Galaxy looks to cap busy week with win in Chicago

The Galaxy opened their second three-game week with back-to-back home wins over the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas.

Saturday’s final game is against the Chicago Fire, a team at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Galaxy (7-2-7, 28 points) enters Saturday in second place in the Western Conference.

“The group goal was nine points this week,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “So there’s a lot to play for.”

Having the chance to complete the sweep wouldn’t be possible without a few artists Vanney singled out on Wednesday.

First, Diego Fagundez, who joined the starting lineup with Joseph Paintsil out with a hamstring injury.

“I have to give Diego a lot of credit,” Vanney said. “I know he doesn’t have much on the scoreboard, but he does so many little things on our team on the defensive end… and helps us keep possession and get things going next and he’s like such a good systematic player for us Diego is really good at helping the team function, and making sure guys get to the right places and making an impact on the game I think. for the guys to step up and step up.

Then there’s Mark Delgado, who was initially expected to play a limited role in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over FC Dallas. The original starting lineup had him on the bench, but after Gaston Brugman experienced some knee discomfort during warm-ups, Delgado was thrust into action and played the full 90 minutes.

“We were kind of rotating in that (midfield) group, but he (Delgado) had to be quickly put into action at the last minute,” Vanney said. “And one night where he was going to have less minutes, he ended up having 90. So guys have to adapt and be ready.”

A win against the Fire would give Vanney his first three-game winning streak with the Galaxy

“We would like to win four or five games in a row,” said forward Dejan Joveljic. “But we have to win three first and then we’ll see.

“We are in second place. So it’s good but it could be better. So yes, in the playoffs, I would like to start the first game at home. So that means we have to be in the top four teams, but of course our main goal is to be first.

This is the Galaxy’s 17th game of the season, officially reaching the halfway point of the season. This match is also the last before a two-week break. The Galaxy will return on June 15.

“I think for us and for the whole staff and the team, playing two games at home is really important and also to get the six points,” said midfielder Riqui Puig. “Now we go to Chicago with a different mentality, and I think we have to take the nine points.”