Galaxy faces St. Louis City SC in first game since Chicharito’s season-ending injury

The Galaxy got dealt another tough blow Thursday with the news that forward and captain Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez had suffered a torn ACL, which will force him out for the rest of the season.

“A lot of emotions, I’m gutted for him,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “Obviously, it’s never an injury you want anyone or does anyone want to have to deal with. It’s a tough one, it’s a long period of time and you have some work to do to get yourself back.

“I know with his work rate and his passion and desire to be out there, he’s going to do the work and he’s going to put himself in a position to come back and continue to play the game.”

Hernandez joined the Galaxy in 2020 at a difficult time in his personal life as he dealt with the death of his grandfather and a divorce, which were compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and an injury that limited him to only two goals in 12 appearances.

To his credit, he fought back to the Chicharito that people remembered as he scored 18 goals in 2021 and 17 last season. His production was limited this season (one goal) as he was slowed early by a hamstring injury. This was the final year of his contract after having a one-year option picked up following last season.

His presence will be missed not only on the field, but also in the locker room.

“He’s the captain, a guy that’s a leader for the group and a vocal leader for the group, so the group has to process the fact that he won’t be with us again and move on and keep attacking the next game,” Vanney said.

That next game is Sunday on the road (10 a.m., Fox/11) against expansion club St. Louis City SC, the current leaders in the Western Conference with 28 points.

The challenge facing the Galaxy, aside from slowing a St. Louis team that currently leads MLS in goals scored (32) is finding a way to score their own goals. Dejan Joveljic, who scored 11 goals last season, has just two so far in 2023 and will now get the extra minutes and opportunities in the starting lineup.

“With Dejan (Joveljic) coming into a role and Preston (Judd) starting to fill in some spaces, nobody has to be anyone that they’re not and nobody has to try to force the issue,” Vanney said. “Play within the team concept, connect with your teammates, work for your teammates, trust the system and the movements that are there to open spaces for you to create goal scoring chances and make the best decision in the moment.

“I think his (Joveljic) capacity to work and his desire to score, his willingness to make runs, his attempt at doing the right things and at times doing the right things is all there. It’s always about how does it connect with the group and how we can turn him into a goalscorer that we know he’s capable of being. That’s just not an individual thing, for me that’s a collective thing.”