Rojiblancos Turn the Page and Look Toward Week 31

September 24, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


The mood at Tuesday's practice was business as usual, as Chivas USA returned to practice to start their work week in preparation for Major League Soccer's Week 31. The Rojiblancos will host in-state and conference rival the San Jose Earthquakes in the third and final leg of the season series and will look to erase the bad taste from their loss over the weekend at Houston.

The Goats know that records are secondary when it comes to rivalry matches and will be aided by hosting the series finale at the StubHub Center, where they have gradually turned the venue into a difficult place to play for opponents. Chivas have taken points in six of their last seven games at Carson and will square off against a San Jose side looking to remain in contention for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The 'Quakes have taken a match in the series and tied another one this season. But as Chivas USA's Bryan de la Fuente says, any team can be beaten on any given week.

The 21-year-old midfielder is no stranger to the parody and competitiveness in the League, having made his debut in 2010 with Chivas. Heading into Sunday's match, De la Fuente and the rest of the players with MLS experience know all too well how results can change from one week to the next.

"If you look around the League, a team play bad the previous week and come back the following week and knock off the strongest team," said De la Fuente, who has started in seven-straight games since re-joining the Goats after a season away from the club. "It changes a lot and it's a very tough competition because you can't get too confident over a result because on any given day it can change on you.

"It's a new week and it gives us an opportunity to have another match this Sunday. [Saturday] was a bad match but that's past and now our mind is on San Jose and that's what we are working toward."

Several players have shared the sentiment of being a resilient group that picks itself up and remains unified despite missing out on the Playoffs. For now, the Rojiblancos' objective is to continue building confidence while playing for positive results for themselves and the fans.

"If you look, we have played very well over the last few weeks and it's because of the chemistry of the group. If we have a bad match, we talk about it so that we are all on the same page. That's why I'm sure that we will come away with a good result this Sunday. Soccer gives you the opportunity to do things better and face rematches with the best of attitudes," De la Fuente added.

Know your Goats: Bryan de la Fuente

Chivas USA Academy forward Bryan de la Fuente, a member of the First Team during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, signed a second contract with Chivas USA this season after becoming State Champions with Chivas USA U-23 team in the summer of 2013. The Laredo, Texas, player talked with cdchivasusa.com about his return to the First Team.

"I don-t have words to describe what it feels to arrive to the team that saw you grow up since you were young, and that coached you," said De la Fuente about his return. "It's where you won and lost, where you lived unforgettable moments, so it's the team that gave me the first opportunity and saw me grow up as a professional and gave me the opportunity of [signing] my first contract, so imagine returning to it, it's a great joy."

De la Fuente has been a clear-cut starter, appearing in the Starting XI in all seven games, as he's also scored two goals for the Red-and-White thus far. The first goal was notched upon his returning game against Dallas on Aug. 21, at the StubHub Center, while his second Major League Soccer goal happened in home draw against Portland Timbers on Sept. 14.

"The right moment is now. I thank God, it is a big joy; not only being in the Starting XI and playing ninety minutes, but helping the team with goals," said the Red-and-White forward.

De la Fuente made his professional debut in MLS on Oct. 23, 2010 against the Chicago Fire, and he now arrives to the First Team after becoming State Champion with Chivas USA's U-23 squad. Besides, he knows that arriving to this looker room means arriving to a place filled with familiar faces and friends. De la Fuente, Carlo Chuecha and Jaime Frias spent time together with Chivas USA's Youth Development Academy. However, at one point in their careers, they all took different roads and now, years later, the game and Chivas USA unite them back.

"It's something curious, but I am happy to see them. We couldn't share that much time together because Carlo (Chueca) left to Belgium, (Jaime) FrÃ-as went to Guadalajara and I stayed and later left, so it is a great joy to play together again."

Now, De la Fuente and Chivas USA will have the opportunity to continue with their home streak when they face the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. (PT) as part of MLS' Week 31. The game will be broadcast live on KDOC-TV and UniMas, and on W Radio 690 AM in Spanish. To purchase tickets to this match, or for more information, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

Chivas USA begin work week with reduced squad session

Chivas USA reported to the StubHub Center's Field 6 with a reduced squad while the reserve team was away to face Real Salt Lake at American First Field Tuesday morning. The training group consisted of starters from last Saturday's League match at Houston.

The session kicked off at 10 a.m. (PT) and began with short agility drills and sprints under the instructions of Strength and Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho. The group then broke out into a game of torito for added warm-ups while incorporating ball work. Afterwards the squad expanded the drill into a four-on-four possession drill.

The training session continued to emphasize possession and recovery in short spaces by returning to a four-versus-two torito competition before culminating the drills at midfield with a four-on-four competition in an expanded area. With Chivas Head Coach Jose Luis Real looking on, the drill consisted of four offensive players distributing the ball to their teammates while the opposing side was in the center of the area working to create a turnover.

Practice then concluded with a group of attackers working on finishing drills from the top of the box. After the ball was laid off near the arc, the striker would come across the 18-yard line and let off a second-touch shot at goal.

Reserve Match Note:

Chivas USA Reserves fell, 2-0, at Real Salt Lake, and now have a record or 4-4-1 in the West Division.

Update: St. Baldrick's final week

The final week of Chivas USA's month-long push to raise funds for St. Baldrick's Foundation is here. As of Tuesday, Sept. 24, Chivas USA have helped the St. Baldrick's Foundation raise over $19,000; the original goal was set to $10,000. The entire proceeds will be destined to fund Childhood Cancer research.

Chivas USA players and staff will be in attendance on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Haven Gastropub in Pasadena taking part of the closing head shaving event. The fundraising activity will start at noon (PT), with the ChivaFighter in attendance from 1-4 p.m. Chivas USA players who have volunteered as shavees will be in attendance from 2-3:30 p.m.

If you donated $20 or more to one of the three participating Chivas USA teams, either online or by using cash, you were entered into a raffle to win a game-worn jersey from one of the players suiting up for Sunday, Sept. 29's match against the San Jose Earthquakes. Winners of the raffle will be announced via a Google + Hangout on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 12:30 p.m. (PT).

Don't miss out and don't forget to donate !



Major League Soccer Stories from September 24, 2013


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