MLS Playoffs Stakes Rise as Galaxy Surge and LAFC Slide

We need to talk about MLS, and I think we both have a lot of grievances to air in this segment because our team's bittersweet seasons. I don't want to say that it's all bad. Both of us expect a different standard from the LA teams. You, with a number of championships under your belt, with a history and a legacy to defend, and LAFC with a standard as a new franchise of where the teams need to invest and how they need to play. and i think they they both are falling short of that promise to their fans i think that that is true in the bigger picture but if you zoom it and you look at the shorter term i as a galaxy fan am quite happy because yes we bad since 2024 a really bad like bottom of the table bad bottom of the barrel bad and now we're finally starting to pick things up and look like we have some life in us we're playing creatively so for the short term i'm actually quite happy because for the first time in two years we can actually you're in playoff position it could go either way it's El Tráfico is going to make a a big um it's gonna it's this there's a lot riding on this one uh for both teams in different ways for us it's a must win because we want to get into the playoffs if we yes if we stay where we are now we're going to play like that play-in game in colorado in altitude and it's going to be a lot of pressure we're probably going to fall out it's not good we need to win games right now is the time to do you guys are hosting too student at home and we got to win both of those matches so that we're comfortably in seventh um yes yeah a lot riding on el tráfico but i think we're in two different places no we're kind of rising as you guys are taking quite a dip right now it seems like you've lost the wind in your sails your 2025 galaxy you right? Mira, Nick, there's a lack of identity in the team. There's a lot of new players. There's players that are just understanding what it is to play at LAFC. We have very few veterans that are setting the standard. We have very few players that are hot and really connected and really performing at their best. And we cannot depend on Buanga to just bail us out every single time. He has called the team already one coach. The first time that LAFC fires a coach mid-season without even allowing him a full season to prove himself. But the team was just not playing with no idea, no strategy, was just playing without the ball, waiting for an opportunity to whip a ball to Bouanga or to Sonny, get a breakaway, and then try to win with just speed and relentless attack. the reality is that the league has learned this they they've seen it two or three four seasons already and nothing is new under the under the sun for the for the west at least and little by little we see LAFC drop in places we're in sixth place with like you said a downward trajectory a downward momentum um the team is not playing better with the interim coach just a gap measure I'm sure the reality is that we're going to have a throwaway season maybe maybe we have that you know very much like Seattle back in the day stringing the last three, four games successfully starting by beating you guys on Saturday at the you know if they accomplish that it might be that turnaround that they need if they lose El Clasico El Trafico it's going to be tough for the team it's going to be Emotionally And the motivation Is going to be tough for them I hope they don't check out I hope that they continue to fight Because they still have possibilities A lot of possibilities to go into the playoffs Even with that loss But I'm nervous You have reasons to be I'm a little traumatized So I'm not sure that Galaxy can win Just because of how the last few years have gone But here's why you should be nervous For once For once, Galaxy's good on set pieces. We haven't been great on set pieces for a very long time. Marco has been absolutely amazing for us. Mr. Royce, I'm talking about. Number two, Jao Klaus is back with us. He's been scoring goals consistently. That's great. That is, for me, the biggest threat. Exactly. Back in the back, we've had Jacob, Jakob, I should say in the Norwegian way. Jakob Klesnes, who was Defensive Player of the Year when he played in Philly, He came here and is kind of having a sunny effect. He's not exactly playing to the level that we thought he would for us. So, in lieu of him, we're playing Garces. Garces, who has been actually very good in the back for us, aside from the fact that he's more red card than anyone. But I wouldn't, in the whole MLS. One of the youngest players out there for the back line. He's really young. And I wouldn't be surprised if the guy who's prone to getting reds is going to start in El Trafico for us. They're going to take a risk. and they're going to go for him because he's been playing great. It's going to be a fiery one. And so, look, you should be nervous because for the first time, we have a chance to come in here with a little chip on our shoulder. It's always been, oh, God, we've got to defend our honor in the galaxy. Oh, my God, oh, my God. Now we have a little chip on our shoulder. We feel like we're almost better than you guys for the first time in a while. No pressure, making our home fans happy. We're away, I guess, but it's going to be a great match. I'm not convinced that we're going to win, so I'm not talking trash, but you should be nervous because it hasn't been like this for a while. I am.