Major League Soccer’s top scorer of the 2021 season, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, returns to activity with the LA Galaxy this Saturday, hosting the Seattle Sounders. Following the lifting of restrictions in the state of California, Dignity Health Sports Park will open its doors at full capacity. More fans will be able to enjoy the good start of the Angelenos in this tournament.
“My feeling is that the group will be very excited to have a full stadium, something we have not seen in a long time, they will be able to nourish themselves with the energy in the stadium and that will give them strength. It is important that we play intelligently at the beginning of the game, not fall into their game, we must be disciplined before the plan of attack against a great team, “said the LA Galaxy coach. Greg vanney.
After the break for FIFA Date, Galaxy has been able to work on aspects to improve in training, they have also recovered Sebastian Lletget who was with the United States team. Jonathan dos Santos he has been working to recover from an injury suffered the previous game, and manager Greg Vanney hopes he can watch a few minutes.
Strikers duel
Chicharito tops the MLS scorers list this season with seven goals in seven games. Just a little behind with six, is Raúl Ruidiaz of the Sounders, this Saturday’s rival for the Angelenos. Ruidiaz was not called up with Peru for the Copa América, so Seattle will have its star striker. The attacker is motivated to appear on the court after not being called, according to his coach Brian Schmetzer.
Chicharito will seek to continue with the good step by contributing to the Los Angeles team, on the day, in addition, in which the first cut in the Mexican selection list is announced for the following commitments against Panama and Nigeria in the face of the Gold Cup. They continue, as Hernández has been cut off.
“In my entire career, what I have learned from my grandfather and my father is that you have to win every call to your team. That is won on the court, trying to be the best, ”Hernández said just last Wednesday after the team’s practice, when his name appeared on the preliminary list.
For the good of both the Galaxy and Seattle, both teams will be able to line up their stellar forward centers – ironically, neither was called up with their respective teams.
Duel at the top of the table
Seattle, the most winning team in recent years, has started the season in a great way with 18 points that have them as leaders of the Western Conference. Galaxy, for its part, the top winner in MLS history with five titles, has regained the illusion of its fans with a start of 15 units that places it in third place in the Conference.
“(Seattle) It is a group that when I see them, I see maturity. You have to go beat them, they are not going to put their foot in there themselves. For his rivals, we really have to earn the victory, “said Vanney. “They have great quality that they don’t need so many opportunities to make you pay. The way they are playing this year, they are difficult to open, they have not yielded many goals, there is athleticism in the back line that they have presented with three centrals ”.
Just on date three of this tournament, LA Galaxy and Seattle met at Lumen Stadium, with a 3-0 victory for the Sounders. It was the Angelenos’ first loss of 2021, after a promising six-point start that included five goals from Chicharito. Now, Galaxy hopes to defend its territory and complicate things for those led by Brian Schmetzer.
From the outset, there would be a change in the rear for Seattle, since they will not have defender Xavier Arreaga who is in the Copa América with Ecuador.
“It is up to us to maintain that mentality, the pace and consistency with which we started those first seven games of the season. There were good games, complicated games that we missed visiting or faced a Traffic Classic. We are thinking in the most positive way to continue growing as a team, ”said Chicharito.
Seattle is the only MLS team that remains undefeated after eight games played, while the Galaxy have made their home a stronghold and have not suffered losses at home. The Angelenos hope to maintain the positive streak at home against Sounders.