For all the criticism the LA Galaxy took during their well-documented early-season struggles, they're currently one of the hotter teams in MLS, having won four and tied one of their five games since the resumption of the regular season.
And not only are they playing better, they're also getting healthier, with head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto telling reporters on Thursday that Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and midfield rock Jonathan dos Santos are getting closer to being able to take on a full load of minutes. Schelotto said a decision hasn't yet been made on what that duo's availability will look like over the club's upcoming slate of games, but they are ready to start ramping up their workload.
“They are getting better,” Schelotto said. “Now they are ready for more minutes. They were training all week and they are better than [they were] last weekend. It will be difficult to have them in the [next] three games. So we need to decide and do the best thing for the team.
“The two have played 30 minutes in the last game. As time and weeks go by, they’ll be better. But you have to consider they’ve been away from the field a long time,” Schelotto continued. “But the team begins to play on Sundays and Wednesdays and we’re going to need something from everyone. So at some point this week or next week they’ll need to play and we’ll need them to be prepared and to respond. Tomorrow we’ll determine who plays on Saturday [vs. Colorado]. Tomorrow we’ll determine that. But they’re players that need to get up to speed and play more minutes every time because of how important they are to this squad.”
Yet another reinforcement is on the way in the form of Yony Gonzalez, who last month joined on loan from Benfica.
“I talked to him today. I think he’s ready. Everything is OK. Soon he will be ready to play for us,” Schelotto said. “He has all his paperwork ready and we’re going to have him soon on the field.”
As it stands right now, the Galaxy have been rolling with a consistent lineup that beginning this year has featured academy product Julian Araujo, who is now settling in as a starter and looks more comfortable than ever after breaking through last year.
“He’s growing and learning a lot. It’s weird to find players who grow and learn as much as he can," Schelotto said of Araujo. "We’re excited to have him. I think he’s wonderful as a player. He’s playing with us right now, but I don’t know where he can finish if he keeps growing and learning. Right now we got him but the future for him is really good. But he has to keep working very hard to get his future. But we’re very happy with him.”
LA will look to make it six unbeaten when they take on the Colorado Rapids in a Saturday home matchup (10:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada).
“The success we’ve had in these [last] five games has been the conviction with which we’ve played, pushing the game – not speculating, and having a plan in each of the games,” Schelotto said. “We’re moving forward and the players have done well. We’ve won three Clasicos [vs. LAFC]. It’s not easy to win one and we’ve done it in three games. But tough games are coming like this week, playing in Utah, playing against Seattle and a game against Colorado at home.”
