Greg Vanney has urged his LA Galaxy workforce to take care of being each MLS workforce’s standout recreation of the season forward of dealing with the Vancouver Whitecaps this weekend.
Vanney watched on because the Galaxy kick-started their title defence with a shock 2-0 defeat to San Diego FC, who had been making their debut within the American top-flight.
The Galaxy, in fact, will likely be assured of backing up their MLS Cup victory with one other robust displaying this marketing campaign, however Vanney stated his gamers should get used to the sensation of arising towards groups eager to knock them off their perch.
“I consider that the Galaxy are all the time going to get all people’s finest shot. Everyone desires to beat the Galaxy,” Vanney stated.
“And you recognize, due to the membership that it’s, that’s one thing you take care of on a regular basis. I believe being the champion, for certain.
Vanney additionally insisted that the loss to San Diego doesn’t have an effect on the potential of the workforce, saying: “I’m not scared. I believe it’s including some new gamers.
“It’s the profiles of the gamers generally which can be on the market and ensuring we discover the fitting stability of men who can provide us some stretch and guys who’re wanting between the traces.
“It’s one thing we’re going to be very conscious of to verify it doesn’t turn into a behavior. It’s one thing we regulate. It was certainly one of my potential considerations of the day.”
Closing. pic.twitter.com/0WZcH5hFun
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) February 24, 2025
Vancouver, in the meantime, began their season with a formidable 4-1 win over 10-man Portland Timbers, who noticed Kamal Miller despatched off after simply 11 minutes.
Jesper Sorensen’s facet adopted that up with a 2-0 win over Costa Rican facet Deportivo Saprissa to guide their place within the subsequent spherical of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
That victory was impressed by Brian White, who scored each targets at BC Place in midweek. He additionally signed a contract extension with the Whitecaps that runs by way of till 2027.
Since becoming a member of Vancouver again in 2021, White has scored a franchise-record 57 targets in 148 appearances throughout all competitions, and is able to cause them to success this 12 months.
“Vancouver has turn into a second residence, and it’s particular to be part of this membership and this group,” stated White.
“The followers have all the time voiced their help, not just for myself however the whole workforce, and that motivates us to all the time try larger.
“We’ll proceed to push to make historical past collectively. I’ll proceed giving all the things I can to convey success to Vancouver.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver – Jayden Nelson
With a objective and three assists on Sunday, Nelson began the season in wonderful type for Vancouver and will likely be eager to proceed that towards the Galaxy.
Certainly, he turned the fifth participant in MLS historical past to document 4 objective contributions in his workforce’s season-opening match, together with Daniel Gazdag for Philadelphia Union in 2023, Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario for Houston Dynamo in 2006 and Jason Kreis for FC Dallas in 1999.
LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec
With final 12 months’s high scorer, Dejan Joveljic, departing for Sporting Kansas Metropolis, Pec will likely be trying to lead the road for the Galaxy of their quest for glory this season.
The Brazilian scored in every of the Galaxy’s final 4 street video games final season. Solely White for Vancouver between July and September 2024 has scored in 5 immediately matches since 2020.
MATCH PREDICTION: LA GALAXY WIN
The Galaxy gained each conferences with Vancouver final season, together with a 3-1 win at BC Place in April. That they had managed only one win of their earlier seven towards the Whitecaps in all competitions (D2 L4).
However they opened their title defence with a 2-0 loss to growth facet San Diego, ending a run of 18 straight matches in all competitions with a objective. Solely two reigning champions in league historical past have misplaced their first two matches of a season (D.C. United in 2000 and Toronto FC in 2018).
The Whitecaps, in the meantime, turned simply the fifth workforce in MLS historical past, and the primary for the reason that Columbus Crew at D.C. United in 2014, to win their season-opening match on the street by a margin of not less than three targets.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Vancouver – 32.4%
Draw – 25.5%
LA Galaxy – 42.1%