The season may be all but over, but Chivas USA have not given up hope.
Although the club was eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's 3-0 loss to San Jose, Chivas players still maintain that the season is not a lost cause just yet.
"We're going to keep doing what we're doing. We're going to play for the fans," Chivas striker Antonio Martinez said. "That's what this team plays for and until the season is over, we're going to play for them."
Chivas enters the final stretch of games with a league-worst 3-19-5 mark. The club's 59 goals allowed are by far the worst in the league and their 27 goals scored rank among the bottom.
Still, players said they were amazed by the never-ending support from the fans.
"We still think that we have the best fans in the league," Chivas defender Ezra Hendrickson said. "How else do you explain the kind of season we have and we're still in the top half in attendance?"
And it's not just at The Home Depot Center that Hendrickson said he felt support from Chivas fans.
"It's amazing," Hendrickson said. "Here we are, we've won three games out of 27 and we're still getting fans. Even on the road fans are coming out and supporting us."
Playing for an MLS Cup is out of the question but paying to put on a good show and give fans something to cheer about is still a noble cause, players said. And if the club were to win a game or two or three at home, it would make it that much sweeter for everyone.
"It would be good, not only for our team and our club but for our fans too," Guzan said. "They have a lot of faith in us. We have to prove to them that we're not going to just throw the rest of the season away."
Chivas have won all three of their games at home. Doubling that output is not out of the question, Hendrickson said.
"We have three home games left and we think we can win all three of those and maybe get a couple of ties on the road," Hendrickson said. "We appreciate (the fans' support). That doesn't go unnoticed. It's just a shame that we haven't given them more. Maybe these last five games we can show them our appreciation and play good soccer."
Fans might see some Chivas goals and perhaps a victory but what they won't see is a lack of effort.
"We're going to come out and compete in every game and do what we can to get the results we need to finish off the season strong and give them something to look forward to for next year," Guzan said.
With the playoffs a lost cause, Martinez said victories are nevertheless important.
"(We need to) get some wins. Finish on a good note. Finish ahead of Salt Lake," Martinez said. "That's a goal as well, to not be the worse expansion team out of the two and play for the fans. They've been supporting us all year with all the losses and all the bad moments and hopefully we can finish up with some good moments for them."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
