Galaxy looking to bounce back against San Jose after LAFC loss
The Galaxy’s busy July continues with two games this week.
First is a clash tonight against the San Jose Earthquakes, followed by a Saturday night meeting with the Colorado Rapids.
Despite Friday’s loss to rival LAFC, the Galaxy (8-73, 27 points) begin the week in fifth place in the Western Conference, both San Jose (19 points) and Colorado (20 points) are below the playoff line and should be teams the Galaxy can handle, but that has been easier said than done.
“It’s been up and down,” midfielder Victor Vazquez said following last Friday’s 3-2 loss to LAFC. “I think we need to establish maybe some kind of control in the game. We have to take the good things and the bad things.”
A lack of consistency has been the problem for the Galaxy. The club hasn’t won consecutive games since April 3 and 9.
The Galaxy and San Jose
Today: San Jose at Galaxy, 7 p.m., FS1
met four times last season with the Galaxy going 2-1-1 in the series.
“It’s another important game at home, another rival match,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney. “Guys are obviously disappointed in the result (loss to LAFC), but the season moves on, now we have an opportunity at home to get a W.
“Every game in this league is difficult, that’s first and foremost. Any time you play against a rival, it’s also a difficult game, nothing can be taken for granted and we have to come out and play at our best and that’s our challenge anyways to find and set our standard on a consistent basis.”
Costa ready to return
Douglas Costa will be available after serving a two-game suspension following the red card he received after throwing an elbow against CF Montreal.
“One of the things we really had to do is diagnose where he was physically when he got here,” Vanney said. “There was a little bit of an underestimation of maybe the impact of some of the injuries he had in the past.
“What I’ve seen him in the past week and change since he started to feel good, I’m super optimistic and bullish about what he can bring to our team.”
Costa has played in 13 games and has scored two goals this season.
All-Star selections
Julian Araujo and Chicharito Hernandez were selected Tuesday to the MLS All-Star Game.
This is the second selection for both. Araujo was voted in, while Hernandez was a selection of Adrian Heath.
“I feel blessed, I’m honored to represent the Galaxy on a big stage,” Araujo said. “I need to showcase myself every game, every training, but I’m honored and blessed and will be looking to get the win.” The MLS All-Stars take on the Liga MX All-Stars on Aug. 10 at Allianz Field in Minnesota.