The LA Galaxy's Rise in Intensity Started in the Locker Room
The Galaxy are pressing harder, playing dirtier, and finding better results. And it started with Marco Reus getting mad
The voice of Marco Reus holds a lot of weight in the LA Galaxy locker room. The former German Player of the Year wanted to get a message across to the team that could jumpstart the six-time MLS Cup champions in 2026 and make them evolve.
“There was a moment where (Reus) kind of brought everybody in and got a little bit mad at us and said, ‘We need to be more dirty. We can’t just always play nice.’ And I think the team has done a good job of really listening to that,” said Justin Haak following the Galaxy’s 1-1 draw with Vancouver.
The increased physicality and aggressiveness is noticeable from the G’s in the last few games. The Galaxy backline is playing a bit higher than usual, players are ready to press, and the squad is built for combat in the midfield trenches.
“We don’t need to play out of the back. We don’t need to be such a pretty team,” said John Nelson following Wednesday’s training.
“If we need to press and be a bit dirty, then so be it. That’s what we need to do. And we’ve shown that the last few games,” he added. “I would say the trainings have been a little more intense, a little more better, more clarity… you can tell we’re just fighting more, our press is better. We just want that little more.”
This style of play is a shift in LA’s usual methods that involve heavy possession and breaking down opponents through patterns of play. The aesthetics of this style of play can be better for the viewer, but the results lately for the Galaxy have not been guaranteed.
“When ideas are clear and it’s easier to press, man on man or whatever we’re doing, you can play better. Guys know where the press,” said Nelson.
One of those players who’s elevated their game in this style is Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Sanabria.
“I think the mentality of the group and how we’ve approached the last two games has really kind of put the game into what I would say is Lucas’ wheelhouse,” said Head Coach Greg Vanney.
Sanabria’s tenacity for duels and pressing is what made him stand out during his time at Nacional in Uruguay’s top-flight. Those attributes are coming to life in the last couple of weeks alongside his development with the ball at his feet.
“The way these last two games have played out really kind of suits his greatest strengths. And so it’s part of the reason why we have been rethinking about what our pressing looks like to try to put our guys in the best positions to be successful,” said Vanney.
It’s also Sanabria’s teammates seeing him take that leap.
“It’s really good to see Lucas doing more of that,” said Nelson about Sanabria’s aggressiveness.
“He’s playing with more confidence. So it’s not just him too. It’s just the team, the liveliness and the press guys wanting to win,” he added.
With a three-game road trip this week, LA is likely to play behind the ball more rather than with it. LA heads to Atlanta, then to Kansas City, and then finalizes the trip by facing Seattle.
“Every game is an opportunity for us to try to take points,” said Vanney.
“We have two teams that aren’t the highest in the standings at the moment, but you have one who’s starting to find a little bit of their form, and Kansas City as a place has always been a challenge for us,” he added.
“We want to try and get at least seven points out of these next three games. Then at home in the fourth game with Houston, it’s a for sure win. That’s my mentality. That’s our mentality,” said Nelson about the upcoming road trip.
With injuries taking a toll on roster selection and building a rhythm as a team, the Galaxy needs to evolve to survive. Especially with its upcoming road trip.