Reus has been working hard to rehabilitate from a groin injury, and could play a bigger role in the MLS Cup final with Riqui Puig out
CARSON, Calif. — Marco Reus has played in nine major cup finals throughout his career. He has won five. Through the wins, and the losses, his approach has been the same.
"Just in these games, it's important that you believe in yourself," Reus said, before adding, "small details will be really important."
With the LA Galaxy hosting their biggest game in a decade, the MLS Cup final against a plucky New York Red Bulls side Saturday at 4 pm ET, Reus' attention to detail and his experience in some of the biggest games in German club soccer history could be crucial for a Galaxy side that was rebuilt on the fly last offseason, and features several young players on the rise in Gabriel Pec and Dejan Joveljić.
With the LA Galaxy now missing their brightest star in Riqui Puig, due to an ACL tear, Reus – who has largely been a depth piece this season since joining the team summer – will likely be thrust into a bigger role Saturday.
If he is, as he has shown throughout his career, it's a stage he's more than ready for.
"Marco is at the top of guys who have played in big environments and big moments," Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney told GOAL. "He's just coming off [the 2024] Champions League final… So I think he helps to bring that sort of preparation, demeanor, and confidence for the guys. He brings the energy down so the guys can be free and play the way they want."
ImagnThe track record
Before coming to MLS, Marco Reus had played for three German clubs – Rot Weiss Ahlen, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Borussia Dortmund. It was at Dortmund where Reus became a star, scoring 120 goals in 294 league appearances.
While injuries limited Reus from being a global superstar, when he was healthy, he often delivered in the biggest games. His record, particularly in cup matches, is among the best in European soccer. Who can forget his two goals in a stunning upset over Bayern Munich in the 2013 DFL-Supercup? Or his breathtaking two assists in the 2021 DFB-Pokal Final – a 4-1 rout over RB Leipzig?
That magic is exactly what spurred the Galaxy to pursue a long-rumored recruitment of the German.
"Marco's vision, feel for the game and where spaces, and understanding of time and his eye for the final ball and to finish, I mean he's a top player," Vanney said.
AdvertisementThe question
Following the Galaxy's grueling 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final, Reus had a question for teammates at training.
"I asked the other guys if they've played also a couple of finals," Reus mentioned.
For Reus, it was important to see where the mentality of the dressing room is, especially for a Galaxy side that features a lot of young players and rebounded from being the second-worst team in the Western Conference last year. LA might be considered favorites, but the 35-year-old German stressed the team can't afford to give the game away to the Red Bulls.
"I don't care if we're favorites or not. It does not matter," Reus said. "It doesn't affect you in the final… In the end, you really have to decide it on the pitch."
AFPThe culture change
The prospect of having teammates such as Reus was a big selling point for Gabriel Pec when deciding to play for the LA Galaxy in a record transfer from Vasco da Gama. The 23-year-old, who won MLS's Newcomer of the Year award, says his impact in the dressing room can't be overstated.
"Reus is a great player," Pec said through a translator to GOAL. "[I] was very happy to learn that I was going to play with him. People were telling me like, 'Oh my goodness, you're going to play with Marco Reus. It's so exciting. He's a great player.' He came in with a lot of humility, and he's, he's been able to help us grow within the team. "
The additions of Reus, Pec, and Joseph Paintsil have been pivotal to LA's dominance this season. They've instilled a new culture, which was needed after an eight-win season just a year ago. Maya Yoshida, one of Japan's best-ever defenders who has played for Southampton among other top-flight clubs in Europe, joined the club last season. He remembers how challenging things were during that campaign.
"The team was really careless last season" Yoshida said bluntly. "This season we are really getting mature. [The maturity] is what I felt we needed to improve from last year."
Vanney, who has been with the Galaxy since 2021 and won an MLS Cup in 2017 with Toronto FC, acknowledged last year was difficult due to the transfer ban LA faced. It was difficult to have the team play in the style he wanted. As injuries started to pile up, Vanney admitted he started to think ahead to this season.
"We got to a point where we knew, it wasn't going to be about last year, it was always going to be about this year," Vanney said.
Vanney worked with the front office to identify players who fit the mold of his tactical style of play. And he didn't just want talented players, he wanted talented players who complement each other.
"[We've] got some wonderful players who have come in and fit the style of play that we want, and have fit together like a great group, and have had success," Vanney said. "[We] improved over the course of season and gelled together, and are now here in this moment, because they've been able to accomplish all those things."
Yoshida agrees with that view.
"Greg didn't change anything from last season, his philosophy and ideas are always the same, but he was missing the right pieces last season," he said. "Marco improved [the team], Riqui improved [it], the two wingers improved [it]."
ImagnA chance at history
Reus appreciates the legacy of the LA Galaxy. It was a big selling point of why he joined the club. He would love the opportunity to etch his name along the likes of previous stars like David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane in delivering a title back to the club.
"[The history] of this club is amazing," Reus said. "It was 10 years ago when we last won the championship. Now on Saturday, there's the chance again."
A lot of Reus' ability to impact the tie against the Red Bulls will come down to his fitness. He's been working hard to rehabilitate from a groin injury he sustained against Seattle. When at full fitness, Reus has tapped into his best. His debut for LA was memorable, coming off the bench to completely change the complexion of the game against Atlanta United with a goal and an assist.
The quality is there, but it will be a waiting game to see exactly how much he can play Saturday. And his expectations are clear.
"I'm really, really confident that we are strong enough for this, also to be ready in our head and but in the end, we have to show it," Reus said. "Show it on the pitch."
