The month of June will end up being light for the Galaxy.
With Wednesday’s trip to Colorado, followed by Saturday’s visit to in-state rival San Jose, the Galaxy will close June with only three games in the month.
July will be another story with five MLS games and the start of thew annual Leagues Cup tournament.
“I think it was a much-needed rest for everyone, mentally and physically,” defender John Nelson said of the recently concluded league break. “Obviously, the year has been a crazy year for us, but it was a good rest. I thought this week (of training) has been a really good week of training. It was physical and it was intense.
“We’re coming off of a win and a draw, so I think that builds some momentum and (Galaxy coach Greg) Vanney always talks about how important momentum is and if we go into Colorado and San Jose and get some home games after that, we can build some momentum.”
The last-place Galaxy (1-12-5, eight points) won their first game of the season on May 31 against Real Salt Lake, 2-0, and almost had a second consecutive win but wound up with a 3-3 draw on the road against St. Louis CITY SC on June 14.
“The positive (against St. Louis) is we go up and we can win the game,” Nelson said. “The negative is we give the game away at the end … it’s kind of been a story the season, but I would say, it (the draw) is something to build off of, for sure.
“It’s one training at a time, one game at a time and if we can get results on the road these next two games and come back and play at home and build momentum.”
After Saturday, the Galaxy will play three consecutive games at home, followed by a short trip across town to rival LAFC on July 19.
Colorado (6-8-4, 22 points) and San Jose (6-7-5, 23 points) currently occupy the last two playoff spots in the Western Conference and opportunities for the reigning MLS champs to try to begin climbing out of the basement.
“We’re trying to continue to improve in areas we need to improve, tighten up things, be more consistent about certain things in games, close up errors, close out games better, things like that,” Vanney said. “I generally feel over last four or five games that we should have a few wins out of those games and we should have closed out the last game and we don’t and these are things that we have to improve upon. But there’s details over the last four weeks because we’ve had lots of training, it feels like, and not many games and then some time off. But I feel like we’ve been able to accomplish some things on the training field.
“I’m seeing progress on the training field in some areas and some players. I’m feeling progress in the group and so now, it’s not just translating that into decent performances, but translating it into wins.”
GALAXY at COLORADO RAPIDS
When: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
How to watch: Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass)
