MLS

• Game one of Arena era as L.A. hosts Chicago

  
  

  Carson, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Galaxy will play game one of the Bruce Arena era against the Chicago Fire at The Home Depot Center on Thursday, three days after he was named coach and general manager of the Major League Soccer franchise.

  Arena replaces the departed Alexi Lalas and Ruud Gullit, who were let go last week.

  Both teams could be shorthanded with players rushing back from national team duties from Wednesday's international fixture date.

  The biggest story, however, will be former D.C. United, New York Red Bulls and U.S.

  national team coach Arena behind the Galaxy bench with newly appointed associate head coach Dave Sarachan and assistants Trevor James, Cobi Jones and Ian Feuer.

  "It doesn't really affect us," Fire coach Denis Hamlett told MLSnet.com of the Galaxy's new technical staff. "We understand they are going to have energy and want to prove a point to their new coach. But it about what we are capable of doing and we have a great change of getting some points and moving up." Ironically, Sarachan is a former coach of Chicago who was fired after a slow start last season.

  "Dave and I are very good friends, and we worked together for a long time," said Hamlett, who was an assistant at Chicago while Sarachan coached the Fire. "We know he will have the group ready. He knows our group and is not too far removed.

  We have had a few changes, but he knows our personnel and that gives them a little edge. But it is still about the 11 guys on the field getting the job done." The Fire (9-6-5) are competing to stay in the top three in the Eastern table, where they are four points behind leaders New England while the Galaxy (6-8-6) are trying to find their form after going eight MLS fixtures without a victory.

  08/20 23:43:34 ET