Defensive leader calls out Galaxy teammates after disconnected third straight loss

As the LA Galaxy walked off the pitch, following its 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids, Derrick Williams made some eyebrow-raising comments heard on the Spectrum Sportsnet broadcast. The 29-year-old center back has been with the club since the 2021 season and was the best player for the Galaxy in Commerce City, Colo. As the team suffered their third straight loss, a frustrated Williams began to reveal some of his thoughts on the match.

He started off by saying, “We're not playing as a team, there's a lot of people playing as individuals." That's not an uncommon comment to hear after a team suffers loss. But then he said something that brought into question how connected this team really is both on and off the pitch. 

“The manager gives us clear instructions," he observed, "and there's times where people don't want to do that. And it's frustrating. I feel for the staff, because they put so much work in. And then, when it comes to the game, some people just have their own agendas." “

Williams indirectly called out some of his teammates, and to some degree, questioned their integrity to the coaching staff of the Galaxy. You hear about players wanting to be too individualistic on the pitch, but rarely hear about them having their own agendas.

When asked about Williams's comments postgame, LA head coach Greg Vanney said, "I'm not trying to speak for Derrick, but I do think there [are] some times in games when each guy, especially when we're separated and a little disconnected, where everybody is just kind of trying to survive in their own space on the field.”

Vanney then discussed rough moments for Julian Araujo defending Jonathan Lewis and a lack of defensive support for Sacha Kljestan in the midfield against the Rapids. But he then clarified it was what he noticed from the game — and not who Williams was likely talking about. 

“We were disconnected which made it very difficult from a collective defending part on the collective defending side," Vanney remarked. "We just weren't close enough to help each other at times today."

Kljestan chimed in on Williams’s comments, adding, “I think that that is maybe a little taken out of context. Not that guys have their own agenda. I think he just means that there are moments where guys are not doing exactly what is needed in the moment ... I just think that we all need to be on the same page when we are doing something tactically." 

he 13-year MLS veteran understands how important it is to be in sync. “What's most important in MLS is that all 11 guys on the field are committed to the exact same goal with the exact same ideas," he added. "And if one guy takes a break or takes a moment off, then the dominoes start to fall, and the game becomes difficult."

Williams, as the leader of the backline, showed frustration with the Galaxy allowing eight goals in its last three games. 

“I'm in there talking, trying to help everyone," he reflected. "There's only so much you can say though. There comes a time when the talk has to stop and you have to do your work, everyone, each individual. And at the moment, we're not doing that."

Williams understands that he also hasn’t been as defensively savvy himself. After the 3-2 loss to San Jose earlier in the week, he commented, “I hold my hands up, one hundred percent. It caught me off guard. I’ve been sitting for the last half an hour wondering why I didn’t slide. And I still don’t know why. So I one hundred percent hold my hands up. Not good enough."

At the midway point of the season, the Galaxy seems to be a broken, disjointed machine that needs to recalibrate and get results. The Galaxy has picked up four of a possible 18 points since returning from the June international break. The club has fallen to seventh place, the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. There's also a possibility they fall out of the playoff places altogether by the end of this match week, depending on if there is a victor in the Portland-Vancouver match on Sunday night.

The stretch of playing three games in a week now comes to end, as the Galaxy have a week until their match against Atlanta United at home. Williams hopes to see an improved and battle-ready team next week. 

"For me, it's just folks in every day of every minute when you're on that pitch and just making sure that you're given your 100% and you're not cheating the game," Williams declared. "You do your job that you're being asked to do." 

As the team gets set to reconvene on the training ground, Williams’s comments on his teammates will remain fresh on the mind of the players and coaching staff.