Schmid in familiar surroundings as Galaxy face Timbers (Aug 06, 2017)
There will be a familiar face roaming the Los Angeles Galaxy sideline on Sunday in Portland, Ore.
The Galaxy's new coach, Sigi Schmid, was manager for the Timbers' arch-rival Seattle Sounders for eight years.
"It will be interesting seeing him in different colors, with a different club," Portland coach Caleb Porter told The Oregonian. "For four years, we coached against each other and I was used to seeing him in green and used to that rivalry."
Schmid has his hands full with a team that had lost four straight MLS matches and six overall before managing a 0-0 draw with Seattle in his July 29 debut.
In his first full week on the job, Schmid focused on trying to "calm things down and get order."
"What is important this week is for them to get used to my training style because every coach has a different rhythm and cadence from the point of intensity," Schmid told the Galaxy's website. "It's a chance for them to get acquainted with the rhythm and cadence that I have and for them to see how they respond to that because there are things I want to see."
Players are confidant the Galaxy (6-10-5) can earn a positive result against the Timbers (8-8-7).
"We got a lot done (this week). He's tried to implement things that he wants us to do, and we've had more time to practice," defender Daniel Steres said. "We had a good base (against Seattle). We had a lot of training this week that we haven't had in awhile, so that will help us this weekend."
Schmid will need to figure out how to replace Los Angeles captain, defender Jelle Van Damme, who was suspended for two matches due to yellow card accumulation.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones, who stepped into central defense after Van Damme was sent off against Seattle, is a possibility for the back line against the Timbers.
"I played it for the national team; I played it at Schalke, I'm OK with that position," Jones said. "It's nothing I'm scared of. It's one of the easiest positions because you have the game in front of you. If it comes to that decision, then I'm OK with that."
On Sunday at Providence Park, there will be another obstacle that is unusual in the Pacific Northwest: temperatures in the upper 90s.
"When you're playing on turf, whatever temperature in the air, it's an extra five or 10 degrees warmer on the turf," Schmid said. "It's a tough place to play, they're emotional, they get a good crowd, but we know what we need to do and we can't care who we're playing, we need to get points."
Portland (31 points), fourth in the Western Conference after a 2-2 draw at Houston, entered the weekend part of a four-team mix -- including Seattle (31), Vancouver (30) and seventh-place San Jose (29) -- separated by two points.
Johnathan dos Santos, recently acquired from Villareal of the Spanish league, has received his visa and International Transfer Certificate and will be available for the Galaxy on Sunday.
Los Angeles will return home to face New York City FC on Saturday, while the Timbers will hit the road to face Toronto FC.
