'07 Preview: Chivas USA aims to build on '06 success

By Pat Martin Mar 31, 2007, 16:30 GMT

Carson, CA - Major League Soccer's Club Deportivo Chivas USA made a dramatic turnaround from 2005 to 2006 under former head coach Bob Bradley.

After going 4-22-6 in '05 the team went 10-9-13 while qualifying for the playoffs in '06, the first year under Bradley. The dramatic improvement earned Bradley the 2006 MLS Coach of the Year Award as well as a job with the U.S. National Teams. He currently is the interim head coach of the senior squad and the head coach of the U-23 squad.

Now, in 2007, the team hopes to build on what Bradley built with new head coach Preki, who was an assistant for Bradley last season.

'We are looking forward to the season, we made some progress last year and there is room to make more progress this year,' Preki said. 'I will be plenty disappointed if we don't make progress.'

The 43-year-old Preki helped the club to the third best record in the Western Conference in '06 as an assistant. Before hanging up his boots, Preki also enjoyed a 22-year playing career that included stops in Yugoslavia, England, MLS and the U.S. National Team.

'(The transition) has been going pretty good, the transition has been pretty easy,' Preki said. 'Me being here last year and knowing the insides right here has made this fairly easy.'

Chivas USA returns a solid nucleus, with a big addition as well - former Red Bull New York midfielder Amado Guevara. Guevara, who scored eight goals and five assists last season to lead RBNY in scoring, was acquired this offseason in exchange for Chivas USA's designated player slot. The team expects big things out of the former MLS MVP this season.

'We are expecting him to have a lot of fun and enjoy himself and play,' Preki said of Guevara. 'Hopefully he will be able to do that.'

Guevara will be a big upgrade in the middle of the field for Chivas, who will probably player either a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation this season.

In the back, 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year, Jonathan Bornstein, who has been out with a partial tear of his left medial collateral ligament, will probably be a mainstay once he returns to health in the near future. Joining the 22-year- old American in the mix on defense will be Alex Zotinca - formerly of Kansas City - and Claudio Suarez among others. Whoever mans the fullback spots will have to make up for the departure of a key player from last season, Tim Regan.

Like a lot of teams in MLS, the forward position is the biggest question mark for Chivas USA heading into the season. One position will probably be locked up by last season's leading scorer, Ante Razov (14 goals, 8 assists), but with the losses of second leading scorer Juan Pablo Garcia and key contributor Juan Francisco Palencia, there is at least another position up for grabs.

Maykel Galindo, John Cunliffe, Matt Taylor and non-roster player Laurent Merlin, among others, are currently competing for the open position at forward.

'Nothing is set in the positions,' Preki said. 'They are all fighting for spots. The guys who have been here for a few years have some trust and that is very important. We will see as we go into the season, we will be able to tell.'

Regardless of who fills out the opening day lineup for Preki's squad, a strength this season figures to be depth. There wasn't a single goal scored from the bench last season, and with so many players in the running for the forward and offensive midfield positions, that will probably change in '07.

'It would hope to improve this year,' Preki said. 'It is still early right now to see how much we have improved. During the season we will see, we will be able to tell. We have quite a few new players so we are going to have to see how they jell with the rest of the team.

'I think as a group we have been working really hard and hopefully that will payoff when the season starts,' Preki added.

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