Hopes are high for a second-half boost from Costa
The Galaxy are looking for a second-half revival from Douglas Costa.
In fact, the Galaxy will need one if they are to survive the Western Conference playoff chase.
Costa has appeared in three consecutive games. The Brazilian midfielder had an assist in the 3-2 loss against San Jose on July 13 and in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC, Costa went 64 minutes and completed 98% of his passes.
“I feel good,” Costa, 31, said Thursday. “A little better physically, and I hope to be at my maximum level soon. I think week by week I’ve been doing better and giving my all in training and in the games. I’m also performing better and able to contribute more to the team.
“Since I’ve been back on the field, I’ve played 45 minutes (twice), 60 minutes, going a little bit more each game. I think maybe in a month, I’ll be at my top level. Every time I go out there, I try to make sure I’m good. I’m doing a lot of preventive training the club has me working on. I also have my personal athletic trainer that I’m working with and this all helps to get me to my top level. It’s a step by step ... I know the team believes in me.
“It’s something I’ve gone through in my past, when I was at Juventus, the first six months were hard for me. It was hard to understand the league, my teammates, incorporating my way into the team and understanding how the team plays. No one wants to have injuries, but it’s something I’ve gone through and I don’t want to create excuses and I just to give my best and be at my best form now.”
The road to this moment
Today: Galaxy at Dallas, 6 p.m., SpecSN
has been challenging and frustrating. Costa arrived earlier this year and was slowed by leg injuries and most recently a hamstring problem. Over the international break, the Galaxy took time to get him right.
“I see it day to day, his fitness is growing, his highspeed movements are increasing, his sharpness when he gets the ball at his feet to eliminate the first guy (defender) and create a new scenario and force the opposition to send a second player, which then opens up spaces,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “In training, you can tell he’s not struggling (physically).
“There was a good stretch in the first two months, three months that he was here that you could see physically that he didn’t feel right. He wasn’t complaining about anything, but when we watched him and he was not moving freely, you don’t see it. He’s holding himself back, he’s not sprinting. Now we see a more dynamic movement, more sharper movement. For him, it’s to be able to replicate those high-intensity movements for 90 minutes or as many minutes as possible.”
With 13 games remaining, including today’s game at FC Dallas (6 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet), the Galaxy will need every bit of contribution from Costa.
The Galaxy (9-9-3, 30 points) are in the middle of a traffic jam in the Western Conference, with five points separating third-place Minnesota United FC (34) from ninth-place Seattle (29).
Making the trip even more challenging is the fact the Galaxy have lost five consecutive road games in the series with FC Dallas (8-6-8, 32 points), dating to 2016.