The LA Galaxy are itching to return to action this Sunday after waiting 23 days since their last match.
They’ll need to prove just how much they’ve matured if they hope to overcome these unique circumstances and beat a Minnesota United side intent on spoiling the Galaxy’s fantastic season.
It seems like a lifetime ago since the LA Galaxy swept the Colorado Rapids in the opening round of the 2024 playoffs. Riqui Puig recently described the break as “another preseason” and mentioned the difficulty he and his teammates have had in maintaining the mental and physical sharpness that saw them dominate the series against the Rapids.
Coach Greg Vanney admitted that his team isn’t in the same shape as they were before the break and will be grateful that their Western Conference Semifinal opponent, Minnesota United, have been out of action for just as long.
While the playoffs should be a contest between the best teams at their physical peak, this year’s MLS Semifinals are shaping up to be a battle to see who is best able to keep their legs and minds fresh after almost a month off, which isn’t ideal for the players who want to show the best version of themselves, or supporters who want to watch the best players at the top of their game.
While tomorrow’s match up might not be all that it should have been from a pure football perspective, the do-or-die mentality is sure to bring some edge to a fixture that will surely need it.
Minnesota United have recently made a name for themselves as one of the league’s best defensive teams to end the season. They are undefeated since mid September and have conceded just twice in those 7 games.
United Head Coach Eric Ramsay isn’t shy about getting his players behind the ball to protect Dayne St. Clair’s goal. His side have advanced to the semi finals without winning a single game in the postseason by parking the bus and getting their business done in the penalty shootout.
They’ll be looking to put on another defensive clinic against the Galaxy, who have reestablished their own name by playing some stunning attacking football.
Greg Vanney’s attack has looked dangerous across the board all season. With Riqui Puig, Newcomer of the Year Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Dejan Joveljic each contributing at least 10 goals and 5 assists, the Galaxy have no shortage of threat in the final third.
Confidence is incredibly important for attacking players, but the Galaxy front four must be sure not to let their confidence turn into desperation.
They’ll come into this game knowing they can break down any defense and will be dying to prove it to themselves by getting hot again as quickly as possible. It wouldn’t be an unfamiliar sight for supporters to see Riqui Puig dropping deep to pick up the ball and try a cross-field run to force something to happen when the goal he knows he can score is taking too long to arrive.
Allowing the hunt for a goal to take precedence over their defensive responsibilities would be a potentially season-ending proposition for the Galaxy, who have thrived recently thanks to their strict adherence to Greg Vanney’s philosophy.
Vanney-ball combines fluid passing and movement in the attacking phase with disciplined positioning in defense. Attacking players are given license to exploit spaces in front of them as they appear while being sure to contribute in ball recovery as defensive players in the back half of the pitch keep threats to McCarthy’s goal at bay.
This setup can lead to dominant displays when each cog fulfills their responsibilities on both sides of the ball. The system quickly begins to fail when even just one player begins to forget their defensive duties in search of a goal.
Despite his brilliance in attack, Riqui Puig has been criticized for a lack of defensive effort in the regular season. Fortunately for his reputation among supporters and his team’s fortunes, Puig is showing that he’s been saving that defensive effort for the postseason.
While his defensive contribution isn’t reflected in the stat sheet, the eye test shows a player not afraid of tracking back. This has allowed defensive midfielders like Edwin Cerillo and Mark Delgado to be even more rock-solid.
With Puig leaving smaller gaps in the midfield and losing the ball with risky actions far less often, the defensive unit has had a much easier time plugging in the holes with more predictable play ahead of them.
The LA Galaxy are no longer the team who reacted to and chased play in 2023, but are showing that they have the ability to control all phases of the game.
The ultra-defensive Minnesota United will be just fine allowing the Galaxy to be on the front foot while they sit back. With the onus on the hosts to break the deadlock and prevent the match from going into penalties, Vanney’s players must not allow themselves to forget the defensive responsibilities which have made them so successful in this postseason in pursuit of that all-important goal.
If they allow themselves to get too stuck in, Minnesota will be primed and ready to exploit any chance they can carve out. In a playoff fixture like this, all it takes is one lapse of concentration to end the Galaxy’s season.
Greg Vanney and his players will be hoping to score quickly and not allow their rivals to get comfortable but they will also know they can’t afford to compromise their own integrity.
Patience and discipline will likely decide which team earns a spot in the Western Conference final. Will the LA Galaxy be able to hold their nerve after such a long break? The answer will only begin to reveal itself at 3:25 PM PST on Sunday afternoon.
PHOTO: LA Galaxy
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