By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 13, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Dueling Champions Leagues for American fans on Tuesday. with the UEFA version starting the group stage in the afternoon and CONCACAF's version giving us more Major League Soccer vs Mexico's Primera Division later tonight. No one is likely to pretend that the CONCACAF version is anywhere close to the drawing power of even the second-tier games from Europe, but the CONCACAF Champions League has already given us enough value to warrant paying attention.
It's not just MLS winning games in Mexico. It's seeing teams adapting to the Champions League schedule in ways that aren't immediately apparent. That's a direct result of MLS winning in Mexico, changing the gimme games that the big clubs were relying on to provide an easy path to the knockout round.
LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said as much in the run-up to tonight's game in Morelia (8pm ET - Fox Soccer), telling reporters that Morelia would play their regulars because they can't take this game for granted. True enough, even if another MLS coach pointing out that Dallas and Seattle won in Mexico against what amounted to a youth squad and a second choice eleven isn't the story MLS would like to tell. In fairness, Seattle won their battle of the B teams.
That said, Arena is right to stress the point. His tactical decision not to risk midfielder David Beckham for the Morelia game is just that. Otherwise, the Galaxy are fully loaded in Morelia with Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane expected to contribute. They'll have to if Morelia do as expected and field their starters.
Admittedly, since I'm the one normally criticizing MLS teams for not going with their regular elevens in Champions League play, let's address the Beckham absence. Morelia's fans certainly have, reportedly showing up to greet one of North America's marquee players at the airport. Instead, they got the rest of the Galaxy. Why this isn't as much of an issue as other teams leaving their stars at home is simple. Had Arena been in the mood to rest players, Robbie Keane wouldn't be in the squad. He is, along with the rest of LA's regulars. Beckham not being there might be a hedge, but it's not one that completely shifts the balance towards the home team and the strength of their lineup.
With all respect to Dallas and the Sounders for those away wins, that's why it's worth highlighting Arena's insistence that the quality of the MLS wins in Mexico make things tougher for his team. It's the Galaxy that will be the first MLS team to not get the benefit of the doubt in Mexico. Morelia know this is a game they can lose, and responding accordingly could mean a very difficult night for LA.
It's a different assignment for Colorado tonight, playing at home against Santos Laguna (10pm ET - Fox Soccer). We've got ample evidence for what to expect from Primera Division clubs playing MLS teams in North America. They tend to adapt their game, playing a style that's much closer to the physical MLS version of soccer than what we see from the same clubs in Mexico.
Yes, that's a bit of a generalization, but more often than not it's what plays out. The Primera team does just enough not to lose, taking the point or points and calling the trip a success. So far, these haven't been evangelism attempts, putting the Primera style on display to show MLS audiences what they're missing. Instead, it's result oriented gamesmanship that normally works.
Most MLS teams don't have the luxury of attempting to switch styles home and away. That's normally an invitation for a lopsided loss and a coach stressing the MLS schedule over the Champions League. That remains the safety valve for MLS coaches, answering disappointment in the Champions League while putting over the importance of Major League Soccer's league games.
Arena has left himself no out. He's openly talking about his starters vs their starters. Beckham not travelling isn't enough of an excuse, and all involved on the LA side seem to know that. This is an LA team taking nothing for granted, treating tonight's game with the seriousness it deserves. There's no attempt to play the schedule, no talk of games that can be lost and quickly forgotten while propping up the 'win at home' mindset.
Though there's a substantial downside should tonight's game go wrong for Arena and his Galaxy, this is a good thing for MLS win or lose. What we have is an MLS team throwing down the gauntlet away in Mexico. There's no hedging here, no all too convenient excuse. This is big game Champions League style, and it's carrying the MLS banner in a way we haven't seen before in the group stage of this tournament.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
