ARENA FULL OF PRAISE

LA Galaxy have become one of the most successful clubs in MLS over the last few years and manager Bruce Arena has received a lot of praise work with the team. They will be competing in the play-offs once again this year. After winning the first leg play-off against Real Salt Lake 1-0, LA Galaxy are the favourites to progress into the next round. Arena has been extremely successful with LA Galaxy when it comes to the play-offs and it looks like he will be repeating the same this time around as well. The manager, though, has said that there is no formula when it comes to success at this stage of the competition.

Ahead of the match, his opposition manager Jason Kreis praised him as one of the best in the United States. Arena has the experience of managing the United States national team in the past. He also has four MLS cups under his belt, which makes him one of the most successful managers in the MLS. LA Galaxy are the favourites to get past Real Salt Lake, as they have been on a brilliant run since the end of July. They have suffered just two defeats since then, but Arena is likely to be without a number of his key players because of the international duty.

“Half the battle is making it. This year was very competitive from start to finish in the league, as we know. I think it’s going to be real difficult for the teams. Recovery time is very difficult in this schedule, so it’s going to be interesting. I don’t think anybody really knows how it’s going to play out,” Arena said. “They put things together in the playoffs. They have players that have been there and done it so many times that they know what they’re capable of,” said Kreis.