Rivera: "MLS Is a Very Competitive League"

Published on May 22, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


After being in four countries and in high competitive leagues, Chivas USA forward Jose Manuel Rivera has arrived with the Red-and-White to contribute with his international experience. At 26 years of age, Mexican-born Rivera has played in Slovakia, Turkey, Finland and Mexico. His soccer experience not only includes knowledge on field, but Rivera has also begun his coaching studies, which make him a player with full-scale knowledge of the game.

Rivera has participated in three games with the Red-and-White, taking two wins and a draw for Chivas USA. During Monday's victory in the Reserves League over Real Salt Lake last Monday Rivera was able to receive a pass from Laurent Courtois, and with two defenders on him, the forward went on and shot the ball into the back of the net, giving the home team the 3-nil lead.

"I was lucky enough to score a goal, and physically I felt comfortable. I'm feeling better day after day. I have a specific job that the Technical Staff gave me and I feel good to contribute to the team," Rivera said. "I hope to continue adding more minutes with the first team, that's what I like to do and what makes me happy."

Jose Manuel Rivera arrived at Chivas USA in December 2012 and has proven the high competition that exists in MLS.

"They expect a lot physically, they're fast and all the teams always fight and compete. In comparison to other countries in Latin America, the physical aspect here counts a lot," Rivera pointed out about the League. "Soccer has grown a lot and MLS has a big project, they've dedicated themselves to make it a competitive league and it's not easy to play here; it's very demanding."

The results haven't been on the best advantage for Chivas USA this season. After kicking off the season with three victories, a draw and one loss, the Red-and-White have hit a speed bump not being able to earn a win since April 5. Rivera knows it's not the best situation for Chivas fans.

"The fans are always at our games. Our most recent results aren't what we wanted, but they [fans] are with us and they're helping us," Jose Manuel commented.

The Jalisco born player knows the commitment the team has to earn of positive results for the team and the fans, and while the results and the good performances continue coming, he'll be able to continue with the club for many years and continue to fulfill his dreams.

"For now, I don't have any long-term goal; thinking about the present has worked for me. What I can tell you is that I would love to stay with Chivas USA, but what I'll be doing in five years, I honestly don't know. I am sure though it'll be in soccer," Rivera concluded.

Courtois: "We won't underestimate the opponent"

As the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup prepares to head into third-round competition, Chivas USA are among the 16 MLS teams that will now enter the competition. And last night, the Rojiblancos found out that it will be the Los Angeles Blues who will be standing in the way as the Red-and-White try and advance to the fourth round in Open Cup play for the third time in club history. The sides are set to meet on Tuesday, May 28, starting at 7:30 p.m. (PT) at Titan Stadium located on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

Chivas USA will look to replicate last year's Open Cup run, as they reached the semifinals for the second time in club history, and they will be doing so against a familiar opponent. The Goats have played the Blues in numerous friendlies throughout the years and most recently polished off the USL PRO side in a 5-1 preseason rout in February. With several players from last year's squad that were part of the semifinals run returning this season, the Goats know that the match-ups with non-MLS clubs are nothing to take lightly.

"The competitive level from the so-called lesser opponents really surprised me," said midfielder Laurent Courtois, who appeared in three Open Cup matches last season. "They come very prepared and motivated. There is always the possibility of it being a trap game."

Courtois, in his second MLS season, is among four key players returning from last year's run, including goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy, fellow midfielder Jorge Villafaña and forward Jose Correa. The Frenchman recorded two assists during Cup play, the second coming in stoppage time in the quarterfinals against the Charlotte Eagles at Titan Stadium which propelled the Red-and-White into the semifinals against Western Conference foe Seattle Sounders FC. Seattle advanced to the title game and lost to eventual champion Sporting Kansas City.

"It was a bitter-sweet moment last year," added Courtois. "We were close to reaching the finals, but came up short. It was a run that we enjoyed and hope to repeat. We have to prepare ourselves to know that the teams we face are going to approach it like their most important game of the year because of the magnitude of the tournament. The motivation level is going to be high."

Year in Review: Chivas USA's U17/18 Team

Chivas USA Youth Academy's 2012/2013 regular season in U.S. Soccer's Development Academy might have come to an end after a successful last week for the Goats, but it's not quite over yet. After 28 games, Chivas USA's U17/18 squad has successfully qualified to the USSDA playoffs.

Last Saturday, the Red-and-White U17/18's took a 2-1 victory over the Southwest Division leader the LA Galaxy U17/18 in the second Youth Clásico of the season. With the win, the group, led by Head Coach Keith Costigan, moved up in the playoffs wildcard pool from eighth place to fifth.

"I was very proud of the boys; they've worked very hard over the past two weeks. It was a different kind of win; we had to battle more and defend more than we have had recently, but we did it together and that's the most important thing as a group, and that's why we got the win," Coach Costigan said after the match.

But the road hasn't been quite easy for the U17/18 squad. Starting off the season in September, the young Goats held a 5-2-5 record, but returning to action in January, the young Goats took a three-game losing skid before regaining its rhythm to qualify for the playoffs.

"We've had some losses to teams that I think we should've won. But looking back, there have really been two performances out of my 16 games that I thought we didn't show up. We've recovered from that; it was definitely a challenge, especially with young kids. But all the guys, they want to play; they want to be involved in the playoffs," Costigan said.

"Our team has done a good job of week-by-week talking about the team that we're playing; very few players have come up to me and saying, 'when we get to playoffs, what is it that we need to do? We need this win,' and because of that, our focus has been really good," the U17/18 coach added.

On June 24, the USSDA playoffs will kick for the U17/18 category in FC Dallas Park, something that both the players and Coach Costigan have been aching and dreaming of since the start of the season.

"We thought we would have sealed it before our last game, but then we looked and we said, 'we have to win today to be absolutely sure,' and I give full credit to the boys. People have come up to me and asked, 'are we in?' And it's finally good to say, 'yes, we're in,' Costigan finalized.

Training Report: Chivas USA complete mid-week workout

Chivas USA completed today their full team training session ahead of Saturday's conference clash with the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The MLS' Week 13 match-up is a rematch and the second of three meetings between the rivals.

Wednesday's training began with a short game of torito in small groups to get the warm-ups started, followed by a team jog around The Home Depot Center's Field 6. The entire squad then proceeded to one corner of the pitch to run through a series of light agility drills. The exercises consisted of walking over hurdles for optimum balance and hip rotation.

The pace of training was elevated afterwards when the Red-and-White, under the guidance of Strength and Conditioning Coach Osvaldo Scansetti, completed a new series of obstacles. The course was set up with short hurdles and positioned cones, which the players sprinted around and high-stepped before exploding 10 yards through the finish line off the ball.

The Rojiblancos then broke out into a nine-on-nine scrimmage in reduced spaces which ran the width of the pitch for approximately 25 minutes. The Scrimmage was then extended lengthwise of the field, still in reduced distances and now featuring 11-on-11 competition. Today's session concluded with stretching for optimum recovery and flexibility.

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