Philadelphia Union v LA Galaxy: Vanney looking to recover from 'rock bottom'

The Galaxy were hammered 7-0 by the New York Red Bulls in their last outing, leaving them bottom of the Western Conference table.

Vanney's side are winless in all 12 league games this campaign, and have lost their last four matches while failing to find the net in three of those.

The Galaxy boss was somewhat lost for words after the thumping by the Red Bulls.

"I don't know if it's an effort issue. At times when you give up goals like that, it can be a little bit of confidence, uncertainty," he said.

"I thought we were reactive, maybe at times, where you try to adapt and play into a different structure, and your decisions become different.

"I think it's a little bit indecisive, and at times, getting tighter to guys in duels and things like that where we go the extra yard we don't stop and concede the space where they are playing balls to their line."

Pressed on whether the Galaxy's form would get worse before improving, Vanney added: "Yeah, I guess. Like this is a horrible night we've had [against the Red Bulls].

"In every game prior to that, we've been in every game and we've competed in every game. If the margin has been one goal in most of these and, I am not excusing it but tonight, it just totally got away from us.

"That's something we have to address and address quickly. It's the first time in a season, I would say we just totally got outplayed on the field and looked very uncomfortable and uncertain.

"So, try to get back to the things we do best and get healthy and get guys going and try to build upward. Let's hope this is the rock bottom part."

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— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) May 11, 2025

The Union will be back at Subaru Park on Wednesday to take on the defending MLS Cup champions.

They were held to a 2-2 draw by the Columbus Crew after a late goal from Sean Zawadzki, which left the Union third in the Eastern Conference ahead of this clash.

Baribo scored his eighth goal of the season last time out, becoming the first Union player to score at least eight times in his first 11 matches of a season.

Ramirez has been one of the Galaxy's only bright sparks in their historically poor start to the season. He is their leading scorer in MLS this term, with four goals to his name.

The Galaxy's defeat to the Red Bulls on Saturday equalled the largest margin of defeat by a reigning MLS Cup champion along with a 7-0 defeat for Sporting Kansas City against the Chicago Fire in 2001, which was also a rematch of the previous year’s MLS Cup Final.

Galaxy’s three points through 12 matches are the fewest by any team at this stage of a season in MLS history. No team in league history has collected fewer than five points through their first 13 matches.

Philadelphia are unbeaten in six straight home matches in all competitions (W3 D3) following a 2-2 draw with Columbus on Saturday. The Union have lost only three of their last 20 at home in all competitions.

However, the Galaxy are unbeaten in five visits to Philadelphia (W3 D2), with four of the previous five games also being played midweek.

Philadelphia Union win – 56.9%

LA Galaxy win – 20.8%