So what's their motivation?

The desire to meet high standards are a mantra for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, who made final preparations before the season opener against the Seattle Sounders.

“We are clearly driven to win a championship this year,” Arena said. “No question about it.”

When asked the question, midfielder David Beckham echoed the same sentiments.

“It’s something that we’re always passionate about,” Beckham said. “Everyone wants to be successful. Going into this season, it’s no different than going into every other season. You have to be up for it. You have to want to win."

“Not every team has the talent we have and our ability to win a championship every year," said team captain Landon Donovan. "So we want to take advantage of it.”

“It’s almost one of those things that doesn’t need to be said,” defender Todd Dunivant said. “To be honest, it hasn’t been much different the last couple of years.”

Case in point: the 2009 MLS Cup defeat to Real Salt Lake. Another case in point, the 2010 Western Conference Final defeat to FC Dallas.

“It was such a disappointing end,” Dunivant said, “sort of a shocking end last year, to let the season get away like that. Without a doubt we’re more focused and more resolved.

“[High expectations] come with being on the Galaxy. This is a team that is expected to win. We have turned it around the last two years, and now it’s time to put the final touches on.

“That doesn’t happen today. It happens throughout the season. It’s a mentality we have to have all year…that’s our goal. When we get to the playoffs we have to push through and finally win it."

Newcomer Frankie Hejduk, familiar with success as a member of the Columbus Crew, knew all too well that the pressure and the will to win would be critical to LA's 2011 campaign.

“Anything less than a championship would be a disappointment, to be honest,” Hejduk said. “That should be the goal of every team you’re on every year. If you go into a year not thinking you’re going to win a championship, you shouldn’t be out here.

“Yeah, there are high expectations, but as a player that’s what you want. You want to play at the highest level in the toughest environment week in and week out. It’s intense around here, and that’s going to make us better.”


Josh Saunders, a.k.a. Mr. Reliable

So what happens if Donovan Ricketts is unavailable to play for the G's on Tuesday night?

Well, you call in the Galaxy's No. 12, Josh Saunders, to fill in that role. Or...maybe not.

“We don’t know what our lineup is on Tuesday,” Arena said. “[Ricketts] just took a knock. He’ll be fine…It’s not serious. He’s doing well.”

Ricketts was injured in the team's preseason friendly with Club Tijuana on Mar. 2, and Saunders replaced him. He also was in goal during the Galaxy's 2-1 victory over UCLA.

Still, Saunders was not hasty in jumping to conclusions.

“It’s still a bit too early,” Saunders said on the goalkeeper situation. “We don’t know but it’s one of those things as a backup where I’m always going to be prepared because that’s my job. Regardless, I’ll be ready whether I play or not.

“Even if I know I’m not playing, I go in with the same mentality—like I am playing. It’s the same preparation. It’s more of a mental exercise than anything. It’s your preparation mentally for the game, so you don’t want to prepare differently whether you are playing or not. I’m going to go into it thinking it either way."

But after the match with UCLA, the possibility was there.

“It’s more of a mental exercise than physical, for me at least,” Saunders said. “I could tell I was lagging a little in the last 20 minutes...but overall it was a good exercise.”


And what of the Beckham effect?

Last week, Mia Hamm was quick to note that the Beckham effect had lost its luster the past few years.

"It's still evolving, he's still there," Hamm told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I don't think the David Beckham chapter is quite finished yet. Maybe we'll need to evaluate it in five years.

"He definitely created a buzz. But playing for your country also means a certain amount of time. When he came to Los Angeles, it looked like his days in England were over. But there was a huge push by his teammates to bring him back.

"As a competitor, you understand why there was this transition back to Europe. As a fan, I was excited he was playing for the Galaxy and I could see him in my own backyard.

"As a teammate, I'm sure they also understand. It's difficult."

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