Giovani dos Santos is enjoying his time with the LA Galaxy, and with good reason.
The Galaxy have gotten off to a solid start in 2016 by posting a 5-1-4 record and plus-12 goal differential in the dog-eat-dog Western Conference, and dos Santos has been a key contributor to it all. The Mexican attacker has scored five goals and assisted on five more in seven appearances thus far, giving the Galaxy another lethal and dynamic option with which they can punish opposing teams.
The best part of it all, as far as LA are concerned? Dos Santos thinks his game is still improving.
"Yeah, of course," dos Santos, 27, said in an appearance on SiriusXMFC's "Counter Attack" show on Tuesday, when asked if he's gotten better since joining MLS. "I think this league is very competitive and in the beginning for me it was really hard to adjust to the league. We have great players on the team and I always try to learn. I think my game is getting better every single day."
While dos Santos has proven that he can be a difference-maker this season, he has still been criticized by some for his performances alongside forward partner Robbie Keane. The two Designated Players have nine goals between them thus far, but that total has not stopped observers from suggesting that they both command too much of the ball to be an effective tandem.
Dos Santos disagrees, and believes he and Keane have plenty of good chemistry that can aid the Galaxy.
“I don’t know who says that, but we have a great relationship on and off the field," said dos Santos. "For me, as always, I say Keane is a great player and for me it’s much easier to play with Keane on the pitch. His movements are always good. He’s a smart player and he’s a goal machine. I think we have a great relationship on the pitch."
One subject that dos Santos did not want to touch on in Tuesday's interview was his decision to turn down a call-up from Mexico for this summer's Copa America Centenario. Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio revealed as much on Tuesday, but opted not to discuss the reasons why dos Santos chose to stay with the Galaxy.
Dos Santos said much the same, adding that he was concentrating on his season with LA.
"I’m very focused on my team, and I’m very happy here," said dos Santos. "I have the support of my team and my club. I just want to be focused on my team, be 100 percent and show the people that I came to MLS not to retire, but I came here to improve my game, to be happy. And I’m just going to keep working."
Dos Santos and the Galaxy will be back in action this Sunday (7 pm ET, FS1) when they host the San Jose Earthquakes in the first California Clasico encounter of 2016.
