The dismissal of Coach José Luis Sánchez Solá from Chivas USA was a tough moment for several Red-and-White players. One member of the squad that had a close connection with the Mexican coach since the start of this year’s preseason was goalkeeper and team captain Dan Kennedy.

Despite Kennedy’s relationship with Chelis, the ‘keeper and the rest of the group want to turn the page and start a new era with the newly appointed Head Coach with Chivas USA Jose Luis Real Casillas, who will take charge of the team once all legal documents have been fulfilled with the corresponding authorities. The Red-and-White are ready to change the current streak they carry in Major League Soccer and get back into the fight to earn a berth in the Playoffs.

“We have to move forward. [José Luis Real Casillas] is our new leader and as players, we know where we’re at and where we need to go. We’re going to lean on our new head coach heavily because he’s the guy that needs to help us turn things around.

“He’s a big part of this brand and I’m excited. It’s another opportunity to work with someone that has a lot more experience in this game than I do,” Kennedy said.

Chivas USA will return to action this Saturday, June 1st hosting the Seattle Sounders FC at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center as part of MLS Week 14 action. Kennedy assured that the group is completely focused on earning three points and that they won’t allow the changes in the coaching staff affect their on-field performance.

“Unfortunately this is the hard part of this game. It’s something that as a team we can’t let distract us for this weekend,” Kennedy said after Thursday’s training session at The Home Depot Center.

Alvarez says confidence carries over to Saturday

Three days removed from their 2-1 win over the L.A. Blues in the Third Round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Chivas USA look to take that momentum back into Major League Soccer play this Saturday at home when they battle Western Conference foe Seattle Sounders FC. Midfielder Carlos Alvarez says that the team is still poised enough to get results.

“The confidence level carries on,” said Alvarez. “It carries on throughout the week and that’s what we want. Hopefully we get a good result this weekend. We’re professionals and we want to accomplish something for ourselves and the organization. The results haven’t been positive, but [Tuesday] was a step in the right direction.”

Alvarez, in his Open Cup debut, was a key part in the Rojiblancos’ win. The East LA product knocked in the equalizer in the second half to spark the Goats’ comeback. Alvarez worked the ball down the middle of the attacking third and dished it off to forward Tristan Bowen inside the left side of the box, who then returned it to Alvarez near the penalty spot. With his back to the net, Alvarez created space for himself, turned and beat the goalkeeper toward the lower right corner of the net.

The win on Tuesday snapped a winless streak for the Red-and-White and punched the club’s ticket to the Fourth Round, but the Goats want to start adding to their point total in the MLS standings as well. Besides Alvarez has become a key ingredient with his play in the midfield, both going forward with the ball and distributing. The rookie has made six starts in eight appearances for the Red-and-White, and is finding more and more touches with the ball.

“I’m just trying to get into open spaces,” Alvarez added. “I try to do as much as I can to help the team, that’s the main thing. The team has given me that support to go out and look for the ball.”

The midfielder has already tallied his first career score in MLS and will look to contribute to the Red-and-White coming away from the 7:30 p.m. (PT) match with a needed result.

Bolaños has had success against Seattle

Second-year midfielder Miller Bolaños has not gotten off to the fast start the Ecuadorian national or the team had envisioned at the beginning of the season, but the 22-year-old says that he will be prepared to be called upon if the opportunity presents itself this Saturday. Bolaños has had success against Seattle, as he recorded a goal last season at The Home Depot Center in the clubs’ second of three meetings. He will now look to replicate that success in this year’s first meeting.

“I had more appearances last season,” Bolaños commented. “I’ve had to make adjustments but hopefully I will be in [Saturday’s] line-up with the opportunity to contribute.”

Bolaños points to the team’s current focus and victory in last Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup as two of the factors that have buoyed the Rojiblancos’ confidence heading into the Western Conference clash at home. The victory snapped the Goats’ winless streak and they will be in search of yet another crucial result to continue their Conference push. Seattle enters the match ahead of the Red-and-White by four points in the standings, but the midfielder says that the squad continues to stay focused and motivated. Should the attacker get on the pitch in the 7:30 p.m. (PT) match, Seattle will have a good idea of what Bolaños is capable of delivering on either wing.

“I always try to give my best effort. If I get the opportunity to play tomorrow I will try to do what I know and what the team asks of me. We know these are tough matches, but we are still calm and focused. Tomorrow is nothing new. We know how we need to prepare.”

Seattle took the final two meetings in last year’s season-series and the sides played to a draw in the first match. Bolaños played the full 90 minutes in both of the final two meetings between the clubs.

International Report: Morales and Mexico fall to Brazil

Julio Morales watched from the bench as Mexico’s U20 National Team fell 1-0 against Brasil in their second match of the 2013 Hopefuls’ of Toulon Tournament held in France. Despite having scored a goal in the team’s first match of the tournament, the Red-and-White player did not participate in El Tri’s match-up against the Carioca’s side.

Mexico’s U20 squad went into halftime with the 1-0 disadvantage after Vinicius Araujo scored the match’s lone goal in the 35th minute. The Mexicans returned to the second half looking for the equalizer or the two goals that would give them a victory. Even after many opportunities at goal, their effort was not enough.

With the loss, Mexico fell to the third spot of Group B in the Hopefuls’ of Toulon Tournament, group of which it shares with Brazil, Portugal, Nigeria and Belgium, respectively. Mexico’s U20 count with three points in the tournament after defeating Nigeria last Tuesday, but due to goal differential, Portugal is up in the second spot.

Mexico will look to earn their second victory and move up in the standings as they face Portugal next Tuesday, June 4 at 8:00 a.m. (PT).

Training Report: awaiting their rival

A day before hosting the Seattle Sounders FC at The Home Depot Center as part of Major League Soccer’s Week 14, Chivas USA hit the training field one last time on Friday morning to put the finishing touches on Interim Coach Sacha van Der Most’s tactical plan for gameday. Right before starting practice, the group congratulated and celebrated shortly the birthday of midfielder Marvin Iraheta, who turns 21 today.

Chivas USA kicked off the day’s work with a light jog around Field 6. After the five-minute jogging session, the group then headed to the Southwest sideline where Strength and Conditioning Coach Claudio Trabattoni led the group in conditioning exercises, short distance sprints and stretching exercises. Chivas USA then focused on perfecting their short and long distance passing on one half of the field.

In the remaining of the training session, Chivas USA focused on the two key things that will lead them to the victory over the Sounders this Saturday: defending and finishing plays. The Red-and-White was divided into two groups, each working on one half of the field; while one group worked on defending, the other team focused on the attacking plan.