GOAL takes a look at some of the biggest storylines surrounding the defending champions ahead of the 2025 season
LA Galaxy sort of chugged away last season. While all eyes were on Inter Miami and their spring to the Supporters' Shield, the Galaxy steadily picked up points out west. The only real drama came on the final day of the regular season when they were narrowly pipped to the top seed of the Western Conference by LAFC.
Otherwise, though, this was a well-rounded side full of quality. Riqui Puig was the star man, while Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Dejan Joveljic added quality elsewhere. And even though they looked wide open in transition at times, the Galaxy had enough to pretty much outscore everyone else when it came to the playoffs. Traditional Cup winners? Absolutely not. But trophies are trophies.
Ahead of the 2025 season, things look different in Los Angeles. Puig is gone for a good chunk of the season after tearing his ACL in last year's playoffs. The exact date of his return is unknown, but head coach Greg Vanney made it clear that the Galaxy will have their star man in some capacity this season. How much he can offer remains to be seen.
There are issues elsewhere, too. Joveljic plays for Sporting KC now. Paintsil will miss nearly two months with a hamstring injury.
But there is good news. A full season of former Dortmund star Marco Reus should undoubtedly raise the levels, while a couple of new signings should make things interesting. There is also something to be said, perhaps, for the experience that comes with winning things. GOAL takes a look at the Galaxy and tries to answer some of the biggest questions ahead of their MLS Cup defense.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty ImagesHow do they survive without Puig?
Outside of Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, there is no singular player more important to their side than Puig and the Galaxy. Sure, they stayed afloat when the La Masia product missed a few games last summer, but the Galaxy needed him for everything to tick. Puig is, in effect, the perfect MLS transplant. His on-ball quality is leagues above everyone else around him, while he has the kind of energy and work ethic to elevate a whole team around him. Watching him strut his stuff, operating on a quicker plane than everyone else, can be truly magical at times.
It is a real conundrum, then, that the Galaxy will have to do without him for most of the season. Puig, of course, tore his ACL in the Western Conference final – a truly cruel end to the season for a player who was, effectively, the Galaxy's catalyst throughout the season. And now, they are looking for answers elsewhere. Most of their transfer business has been in attacking areas – or out wide. They haven't brought in a replacement.
Meanwhile, head coach Greg Vanney insisted that Reus would be misused in a deeper role. The answer, then, probably lies in some combination of Lucas Sanabria, Sean Davis, and Diego Fagundez — at least until Puig is able to return.
AdvertisementImagnWhere does Reus fit?
The Galaxy took an interesting approach in bringing in Reus. This was a pretty complete team before he arrived. There wasn't a desperate need for a No. 10, or a dire call for a legendary German international to pull everything together. Instead, the former Dortmund man served as the final piece of a title-winning squad. Or, at least, that was the plan. Reus never quite fully settled in Los Angeles, a mixture of injuries and poor performances seeing him fall just short of his brilliant best.
There were some flashes, though. He showed some real attacking quality at times, and his cameo in the MLS Cup final — despite playing through an injury — helped the Galaxy control the game late on. The challenge for Vanney and his team is to piece together how, exactly, that works over the course of a whole campaign. Reus will, in all likelihood, operate as an advanced No. 8, or perhaps a 10 if the Galaxy opt to play with a double pivot. But it's unlikely that Reus will be able to play every game. He is, surely, too valuable to be a regular starter when he's fit. Still, his aging legs might not be able to keep up with a full campaign of soccer — especially with cup competitions to account for.
There might be some tactical tweaks to be made and injury precautions to be taken. If they get it right, though, Reus could be one of the most impactful players in MLS.
ImagnHow do they replace Dejan Joveljic?
Vanney might have been able to predict quite a lot about last year's MLS Cup-winning squad. He probably knew that Puig could pull the strings in the center, that Gabriel Pec would settle in, and that Maya Yoshida would be as reliable as ever. But what he perhaps couldn't have predicted was such a rebirth from Dejan Joveljic. The Serbian forward struggled in the 2023 season to the tune of just six goals in 32 appearances. 2024, though, he was a revelation. Joveljic bagged 19 goals in MLS and 21 in all competitions. Throw in the six assists and the MLS Cup champs had one of the best attackers in the league.
That is going to be a real headache to replace. They effectively had to ship Joveljic to Kansas City earlier this month – signings elsewhere, MLS cap rules, and perhaps a need to refresh things meant that the 25-year-old simply needed to go. But his goals will be missed sorely. A few reinforcements have arrived. Christian Ramirez, an LA local, is in the mix after turning in a surprise season of his own for the Columbus Crew. Brazilian youngster Matheus Nascimento has quality in bunches – and played a role for Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo. Reus will, presumably, chip in with a few goals. But someone, somewhere will have to step up. Those 20-plus goals aren't going to score themselves.
Getty Images SportIs CONCACAF Champions Cup the next frontier?
MLS clubs should, in theory, have more CONCACAF Champions Cup (league) wins. The league's quality continues to dramatically improve and Mateusz Bogusz's recent move to Liga MX from LAFC is a nod to that.
Nine of the 27 teams in this year's tournament are from MLS. Despite the challenges of seeding, an unpredictable draw, and entering only at the Round of 16, the Galaxy will likely face another MLS club. In other words, they’re bound to meet familiar opponents — a potential advantage in a two-legged tie.
Seattle Sounders were the last MLS team to win the tournament in 2022; before that, it was the Galaxy in 2000. While MLS clubs have dominated the Leagues Cup, the Champions Cup — where teams must travel to Liga MX stadiums — has been a tougher challenge. That could change this year, though. But if continental dominance is the goal, the Galaxy need to deliver.
