Could changes for the defending MLS Cup champions be coming?

FanSided MLS

·10 marzo 2025

Could changes for the defending MLS Cup champions be coming?

If you predicted the Los Angeles Galaxy to be winless after their first three games, you may be a psychic of a member of the X-Men. Especially with two of those losses coming at home in Carson, California.

Yet, that's where we are at. The LA Galaxy are winless after the 3-0 shellacking they took on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park.

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General manager for the LA Galaxy Will Kuntz had to make a number of business decisions for the team following their sixth championship. Salary cap concerns and an aging defense were concerns. The Riqui Puig injury last winter was also of concern.

Multiple new players have been integrated into the MLS Western Conference juggernauts. However, the once mighty franchise now looks like a this could be a dismal season.

How to right the wrongs for the Los Angeles Galaxy?

1. Getting key players healthy will boost the team's morale and production.

Riqui Puig may not be coming back any time soon. However, Joseph Paintsil is near a return, as well as Miki Yamane. Having Yamane back there on defense alongside his fellow Japanese native teammate, Maya Yoshida, should help on that side of the ball.

"I think the key is we've got to get Joe (Paintsil) healthy. We've got to get him back. He literally has been out since the first week of preseason. I know he's chomping at the bit, but it's getting him back in a way that he's fit, he's healthy and we don't have to play this type of a scenario later on in the season or at any point in the season. Just try to get him back in the right way. Miki will be pretty quick. He would be pushing it for Wednesday. We'll see. He should be ready for sure by the weekend based on things. So those guys should be coming around pretty quick."Greg Vanney, Head Coach of the LA Galaxy

With Paintsil back, he can help take some of the pressure off of Gabriel Pec and newcomer Christian Ramirez. Pec is the only player with a goal for the LA Galaxy. Miguel Berry assisted on that play.

A season ago, the Los Angeles Galaxy boasted the MLS Western Conference's highest scoring offense. In the postseason, they set the all-time mark with 18 playoff goals.

"They say goals change games. It changed the energy of the game. It changed the emotions of the game. I think that's the story of the game in some ways. And then we lose balls in ways that we can't lose balls that then turn into transitions that lead into another goal. These are clear possession moments where we just have to link up the ball and it comes right back at us. "Greg Vanney, Head Coach of the LA Galaxy

Outside of that lone score, the LA Galaxy's offense has been hurting with the absences of Puig and Paintsil. The Killer P's are not at full strength but when they will be, look out!