Greg Vanney is set to stay until 2028 and has the support of an all-new Director of Qualitative Analysis to build another winning team by then. For now, he finally has a healthy squad and a setup that allows his top players to perform.
Let’s take a look at the players who are taking the LA Galaxy as far as they’ve been this year in search of their first taste of success in 2025.
By this point just about everyone knows that the LA Galaxy are off to the worst start to the season by any team in MLS history with zero wins in 14 league games. They couldn’t get the job done in their two most recent games, but their play suggests that the Galaxy could be closer than ever to cracking this nut.
This winless renaissance is being brought on by one of the game’s established masters and an impressive up-and-coming talent.
Lucas Sanabria and Marco Reus have finally arrived to the season after spending the first third of the year either unavailable or several notches away from their best through injury. They’ve felt like new signings for Greg Vanney, giving him the foundation for some of his team’s best performances so far.
The Return of Marco Reus
Marco Reus has struggled with lower-body injuries since the end of the 2024 season. He was a fixture in the side in the first three games of the season, playing 71, 20, and 91 minutes against San Diego FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, and St. Louis City SC. He was then out of the team for more than a month as Vanney opted to prioritize Reus’s long-term availability over utilizing his best weapon during the team’s winless run.
Reus returned slowly, playing thirty-minute cameos against Austin FC and the Portland Timbers before fully making his comeback with a 90 minute performance in Kansas. He showed glimpses of vintage Marco Reus, putting five passes into the final third and striking the woodwork from a free kick.
A healthy Marco Reus is one thing, but a healthy Marco Reus with a proper foundation is something even more dangerous. That’s where Lucas Sanabria comes in.
Lucas Sanabria is Back
Sanabria suffered a major injury in Vancouver back in the beginning of March, fracturing his collarbone just two games into the season. He didn’t return to action until making a 45 minute cameo in the 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo more than a month later, but Vanney sensed that he wasn’t quite ready and pulled Sanabria at the half.
In the next four games, Vanney used Sanabria sparingly. He got 15 minutes against Austin, 30 against Portland, zero against Sporting Kansas City, and 45 in the 7-0 thrashing against the New York Red Bulls.
It took awhile, but two and half months on from fracturing his collarbone Sanabria finally returned for some real minutes and helped his team make some real improvements. The Galaxy’s last two games against the Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC have seen the team’s best performances of the year with Sanabria playing a large part in both games.
Sanabria got 70 minutes in Philadelphia and helped the team to their first two-goal lead of the season. He was the defensive lynchpin in a midfield rounded out by Isaiah Parente and Elijah Wynder. Fully recovered from his injury and finally able to make full use of his physicality, Sanabria got stuck in and made important recoveries, like this one in the 30th minute to create the Galaxy’s first goal. He also showed his quality in possession, using his body and skill to get away from immense pressure to create a chance for the Galaxy.
Sanabria lets Reus be Himself
With Lucas Sanabria finally fit enough to contribute defensively, Marco Reus is finally free enough to pull strings and lead the LA Galaxy in the way they need.
Marco Reus felt the pressure from fans for not making enough of an impact in the way of goal contributions in the absence of Riqui Puig. Injuries definitely hampered his performances, but so did not having the proper supporting cast.
Vanney has experimented heavily in the midfield this season, trying to find the right mix without Puig and dealing with Reus’s and Sanabria’s injuries. The mix that has been the most effective so far is the one that includes Lucas Sanabria and takes the defensive responsibilities off of Marco Reus.
In the two matches Reus has started alongside Sanabria since they both returned to the starting eleven, the German legend has had his best performances in a Galaxy shirt.
Sanabria directly contributed to Reus’s first assist against Philadelphia and his defensive play was vital in giving Reus the freedom to roam and make two assists, create two additional chances, and make five passes into the final third.
It was a similar story back at home against LAFC. Sanabria was solid, not getting dispossessed once while making six defensive actions and five ball recoveries. Alongside Edwin Cerillo’s impressive effort, Sanabria let Reus focus on being a threat. The German scored twice, created two chances, had three touches in LAFC’s box, and slipped five more passes into their final third.
Lucas Sanabria is breathing new life into the Galaxy midfield. Marco Reus is single handedly giving the Galaxy their attacking edge back. They both played in the home opener against San Diego FC, the game that started this woeful run, but neither player was in the form they’re enjoying now.
Their contributions will be crucial when the Galaxy travel to San Diego on Saturday, May 24th. Things have been looking up for LA since the pair re-joined the team, but this is the fixture for the Galaxy to prove just how far they’ve come.
Reus and Sanabria are back. Can they bring the LA Galaxy back to winning ways?
PHOTO: Andre Bannis Photography//LAXSportsNation
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