CARSON, Calif. -- The last time the LA Galaxy took the field at the Rose Bowl, they watched Manchester United pummel them in a 7-0 debacle that delighted the vast majority of the nearly 85,000 on hand.
Now they're taking on Barcelona, the consensus choice as the world's best club, in Tuesday night's International Champions Cup friendly at the 93-year-old shrine in Pasadena's Arroyo Seco. It's a challenge they're excited about, but also one they don't want ending like last year's match.
“That didn't go as well as we would have liked,” right back Dan Gargan acknowledged after Monday morning's training session at StubHub Center. “Obviously, we were as players a bit embarrassed, even though it was just a friendly, and I think that, actually, that game really helped us in moving forward last year. The next game we played was in Seattle, and we crushed them, 3-0, at their place.
“I don't think we're looking to repeat [the Man United] performance, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is to come out uninjured and be able to move on to [the next MLS game].”
Barcelona, playing the first of three preseason games in the United States -- the Catalan club faces Manchester United on Saturday in the Bay Area and Chelsea next Tuesday in Landover, Md. -- are without stars Lionel Messi, Neymar, Dani Alves and Claudio Bravo, but they've got some huge names ready to go, including Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano.
“They're a fantastic club, a huge institution in football and very successful,” said Steven Gerrard, who made his club debut in the ICC victory over Mexico's Club America on June 11. “They're the European champion and probably the best team on the planet at the moment. They've got world-class players, probably the most dangerous strike force out there, and a wonderful manager [in Luis Enrique] who's doing well.
“I see a bright future for Barcelona. It's a pleasure and an honor to test ourselves against them.”
Gerrard, who joined the Galaxy following 17 seasons at Liverpool, will reunite with former Reds teammates Suarez and Mascherano. He called Suarez, a close friend, “probably the best player I've ever played with.”
“I don't think anyone ever looks forward to playing against Luis Suarez,” Gerrard said. “He's a fantastic talent and a very dangerous player. And the same for Mascherano. He's a little warrior as well, a top player who's done unbelievably well at Barcelona. I'm looking forward to saying hello before and after the game, and also looking forward to testing myself in the game.”
- Get more LA Galaxy news at LAGalaxy.com
Most excited among the Galaxy might be rookie Ignacio Maganto, who grew up in Madrid and roots for Real Madrid.
“I'm no Barcelona fan, but at the end, I'm a fan of their style of play ...,” said LA's first-round draft choice. “It's a Spanish team, so it's pretty special for me. And everybody will be watching it in Spain, so it's going to be a good day.”
Head coach Bruce Arena said he is approaching the game as he did the Club America encounter, in which goalkeeper Brian Rowe was the only LA player to go longer than 45 minutes.
“Anytime you can have these games is good,” Arena said. “Unfortunately, people use these games as a barometer as to where we are, when it really doesn't tell you anything. We beat Juventus two years ago. What does that mean? We lost to Manchester United last year. What does that mean?
“Anyone who wants to base an argument about that is crazy. I would clearly say that Juventus and Manchester United are probably better than the Galaxy.”
