The very clearly stated goal of the Los Angeles Galaxy has been to win trophies. But Saturday night in Denver, after winning the Western Conference Championship, certainly celebrating their achievement and getting another piece of hardware for the trophy case, there was no gloating from the Galaxy.
"The job's just not complete at this point," said team president and general manager Doug Hamilton on the field. "We certainly feel good about where we are. We feel good about having an opportunity to win another championship (the Galaxy earlier this year won the U.S. Open Cup). But the guys went into the year with an objective of the MLS Cup, so the work isn't done yet."
Between setting that objective and securing a slot in next week's MLS Cup Final, the Galaxy experienced more than their share of tough times, playing through a debilitating stretch of the season where every game seemed like a whole new script, with a rotating cast of characters and a dizzying series of rewrites.
"We've had a lot of turbulence over the last couple years during the regular season, so to actually come out after everything we had and then to come through to the final, it's a big relief for everybody on this team," said Cobi Jones.
"In the middle of the season we had a lot of things going on. We had national teams call up a variety of different players, we had injuries, so we never played with the same lineup. I think this is the first time -- this last run of the past five or six games -- that we've actually had the same lineup that we had at the beginning of the season since about April," Jones said. "Everyone is confident and we're in a rhythm and a groove, so we're feeling pretty good right now."
The 35-year-old team leader is set for his fifth MLS Cup, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. His turn of pace down the right flank set up the Galaxy's first goal Saturday that sent them to a fifth MLS Cup in the 10-year history of the league -- matching D.C. United's record. Jones is the only player left in the league who has spent the entire history of the league with one club.
"A body in motion is easier to keep going," he said, revealing the secret to his enduring success. "Just never stop."
The Galaxy has one more stop before the season runs out, and Jones promises to watch Sunday's game between New England and Chicago carefully, analyzing both teams.
While players are reluctant to state a preference about their upcoming opponent, Landon Donovan had seen enough of the Fire to know how he felt about a potential showdown in Texas.
"The way Chicago played last week, I wouldn't want to play them ever," Donovan said. "Hopefully they slow down a little. Hopefully it's a good game. Hopefully it's a long game. Let them wear themselves out a little bit, and we'll prepare for whoever."
Having scripted their success in dramatic fashion with their late season surge and their playoff push, the Galaxy can only hope that whoever they face takes the role of walk-on extras in their fairytale finale.
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
