The LA Galaxy defeated Real Salt Lake 3-2 to put an end to their losing streak, but players insist there's still much work to be done.
Just a day after parting with longtime club president Chris Klein, the Galaxy needed some positives after three straight losses in MLS play – their lone win in the last four coming against LAFC in a US Open Cup match – prompting an on-field meetup with club supporters this past weekend.
"Yesterday we lost a guy in Chris that we all care about. We all feel some responsibility in that process. It's hard not to," head coach and sporting director Greg Vanney said following the match. "As a group, we came together and we fought today. … The spirit in the group was amazing."
LA had everything going against them coming into the match: Chicharito out with a red card suspension, sitting at the bottom of the table in the Western Conference, and goalless in their last three league games.
This win though, while not alleviating the general malaise that hovers over the team, does bring a glimmer of hope.
"What we talked about this week is that you're never too far away," said Vanney. "One of the things about MLS in the regular season, especially early on, is it can be forgiving if you can find your footing and you can find yourself and you can get on some sort of a run. You can build some sort of consistency. Many teams have won a championship."
And the squad knows that the pressure is not off, that for the storied MLS team, winning should be the norm.
"I don't think there's any pressure off," said Boyd, who played through a broken hand to come off the bench and score the game-winner. "We're still not where we want to be. I don't think anything's changed."
Momentarily due to goal difference, the Galaxy jump up to 13th in the table above the Rapids and will face 2nd place St. Louis CITY SC on June 11 after squaring off against RSL in a US Open Cup match June 7.
"We need to string some wins together and continue with this momentum," Boyd added. "No pressure off. We still have to fight hard, train hard, and continue to push each other. So nothing changes."
This article was originally published on 90min as Galaxy road win doing little to alleviate pressure on the club.
