Steve Carrillo

Midseason Friendly – LA Galaxy Host Manchester United

Editor’s Note: Davis is our fifteen-year-old writer who does an excellent job of keeping me informed on the LA Galaxy. He’s constantly sending in screencaps and rumors for me to track and when his schedule allows, he likes to get some writing in. He’s both a Manchester United fan and a Galaxy fan and is excited to see both of his teams play on Saturday. Below is his game preview for the friendly on Saturday night! – Josh Guesman, CoG

Midseason Friendly – LA Galaxy Host Manchester United

This Saturday on July 15, 2017, your five-time MLS Cup champions, the LA Galaxy takes on long-time English giants, Manchester United.

The LA Galaxy was founded in 1996, along with the rest of the MLS teams that were created within the newly founded American soccer league. For a long time, they’ve been known to carry big name players, all managed and coached by the former legendary American coach and current USMNT coach, Bruce Arena.

  • GAME INFO – LA Galaxy vs Manchester United, 7:00 PM, Saturday, July 15th, 2017, StubHub Center
  • TV INFO – ESPN

This year, it’s been a “roller-coaster ride,” under a new head coach. Curt Onalfo has been looking to make a new and younger team to fulfill his job of making his USL players perfectly adaptable for MLS. He definitely has had many struggles at home, but on the road this year, for the most part, he has been amazing.

For all LA Galaxy fans, they all know they expect to see Onalfo work to make this thin, inexperienced and injury-hit team as best as he can.

For Manchester United, they were established 118 years prior to the LA Galaxy’s establishment, which was in 1878. Their fans are used to winning after having coaches as influential and as desirable as Sir Matt Busby. But the most well-known is Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013.

Since 2013, they’ve struggled to find a permanent replacement. Their shocking appointment of David Moyes didn’t even make it past February before he got the sack. Louis Van Gaal, the next appointment, lasted two seasons before he was fired. The next appointment, Jose Mourinho seems to be the perfect fit, winning three pieces of silverware in his first season. He has cemented his place as manager for at least a long while, as he looks to finish what Sir Alex Ferguson had worked so hard to build them into – an empire.

Both sides have players that are key in order to win the game.

The LA Galaxy, this season has suffered the injury and absentee bug like no other team. Only recently, have some of the starters returned to action.

Giovani Dos Santos just came back from national duty and Brian Rowe has come back from injury. However, they are missing players, who are key to this team’s success such as Romain Alessandrini, Joaõ Pedro, Jermaine Jones, Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget, and Gyasi Zardes being away on national duty.

They have a thin roster and Dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng, Ashley Cole, and Jelle Van Damme are the key players that the LA Galaxy’s chances of winning this match rest upon.

For Manchester United, they are filled to the brim with world-class players. In addition to newest signings Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku, they have players such as David De Gea, Eric Bailly, Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford, Juan Mata, and more.

This newly formed and styled team under the world-class and experienced tactics under Jose Mourinho are looking to be formidable not only this pre-season tournament but are looking to be formidable as title contenders for the 2017/2018 season.

All over the field, Manchester United has more than enough talent to help them win this match. But could the Galaxy surprise them? Or will the Galaxy suffer another humilating defeat by a similar score to 2014’s matchup (7-0)?

What do you think of how these teams are laid out? What is your prediction on who is going to win the match, the ending score, and the players who score? What are your thoughts about what both teams have to offer? Feel free to comment below on your thoughts on the topics mentioned within.