Falling to the floor in celebration and relief. LA Galaxy players expected to be experiencing that, but instead they got a perfect view of Real Salt Lake clinching the playoffs on Decision Day at America First Field.
With a win, the Galaxy would make a return to the postseason after missing out last season. But instead, two first-half goals for RSL put the team in a hole it couldn’t dig itself out of.
An own goal by Luc de Fougerolles put LA on the scoreboard just before halftime, but that was the only offense the Galaxy could muster. Marco Reus had a golden chance to equalize in the 70th minute in front of goal, but his attempt missed the goal completely.
“We were so wide open, it didn’t make any sense. We were so spread out and far apart,” head coach Greg Vanney told reporters postgame.
“We just didn’t meet the moment.”
One of the themes of the night was the LA Galaxy's lack of organization in the most important game of the season. RSL found it easy to build through the middle, and the Galaxy struggled to get into dangerous offensive sets.
“I just felt like we were too far apart at times in this game to be able to play together, especially in the first half,” said Vanney.
“It becomes an isolated game. It becomes a lot of individuals trying to deal with situations individually, not being able to create space and use space and combine off of each other and things. And so, I felt like that was a big issue through the first half, and they took advantage of it”, he said.
The Galaxy registered no shots on target in a match for the second time this season. Vanney highlighted wingers being too wide and not in dangerous areas, striker Joao Klauss being isolated for most of the match, and players not taking up spaces that opened up.
“I felt like there was there were gaps, and not just things we talked about during the week, but things that had gotten us success in some of these games previously that were against back fives, back threes. So I feel like we just again, we missed the mark,” said Vanney about the lack of connection offensively.
Another theme was intensity, but more so the lack of it.
“Our intensity level needs to be higher for MLS games. I think our intensity level was often kind of in this moderate range where the demands of intensity are higher in MLS,” said Vanney when reflecting on the season.
“You got to be able to run. You got to be able to think while you’re running. You got to be able to execute while you’re running and thinking.”
John Nelson, who played all 90 minutes and had a crucial block in the first half, reiterated that message. The 28-year-old full back was the lone player to face the media after the game.
“If other guys don’t want to give intensity or don’t want to do the extra work. That’s on them,” he said.
“I feel like every game I try to give 100%, no matter the results, no matter what it is.”
The LA Galaxy has now missed the postseason in four of Vanney’s six seasons. This is the first time the team has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in his tenure. Given this record, his future with the club is a genuine question this offseason.
“Those decisions are up to people above me,” said Vanney when asked about his future.
“I still think personally, I can win championships in this league. It’s just a matter of the moment and the opportunity, and getting our group together and everybody working together consistently. So, but again, not my decision,” said Vanney.
Nelson has seen the best years of his career under Vanney and won MLS Cup with him in 2024. He backed his coach when asked by the media about Vanney’s future with the club.
“100%, 100%… I love playing for Greg and his coaching staff. Absolutely love it… I really hope he’s here,” said Nelson.
Vanney’s future and the roster changes ahead of the 2027 sprint season remain unanswered.
What is definite however, is that the 2026 LA Galaxy didn’t deserve to make the postseason.