Steven Gerrard, Los Angeles Galaxy player, and New York City manager Patrick Vieira are among a growing band of foreign players and coaches who have headed to the Major League Soccer in recent seasons
Los Angeles: Steven Gerrard has set his
sights on winning his first trophy with the Los Angeles Galaxy while
Patrick Vieira aims to inspire New York City to glory as the 21st Major
League Soccer season kicks off on Sunday. (Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard Among MLS Stars to Face Tottenham)
Gerrard
and New York manager Vieira are among a growing band of foreign players
and coaches who have headed to the MLS in recent seasons, sprinkling
stardust on a league that is enjoying record popularity.
Gerrard,
who signed for the Galaxy last year, is an integral part of a new-look
LA team aiming to bounce back after the disappointment of a first-round
exit against Seattle in the post-season last term.
Following that
shattering loss, the Galaxy moved swiftly to strengthen their squad,
recruiting Gerrard's former England team-mate Ashley Cole, Dutch
international midfielder Nigel De Jong and Jelle van Damme.
Former Liverpool skipper Gerrard pinpointed Galaxy's leaky defense as the cause of their downfall last season.
"I
think we started conceding too many goals. We didn't position ourselves
well for the playoffs which gave us a very difficult game away in
Seattle," Gerrard said during an MLS media day recently.
"The
learning curve is we need to perform and defend very solidly all the way
through, try and position ourselves high come the end of the league
campaign and that will hopefully give us a smoother ride through the
playoffs."
Gerrard admitted he found his first season in the MLS a
demanding experience, struggling to get to grips with a challenging
schedule that often involves travel through multiple timezones and
matches on variable surfaces.
"I used it as a learning
experience," Gerrard said. "I feel an awful lot more prepared going
forward into the new season so hopefully the experience of the ups and
downs from the previous four or five months will be very helpful for
me."
Gerrard said he has set a straightforward aim for the season: "Win the MLS Cup or go close."
The five-time MLS Cup champions Galaxy open their campaign with a testing match against DC United in California on Sunday night.
No target for Vieira
Elsewhere
on Sunday, big-spending New York City FC travel to Chicago for what
will be the first match under the new reign of manager Vieira.
The
former France, Arsenal and Juventus star has opted to launch his
managerial career in the MLS after working as part of the backroom staff
at New York's parent club Manchester City in recent years.
Expansion
side New York endured a difficult debut season in the MLS, failing to
make the playoffs despite assembling a squad which is bristling with
overseas talent.
Former England midfielder Frank Lampard, Italian
playmaker Andrea Pirlo and Spanish World Cup winner David Villa all
return for New York this season as Vieira aims to improve on last year's
disappointing campaign.
"I don't want to put any kind of target
upon the players, what's important for me is to play the best football
we can," Vieira said.
"The message I sent to the players is if we
play the right way, if we do what we want to do, we will give ourselves
more chances to winning games.
"The first game will be a very big
test for us to see where we are, we will play against a well organized
team with very good players, it will give us a really good indication of
where we are."
Lampard will miss Sunday's opener after picking up
a knock but Vieira said the former Chelsea star and Pirlo had already
been influential in pre-season by setting standards for less experienced
players.
"The way they speak, the way they are hungry to win
things, they really want to be part of this football club and remembered
for bringing titles to this team. They are training hard, giving
information to the younger players," Vieira said.
Reported By Agence France-Presse
Link http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/256133-steven-gerrard-patrick-vieira-ready-for-major-league-soccer-season
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