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Mejia: Our Plan Is to Come out with Three Points

October 2, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


The SuperClásico between Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy is around the corner and on Wednesday, the Red-and-White squad began preparing to face their archrival this Sunday at the StubHub Center.

With experience in the SuperClásicos, both in Mexico and in the United States, midfielder Edgar Mejia knows what will be expected in the match-up against the Galaxy, since he partipated in the first game between the two clubs earlier this season.

Now, in the first of three games left in the season, the Red-and-White look to close the 2013 campaign the best way possible with the most points they can get, but their neighbors will be looking to earn those points that could help them qualify to the Major League Soccer Playoffs.

"Our plan is to come out with three points, but we're not focusing solely on playing spoiler," the midfielder said about the next SuperClásico. "We're trying to do things the best way possible; we're in the last stage, the last three games. Now, this weekend's game is a really awesome one, it's nice that the entire week is played out differently and of course we want to win it."

Even though the Galaxy enters the match with four games without earning a victory, it's their star and international players that have always made a difference for the team. But for Mejia, facing players like Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane is not anything special.

"We've faced them before, it isn't anything out of this world," Mejia commented. "Like in games that we've come out truly connected and concentrated, I don't think we'll have problems. Just like we're certainly going to cause them problems, they too will do so; they're a good team with players with good quality."

In the third and last match against the Galaxy, Chivas USA will be the visiting team. The match is set for this Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. (PT) at the StubHub Center and will be broadcast live on KDOC-TV and UniMas. For all the latest news and updates on the club, follow us on Twitter: @cdchivasusa .

Frias ready to answer the call

Upon his arrival in mid July to Chivas USA, defender Jaime Frias said he was living out a dream. The 20-year-old Whittier, Calif. native had recently spent three years in Chivas Guadalajara's renowned youth academy and was coming off a championship run with the Under-20 squad.

Frias mentioned that one of his professional dreams since he was old enough to dribble a soccer ball was to play for Chivas, and that being able to do so in his native Southern California was everything he could ask for. Last Sunday, the center back made that dream a reality - with little time to even think.

Frias was rushed into action off the bench when defender Steven Purdy was forced to leave the match in the 40th minute after a collision with San Jose Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart. With fellow defender Carlos Bocanegra out of the Red-and-White's 18, Frias was the go-to guy and was given his pro debut.

"Words can't explain that feeling," Frias said. "It was a feeling I always wanted to achieve since I was little. I finally accomplished my goal."

With the sudden turn of events, Frias, who also played for Chivas USA's U16s before heading to Guadalajara, found himself battling in a scoreless tie in a Western Conference battle with their in-state rival. As he explains, that situation helped him, in a way, to not over think about the situation, but rather just let his soccer training and instincts take over.

"I wasn't even able to warm up," he recalled. "[The Coaches] called me up and I had to go in. It helped me a lot. It didn't leave me time to be nervous or anything. It was just get in and go to work. It became an ordinary game, same as always, just with that feeling of making your debut."

With Bocanegra looking to return to the starting lineup, Frias says he is ready should Real call his number once again, whether it be in the Starting XI or off the bench. Should the first-year Goat see action in Chivas' next match, he will do so in one of the most anticipated and coveted matches for any of the Red-and-White's players - the SuperClásico.

Sunday's Week 32 features the Rojiblancos squaring off against cross-hall rival the LA Galaxy in the third and final meeting of this season's derby, beginning at 2 p.m. (PT) at the StubHub Center. The Goats enter the match in search of a win to come away with a series split as they serve as the away side in the finale. Meanwhile, the Galaxy sit in fourth place in the Western Conference standings and will fight to earn points to keep them in the playoff picture.

"I feel good and ready to start. Hopefully I get to play. The coaches have just told me to keep playing my game and not to be nervous. [Last week] was a great experience. Other than that, it's now about staying focused and staying in my spot."

Sunday's match will mark 28th regular-season installment of the rivalry and will be televised in English on KDOC-TV and in Spanish on UniMas. Game action can also be followed in Spanish on W Radio 690 AM.

Chivas USA kick off SuperClásico week

Chivas USA kicked off their preparations for SuperClásico week on Wednesday morning at the StubHub Center's Field 6. The group returned to full squad training a day after resting from Week 31 Major League Soccer and Reserves League action to hold their first of four training sessions ahead of Sunday's third and final leg of this season's derby against cross-hall rival the LA Galaxy.

The squad initiated the session with a jog around the pitch and then moved on to core strengthening exercises led by Strength and Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho. The Red-and-White then progressed to agility drills for added warm-up. The Rojiblancos gathered in one large circle to jog in place while implementing quick feet. Afterwards players changed the dynamic of the drill by skipping to and from the initial start line in rows of three for approximately 10 yards.

Training then moved on to strength and ball work, as the players rotated through three separate stations, which included weights and obstacles. The squad was then broken up into two groups working in reduced space. The players at the far end of the pitch competed in a six-versus-nine tactical drill under the guidance of Head Coach Jose Luis Real. Meanwhile, the smaller group on the near side of the field first participated in one-on-one challenges with a goalkeeper at each goal. The drill then elevated to two-on-two challenges and eventually three-man competitions.

The session then culminated with the groups reuniting to work on attacking crosses from both sidelines. The week's first training session then concluded with a set of supplementary stretches before exiting the pitch. The Goats will return to Field 6 on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. (PT) to continue their preparations for the series finale.

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