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Canales Daily: Sanneh Says Galaxy Have "No Excuses"
The "Big Cat" is working an a comeback with a Los Angeles team that definitely needs one.
Mar 22, 2009 1:43:00 PM
By Andrea Canales
Now 37, veteran defender Tony Sanneh is a Major League Soccer original, a player who took the field in the first-ever league championship in 1996, helping turn around DC United's fortunes in the final as the team scored late to secure the victory. The victims of United's comeback those many years ago? The Los Angeles Galaxy.
Sanneh now will step out on the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy against DC United an attempt at a personal comeback of his own, one that sees him return to play after more than a year off.
"I'm just concentrated on the season," said Sanneh of his main focus.
It's a reunion of sorts on the Galaxy for Sanneh with his old DC coach, Bruce Arena. Sanneh also played for years for Arena on the U.S. national team.
"I know what he wants," said Sanneh of Arena's demands. "Obviously, not playing competitively for over a year, I'm getting back to speed, but he makes it pretty clear what he wants. I'm just trying to fulfill what he wants from me."
After many years abroad in Germany for both Hertha Berlin and FC Nurenberg, Sanneh rejoined MLS in 2004 and played for the Columbus Crew, the Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids.
"Every team you go to is going to be different. You just have to figure out what your coach and your teammates want. In Germany we match up man to man a little more. You worry about your job and your team takes a little more risk. Here you're defending more as a unit."
However, Sanneh took 2007 off from professional soccer completely before getting the chance to trial with the Galaxy all through preseason.
"You never know how your body is going to react," Sanneh stated. "I knew that I could still play at this level. I knew I had the ability, strength-wise I didn't know how my body was going to hold up through preseason. I just put myself in the best possible situation and took care of my body and so far it's worked out."
Galaxy captain Landon Donovan noted that on the field, it was hard to see any evidence of rustiness in Sanneh's play.
"I was a little curious to see what kind of shape he was going to be in when I got here," Donovan acknowledged. "He's fit in very well. He doesn't look out of place."
Arena has noted that the Galaxy need more leadership, and Donovan attested that Sanneh has helped provide that, expecially as a teacher to rookie centerback Omar Gonzalez.
"He's been very good - one, for Omar, but I think for a lot of the young guys," said Donovan. "You can tell he relishes that and he's glad to be back. This is what he does and it's nice to have him around."
Sanneh accepted the role of on-field instructor easily.
"It's just experience," Sanneh said. "I've played for fifteen years and I've seen a lot. I would like to think I've learned from it and that's one of the reasons that's allowed me to play for so long. Hopefully, that's some of the information that I can pass down."
Though the Galaxy are struggling under the weight of three poor seasons in a row, Sanneh's experience with frenzied fans in Germany helped him keep the situation in perspective.
'I think there's pressure within the team and Bruce tries to also put that pressure on us. I think the pressure you don't have is in your everyday life, when you're walking down the street. That kind of coverage you don't see. This organization feels pressure as a whole. We don't have any excuses any more."
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
Now 37, veteran defender Tony Sanneh is a Major League Soccer original, a player who took the field in the first-ever league championship in 1996, helping turn around DC United's fortunes in the final as the team scored late to secure the victory. The victims of United's comeback those many years ago? The Los Angeles Galaxy.
Sanneh now will step out on the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy against DC United an attempt at a personal comeback of his own, one that sees him return to play after more than a year off.
"I'm just concentrated on the season," said Sanneh of his main focus.
It's a reunion of sorts on the Galaxy for Sanneh with his old DC coach, Bruce Arena. Sanneh also played for years for Arena on the U.S. national team.
"I know what he wants," said Sanneh of Arena's demands. "Obviously, not playing competitively for over a year, I'm getting back to speed, but he makes it pretty clear what he wants. I'm just trying to fulfill what he wants from me."
After many years abroad in Germany for both Hertha Berlin and FC Nurenberg, Sanneh rejoined MLS in 2004 and played for the Columbus Crew, the Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids.
"Every team you go to is going to be different. You just have to figure out what your coach and your teammates want. In Germany we match up man to man a little more. You worry about your job and your team takes a little more risk. Here you're defending more as a unit."
However, Sanneh took 2007 off from professional soccer completely before getting the chance to trial with the Galaxy all through preseason.
"You never know how your body is going to react," Sanneh stated. "I knew that I could still play at this level. I knew I had the ability, strength-wise I didn't know how my body was going to hold up through preseason. I just put myself in the best possible situation and took care of my body and so far it's worked out."
Galaxy captain Landon Donovan noted that on the field, it was hard to see any evidence of rustiness in Sanneh's play.
"I was a little curious to see what kind of shape he was going to be in when I got here," Donovan acknowledged. "He's fit in very well. He doesn't look out of place."
Arena has noted that the Galaxy need more leadership, and Donovan attested that Sanneh has helped provide that, expecially as a teacher to rookie centerback Omar Gonzalez.
"He's been very good - one, for Omar, but I think for a lot of the young guys," said Donovan. "You can tell he relishes that and he's glad to be back. This is what he does and it's nice to have him around."
Sanneh accepted the role of on-field instructor easily.
"It's just experience," Sanneh said. "I've played for fifteen years and I've seen a lot. I would like to think I've learned from it and that's one of the reasons that's allowed me to play for so long. Hopefully, that's some of the information that I can pass down."
Though the Galaxy are struggling under the weight of three poor seasons in a row, Sanneh's experience with frenzied fans in Germany helped him keep the situation in perspective.
'I think there's pressure within the team and Bruce tries to also put that pressure on us. I think the pressure you don't have is in your everyday life, when you're walking down the street. That kind of coverage you don't see. This organization feels pressure as a whole. We don't have any excuses any more."
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com North America
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