Jelle Van Damme has emerged as one of the key figures on the Galaxy backline in 2016.
It’s the old adage, offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships.
Never has that rang true for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who boast an array of stars on offense such as Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, Steven Gerrard and the recently unretired Landon Donovan. However, as Sunday’s 0-0 draw with eventual Supporters Shield FC Dallas at StubHub Center showed, if the Galaxy are to make a run at a sixth MLS Cup, it will have to be predicated on strong performances from its back line.
One player that will certainly look to be a force on the Galaxy backline is Center Back Jelle van Damme. The 6-3 Belgian has been a consistent force on the LA defense, appearing in 28 games and providing the same presence that Omar Gonzalez provided for seven seasons while adding a little more offense in the process. Van Damme’s presence was felt just six minutes into Sunday’s match, as Dallas’ Maxi Urruti dribbled towards the LA goal, pulled a nutmeg move and sprinted back towards the ball into the penalty area. Van Damme however swooped in at the last minute and made a slide tackle to poke the ball away before Urruti could get another touch and potentially a goal-scoring opportunity.
“I think we defended well and our shape was pretty much okay,” Van Damme said.
Van Damme’s efforts this season did not go unnoticed, as he was voted the Galaxy’s Defender of the Year for the season.
“It’s always nice to be recognized for the stuff you do,” Van Damme said. “I appreciate those things, (but) at the end, I want to win the big team prizes, but it’s always good to win some individual things as well.”
Van Damme is not the only person that Galaxy are counting on to solidify its back line. Daniel Steres had a breakout season for LA, starting 29 of the 31 games that he appeared in and LA will also depend on the likes of Right Back Robbie Rogers as well as Ashley Cole, LA’s prize signing of the offseason.
None of this is new to head coach Bruce Arena, who has always carried a reputation as being a defensive-minded coach and also considering the Galaxy team he inherited when he took over midway through the 2008 season. That year, the Galaxy despite having Donovan, David Beckham, Edson Buddle and Carlos Ruiz missed the playoffs for a third straight year mainly because its defense struggled mightily to keep their opponents out of the back net. Arena came in and quickly turned things around, drafting two players formed a rock-solid foundation for the Galaxy for the next four seasons, starting with Gonzalez and AJ DeLaGarza, and trading for Left back Todd Dunivant. Those three players along with 2008 Rookie of the Year Sean Franklin formed what turned out to be the stingiest and most formidable back line in MLS for the next five seasons that culminated in back-to-back MLS Cups for the Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.
Only DeLaGarza remains from that back line, and he remains a strong presence on defense, starting 23 of the 24 games he has played in this season and despite a string of injuries, is still providing a versatile presence on the Galaxy backline whether as a Center Back or a Right Back.
“It’s nice to play,” DeLaGarza said. “I was in the last three games, but before that, it was a month. I would say that you always have to be ready when your number is called.”
DeLaGarza’s performance on Sunday will give Arena a ton of options as the Galaxy prepare for the playoffs, starting with Wednesday’s knockout match against Real Salt Lake.
“It’s possible,” Arena said of the possibility of Van Damme and DeLaGarza being the Center Back pairing for the playoffs. “Dan Steres has had a very good year. We haven’t decided on who we’re going to use in that first game, but obviously, one would assume Jelle will be paired with AJ or Dan.”
