The rivalry between Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, July 28, will also serve to reunite two old friends at CenturyLink Field, as Red-and-White Assistant Coach Othoniel Gonzalez Jr. will face his mentor and Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid.

Their relationship began during Gonzalez’s recruitment process to UCLA, where Schmid developed a winning program with a 322-63-33 record during the 19 years he served as the Bruins’ head coach. Around that time, Gonzalez was a member of the Los Angeles Salsa U-18 team and was awaiting his moment to move on with his soccer career at the collegiate level.

The midfielder’s talents didn’t go unnoticed in Schmid’s eyes and together, they conquered the NCAA National Championship in 1997 at UCLA as well as three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation titles. It was during those four years that Schmid would leave his mark forever in the Red-and-White assistant’s life and career.

“We had a very unique relationship at UCLA,” recalled Gonzalez when talking about his mentor. “I felt he was instrumental to me maturing into a young adult. I always felt he was not only a coach to us at UCLA but also a mentor for us in life.”

Thanks to Schmid’s leadership skills and lessons during his time at UCLA, Gonzalez discovered his passion and interest in coaching soccer. And even now, he continues to admire and learn from the guy that once recruited him and taught him the values of life.

READ: No concerns about playing on turf

“Sigi not only has given me advice on the coaching side but also in life lessons. He’s always taught me how important it is, when representing any team as well as in life, being a good and reasonable person with a good character, because what you do on a daily basis is how people will think of you in the future,” said Gonzalez.

As the years went by, that relationship continued to grow stronger and Gonzalez kept reaching out to his mentor, who was an instrumental help when Gonzalez became UC Riverside’s head coach at the young age of 25. Gonzalez had an impeccable career at the college level, where he broke several school records and was named Big West Coach of the Year twice. His collegiate success took him to Chivas USA’s Youth Academy and a few months later to the assistant position under the direction of the First Team’s Coach Jose Luis Real. It was at that moment that Gonzalez went back to his faithful mentor to ask for advice.

“Last time I spoke with him was when I asked him for advice about whether or not I should join the League. Sigi explained to me the pros and cons of this challenge and the risks I was about to face,” explained the Chivas USA assistant. “And obviously, he also made sure I had everything set with my former employer.”

Only one and a half months deep into his Major League Soccer role, Sunday’s game already looks to become one of the most special matches in Gonzalez’s career, as the coach will have the honor and the privilege of facing one of the people that had the most impact in his life. Despite being a bit intimidating, Gonzalez knows that behind that rough mask hides a great friend.

“I know that on the outside he looks intimidating and dry but in the inside he’s a mentor, a great person with an enormous heart. I respect him a great deal for everything he’s given to me, the foundation to growing up to be a man,” Gonzalez conluded.

Avila disappointed to sit out

Heading into their road match against Western Conference foe Seattle Sounders FC this Sunday, Chivas USA will be without Eric Avila, one of the squad’s key attacking players in the midfield. Avila will sit out the Week 22 match due to a red card suspension, as the first-year Goat was sent off in the 25th minute of their July 17 match against Toronto FC. Referee Sorin Stoica issued Avila a straight red for what he deemed as a reckless tackle in TFC’s offensive third.

Now Avila will serve the first suspension of his six-year career, which the 25-year-old says feels “weird and disappointing at the same time.” With Chivas USA recording points in four of their last five matches, coupled with the recent additions of Carlos Bocanegra and Erick Torres, the Red-and-White are seeking a new look in the second half of the season. However, Avila will have suppress his desire of dressing up and celebrating the match with his new teammates.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Avila. “I want to be out there with my team and try to help as much as I can. Seattle is going to be a very tough game to play out there but also very exciting.

“The best I can do is to just be positive with my teammates. I know we’ve taken a good step forward lately and all I can do is just encourage them to keep going. I know I won’t be on the pitch to help out but just being a presence and being positive also helps out.”

READ: Confidence won’t take over Chivas USA

The Goats will no doubt miss the attacker’s presence and ability on the pitch, as Avila has become one of the focal points for opposing defenses, which helps free up other offensive threats for Chivas. Acquired this off-season via trade, the San Diego native has stated in 16 of his 17 appearances and recorded a pair of goals to go along with two assists.

With Monday’s Reserve League action still to come, Avila will likely be on the traveling roster and see action against Seattle’s Reserves to maintain game rhythm and shape.

“We have a Reserve match so I have to be ready for that. I always want to play, so it definitely is a bummer to go out there and not play [in the League match]. It’s frustrating how things go sometimes, obviously I can’t do anything about it and I just have to take the punishment,” he concluded.

Confidence won’t take over Chivas USA

After starting off on the right foot with Chivas USA, defender Carlos Bocanegra is ready to continue giving his all and help the Red-and-White to their second consecutive win in this Sunday’s match against the Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field.

Even though Bocanegra hasn’t played against the Sounders, he knows what the Red-and-White will be going into, facing a team that the LA side has not been able to defeat since 2009.

“This week, we’ve been doing a lot of tactical stuff, trying to stay organized and build off the performance from Toronto. We’re looking forward to be going to Seattle; it’ll be a good environment, against a good team. So we’re trying to get ready for that,” Bocanegra told cdchivasusa.com after Thursday’s training.

But even though Chivas USA’s got a confidence boost with last Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Toronto FC, breaking a 14-game winless streak, they’re not relying solely on that newly gained confidence, putting in all their effort during the week training sessions and give their all on the field this Sunday against the Sounders.

“Here’s the thing, it’s just one game we’ve won. The guys did well on the road, getting a few ties and putting in some good performances. We finally got over the hump and got the win but we’re taking little steps. We need to build week-by-week and this week, just build from our performance against Toronto, take a little of that confidence, put it against Seattle this weekend, and stay organized against a good team, a good attacking team,” the Red-and-White defender said.

With Bocanegra in the backline, goalkeeper Dan Kennedy and Chivas USA earned their second clean sheet of the season. And although the Goats played down a man for around 65 minutes, the defensive line was able to maintain Toronto to only 10 attempts at goal, something that Bocanegra credits a whole team effort.

“Last game, I thought the midfielders and the forwards did a great job of coming back to help out. You really need a team effort; it’s not just the defense and the goalie, it’s the forwards and the midfielders that play a huge part in the defensive role,” Bocanegra finalized.

Training Report: Working on turf field

In an effort to adapt to this weekend’s action on turf field, Chivas USA held Friday’s training session at the StubHub Center’s artificial turf Field 5. Chivas USA will head north this weekend for Major League Soccer’s Week 22, match set against the Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, July 28 at CenturyLink Field.

Strength and Conditioning Coach Armando Camacho, who has a vast experience working on turf field, began the day’s training with a couple of exercises that will help the Red-and-White begin the adaptation to the turf and the difference in ball bouncing. The group then proceeded to an exercise most known as “torito”, focusing on retaining and regaining ball possession.

After a couple of turf-adjusting exercises, Chivas USA went off to an inter-squad scrimmage, putting the final touches on Coach Jose Luis Real’s tactical plan. About an hour in, the Goats called it a day with a series of stretching exercises led by Coach Camacho. A couple of selected players stayed behind, working on set pieces alongside Chivas USA’s Director of Soccer Francisco ‘Paco’ Palencia.