ClapLA Galaxy will be playing in the MLS Cup playoffs, but we, and a lot of others, feel as if it was a little bit too close for comfort. Of course, as reported by LAGalaxy.com and US Soccer Players, some choose to focus on the negatives and others will just ignore them entirely.
They went on a really bad run not so long ago, and while they’ve been let off the hook, they’ll be well aware of where they stand in the realms of the conference standings now.
The MLS is growing and developing and if they don’t want to get left behind, then they need to leave their egos at the door.
For reference, we’re going to remind the masses about a series of quotes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic that were taken from earlier on in the campaign.
“I think I am the best ever to play in MLS. And that, without joking,” Ibrahimovic said.
“It’s good. I said from the first day I came that I’m not here for vacation,” Ibrahimovic added. “I’m here to perform and show everybody what the game is about. I think the two years I’ve had here, I’ve done good things. Amazing things. Perfect things.
“I just have to keep doing, keep being in shape and help my team in the best way, and that is by scoring goals.”
In response, the manager had the following to say.
“I think it’s not easy, because he’s Zlatan. In big games, he appears,” Schelotto said. “He appears every day, every game, every time, but especially in the moments that are very hard for his own team, and he is on the pitch. That is the reason he is Zlatan, obviously.
“I hope to keep going like today, and for sure we will win more points to get to playoffs. We need to go game by game.”
Two contrasting styles – which, in the midst of the MLS Cup playoffs, isn’t going to cut it. This LA Galaxy team needs to stop riding their luck and start focusing on what’s important: team cohesion.
They’ve won four games in the MLS since mid-July and while they’ve still been able to make their way through a pretty poor Western Conference, that doesn’t mean they can, or at least should, breath a sigh of relief.
They need to be taking the next few weeks very seriously, because they’ve already been able to prove that they’re capable of accomplishing some great things.
They’ve beaten the best of the best and they’ve done so on more than one occasion, and while their city rivals may be the clear favourites, that isn’t going to mean all too much in the long run.
The MLS Cup is there for the taking this season in one of the most open campaigns that we can remember. Sure, LAFC are dangerous, but this ‘let-off’ should have served as a big eye-opener for LA Galaxy.
If they can focus and play to their potential, then it’s going to get interesting.
