Los Angeles Galaxy manager Greg Vanney says Houston loss was “unacceptable and disrespectful to our brand”

Los Angeles Galaxy is one of just two teams yet to win so far in the 2023 Major League Soccer season. The most decorated MLS team lost 3-0 in their recent visit to Shell Energy Stadium against Houston Dynamo. The headlines were not about the result, but the double-sending-off for Martín Cáceres and Douglas Costa, who both saw red for various non-footballing reasons.

Manager Greg Vanney pulled no punches during his post-match media duties, as he apologised to the fans and said that similar incidents will not occur under his watch.

‘That was unacceptable, and it was disrespectful’

Cáceres got a second yellow for entering the VAR area and touching referee Alex Chilowicz in the middle of a penalty check; Costa’s was given a straight red for grabbing Houston’s Brooklyn Raines from behind and pulling him to the ground after the ball had gone out for a throw-in.

“To our fans who show up and fight for us every single game: They won’t see that again. That was unacceptable, and it was disrespectful to our brand and to who we want to be,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said after the match. He also added that he spoke to the team after the defeat and will have a separate talk with Douglas Costa about the red card he received in the 96th minute.

The Galaxy arrive in poor form to El Tráfico

The team will not be able to count on either Douglas Costa or Martín Cáceres for next Sunday’s match against the best team in the league, Los Angeles Fútbol Club, which will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park. Vanney made it known that he is annoyed as it is the first El Tráfico of the season and one of the most important games of the season for the Galaxy.

“Yeah, it’s unacceptable. They know it’s unacceptable,” said Vanney. “They apologized to the group, but it’s not acceptable. It can’t happen. These guys are veterans in our team. They’re supposed to be leaders in our team. They need to set examples. They need to, again, control their emotions, and we need them available always, and they understand that, and it’s not acceptable.”

‘Every game is a challenge’

There’s no other shortcuts to getting results in this league. You don’t get to show up on Saturday and say you’re a talented team and win games in MLS. Every game is hard. Every game is a challenge. That’s what I told these guys. That’s the beauty of this league,” Vanney added.

“You have to show up and perform and play at your level every single week, or else you lose. And if you make silly decisions over the course of the game and you leave the group vulnerable or yourself vulnerable, then you lose.