Two faces stared out at the media following MLS matches at The Home Depot Center this weekend, each encompassing the state of his team early in the long 30-game season, but their expressions and words (and fortunes?) were as “different as night and day,” points out LA Times’ Grahame Jones of Bruce Arena‘s troubled scowl and Preki‘s seemingly carefree smile.
While Arena grumbled after a 3-2 loss to Colorado that left the Galaxy still winless after a pair of home games, a perky Preki was brimming with optimism after his injury-plagued squad managed to stay undefeated with a 2-1 win. Heading into the two LA teams’ SuperClasico on Saturday, the immediate forecast in Carson is clear: “all is dark in the Galaxy’s world, while all is light in Chivas USA’s domain.”
“Let’s not kid anybody. Our performance was terrible tonight. It started from the opening kickoff and it went throughout the match.” That was the assessment from Arena after another defensive letdown all too familiar from 2008. Meanwhile, 21 hours later, Preki filled the room with laughter, engaging in “the sort or lighthearted banter that comes hand in hand with victories.” In advance of their derby, at least for now, they remain “two trains headed in opposite directions.”