybody is going to be against us,” said Fagundez during his presser in Vancouver.
“When we're away and we're against everything, all we need to do is make sure we are staying together. If we get a goal early and stuff, we make sure we either finish it 1-0 or we get the second. But at the end of the day, we can't let other teams comeback into games,” added Fagundez on Sunday.
With LA now in Costa Rica to face C.S. Herediano on Wednesday night in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the shift is now looking to get a positive result and jumpstart the underwhelming start to the season.
“The biggest thing is getting a result down here,” said forward Christian Ramirez during Tuesday’s presser in Costa Rica. “The good thing about having these midweek games is that it's a quick turnaround around shifting your focus from league play to this,” he added.
The Galaxy played the Herediano back in 2013 in a quarterfinal series in the CONCACAF Champions League. LA won the leg with an aggregate score of 4-1 - notably, the Galaxy played to a scoreless draw in Costa Rica in that series.
Playing in continental competition gives the six-time MLS Cup winners the opportunity to get a clean slate once again. A run at the region’s premier tournament is what the LA Galaxy needs to jumpstart the campaign. With seven games in the month of March, the SoCal club must avoid making their stumbling into falling. Positive results are needed.
Making a deep run at this tournament can give LA a morale boost and change the momentum that can get the Galaxy moving forward rather than being stuck in neutral.
“That run we had last year with Columbus is special because it brings a group together,” said Ramirez. The 33-year-old forward made it to the final of the competition last year with Columbus but lost to Pachuca.
“Everybody's going to be counted on whether it's during the season or now because these games come fast and quick in between league play, so it's a good competition to be able to build some momentum,” added Ramirez.
It’s surprising to see an added level of urgency this early in the season, but that’s the standard the LA Galaxy expects itself to be in. The club is in the midst of trying to rebuild back into championship contention, and the added injuries have made this quest much more challenging.
A positive result in Costa Rica is a step forward in getting closer to advancing in the tournament and getting the wheels moving for the first time this season. A loss will cause everyone to think about the alarm bells just a bit more.