New York City FC face off the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night.
For this edition of 'The Away End' presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to Mike Gray, a journalist covering the LA Galaxy.
Hi Mike, thanks for speaking with us. How long have you been covering the LA Galaxy?
Been covering the Galaxy for a decade! Primarily for SB Nation and The Striker.
What has been your highlight in that time?
Has to be the first El Trafico. Around LA, the anticipation and hype in the build-up was through the roof. The atmosphere that day was absolutely electric, easily the loudest Galaxy game I’ve attended.
LAFC were in complete control during the opening hour with Carlos Vela and company pinging the ball around effortlessly and well, the rest is history. 36 hours after stepping off a plane, Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his debut and scored a wonder goal before his stoppage-time header capped an improbable 4-3 come-from-behind victory.
The highlights are epic, but they hardly compare to what it was like in person. Witnessing Zlatan loop a 40-yard screamer over Tyler Miller and the crowd’s reaction afterward was a religious experience (I also had a hand in naming the rivalry which was rad).
What were your thoughts on the 2023 season?
2023 couldn’t have ended soon enough. Before the year began, the Galaxy and President Chris Klein were sanctioned by MLS for violating salary budget and roster guidelines. News of Klein re-signing with the club sparked an unprecedented fan boycott that sucked the life out of Dignity Health Sports Park.
The embattled president was dismissed in May, but the damage was done. A slow start left LA chasing points the rest of the summer, and when Riqui Puig suffered an ankle injury in September the season was done.
With the departures of Chicharito and Douglas Costa opening up two DP slots, many were already looking ahead to 2024.
What are your hopes for the 2024 season?
“Are the Galaxy back?” has been the mantra among the fans and media all season long.
GM Will Kuntz invested over $20 million to bring Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, and Miki Yamane to Los Angeles and hit on all three targets. With Riqui Puig pulling the strings in midfield, the Galaxy now deploys one of the most prolific attacks in the league capable of hurting you with possession or in transition.
That being said, the attack still has yet to reach its full potential, and while the team has stopped bleeding goals, LA haven't proven they can defend at an elite level. There’s real pressure on manager Greg Vanney to prove he can mold this talented group of players into an MLS Cup contender.
What do you think will be the deciding factor in Wednesday’s game?
Despite losing attacking weapons Riqui Puig and Gastón Brugman to injury, LA found the back of the net four times en route to a 4-2 shootout victory over Sporting Kansas City. Which is good since neither will likely be available Wednesday vs. NYCFC.
The bad news is, Greg Vanney’s group remains susceptible to poor aerial defending (10 set-piece goals conceded!) and individual mistakes. Several times players were caught sleeping at the back post and lucky not to be punished.
Nick Cushing’s group will have their chances if they can capitalize on them. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Keaton Parks or Alonso Martínez get on the end of a dangerous cross.
And for any fans that might be in LA for the game are there any spots you’d suggest they check out?
Ok, don’t rope me into The Great Shake Shack vs. In N Out Debate \laughs\. You can’t go wrong with a Double-Double and animal-style fries. Or head to the original Tommy’s Hamburgers on Beverly and Rampart for some chili cheeseburgers.
Need a taqueria rec? Cooked over mesquite charcoal and wrapped in homemade tortillas, the burritos at Sonoratown are widely regarded as some of the best in the city. If Korean BBQ is your thing, my friend and foodie Eli Lesser recommended Dan Sung Sa for the ambiance.
If you’re looking to live like an Angelino for a day, try going for a hike at sunrise and then hitting up the beach or a rooftop pool.
