'We Don't Hate Losing': LA Galaxy continues historic winless run following defeat to Portland Timbers
Marco Reus calls for higher standards as the LA Galaxy continue to search for victory in 2025
The LA Galaxy continues to reach new lows following its 4-2 loss to the Portland Timbers on Sunday night.
The reigning MLS Cup champions are winless through 10 games in regular season play and at the bottom of the Supporters Shield standings.
The SoCal club went down 3-0 with goals from David da Costa, Santiago Moreno and Kevin Kelsey through 63 minutes. Poor defensive moments and a lack of cohesion allowed the Timbers to blaze through the Galaxy's defense.
Like many moments this season, the LA Galaxy showed signs of life and momentum. Christian Ramirez and substitute Marco Rues got on the scoreboard within two minutes of each other to give LA a chance to get a point with 20 minutes left in the match.
The energy at Dignity Health Sports Park switched in favor of the Galaxy. The fans forgot about the team’s record as the cheers returned the same feeling that made Dignity Health Sports Park a fortress in 2024.
A penalty call in the 75th minute on Emiro Garces allows the Timbers to close the game and shut down the momentum the Galaxy had built. Jonathan Rodriguez scored the penalty to squash the momentum.
The Galaxy struggled to find another goal in the match, and frustration was felt both on and off the field.
Inconsistent call from referee Filip Dujic led to frustrations from LA Galaxy players and coaches as the game wore on. Joseph Paintsil and Maya Yoshida were booked from voicing their frustrations.
The homophobic chant was said by a portion of the stadium in the final 10 minutes of the game. There were multiple warnings over the stadium PA system telling fans not to engage in that behavior. Once the final whistle blew, boos rang around the stadium as the players walked back to the locker room.
“We're all frustrated. Because you come off such a high in 2024. The last thing you want to be is digging yourself out of a hole in 2025 right off the bat,” said Head Coach Greg Vanney postgame.
The LA Galaxy finished with its highest xG (2.1) of the season, according to FBRef.com, yet the club felt the taste of defeat once again. The club has earned three points out of a possible 30 through this first quarter of the MLS regular season.
“If we can just get on the right side of a little bit of momentum, then you can get yourself right back in this thing pretty quickly. I think there's still a ton to play for,” said Vanney.
“We're trying to find the right solutions, and we just have a group that some guys are having to take much more responsibility than they have had to take on in the past in order to be here at the L.A. Galaxy - home of the champion, and now you have the pressure to take on some things that some of these guys have never had to do before.”
One of the bright spots of the match was Reus recording a goal and an assist coming off the bench. This was Reus’s first goal since his debut match with the Galaxy in August 2024. The former German Player of the Year missed a portion of the early part of this season with injury, which kept him out from building a rhythm this season.
He voiced his frustrations during his press conference about the LA Galaxy’s tendency to overthink and put itself in a position to be exposed by opponents.
“I said before to the other young guys, 90 percent, it starts with the head,” said Reus.
“Then suddenly in the second half we play more forward; we overplay from positions; we don't play A to B, from B to C…. when you play at home, you have to be more active. You have to believe really more in yourself as a team with the fans in your back. So today was really disappointing because like how we concede the goals,” he said.
When asked what the team needs to do to build that mentality as a group as the season progresses, the veteran midfielder pointed to the daily work the club does.
“It starts in the training. I said to the guys last week, ‘the training has to be more with more quality, every single day.’ Because when you play with more quality in each of the training every day, then you can do it from this for the weekend,” said Reus to the media.
“We need more mentality, and we have to hate losing. But in the moment, we don't hate losing,” added Reus.
Ramirez agreed with Reus’s point of view and addressed that during his press conference.
“I'm a firm believer of training being tougher than games. That's how I've viewed my whole career,” said Ramirez.
“If Marco is saying that, he's had a historic career, so we all need to step up in that sense. He's one of the leaders, and if he's speaking in that fashion, we need to. I support what he says.”
The Galaxy has to wait another week to get a chance to win its first game of the season. A trip to Kansas City will kick-start a road trip that includes visits to Philadelphia and New York. This trip will be a big test of the Galaxy’s ability to navigate through adversity as it searches for its first win of the year.
“I'll continue to try and leave it all out there, and the guys continue to do that to be able to turn this around. Because I believe in everybody in that locker room,” said Ramirez.