Matthew Dunn Is A Bright Spot For Struggling Chivas USA

Jul 25, 2014; Commerce City, CO, USA; Chivas USA midfielder Matthew Dunn (6) during the game against the Colorado Rapids at Dick

The 2014 Major League Soccer season may be lost for Wilmer Cabrera’s Chivas USA, but there is a bright spot in rookie midfielder Matthew Dunn. Dunn has started the previous two matches and should start this Saturday against the Colorado Rapids. Dunn began his career with the Goats playing Reserve League matches before making the move up to the first team.

I think it comes down to my work ethic,” Dunn told cdchivasusa.com’s Alejandro Arpiza. “I’ve been working hard in training and listening to [the coaching staff’s] instructions and trying to do what they want the team to do, so I think that’s what has led me to get the opportunity. The more I play, the more comfortable I get on the ball during the game and get used to the speed of play.

“Nigel [Reo-Coker] has been great at helping me out with my positioning and giving me confidence during the game. He brings a lot of personality to the team, he’s a veteran, so he has a lot of advice for me, just teaching different angles and simple passes, when to go forward and when to play back. It’s been really helpful.”

“When we decided to bring him, he had to wait a lot just to go through the [league’s] lottery,” Cabrera said. “Then he just needed to get acclimated, get the rhythm, work hard and reach the adequate fitness level.

“When he was doing very well, he started suffering from concussion-like symptoms, so he needed to stop and that obviously caused a little bit of time. When he came back he started to work harder and when he got into good condition, he had the possibility to play.

“He’s a very young player that wanted to be in this environmen. When you are a rookie or young, you have to be working harder than anyone else and he’s been doing it. He’s been adapting very well to the team and has played two good games and shown that it’s not too big for him to be on the roster and the starting eleven for this team.”

Dunn and Chivas USA take on the Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 11 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE.

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In Los Angeles Galaxy news, Ivan Pierra a former Galaxy trainer who spent six years as a part of the U.S. Soccer Federation, was hired as Director of the Sports Medicine Department. In the Galaxy’s inaugural season in 1996, Pierra began his initial stint with the Galaxy, where he worked as the athletic trainer for over 10 years before accepting a full-time position as Head Athletic Trainer for the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2008. Pierra had also freelanced on the U.S. Soccer Federation staff, including time working with then head coach Bruce Arena.

Throughout his career, Pierra has worked in four FIFA World Cup tournaments (1994, 1998, 2010, 2014) with the U.S. Soccer Federation, serving as the Head Athletic Trainer in 2010 and 2014 under head coaches Bob Bradley and Jurgen Klinsmann. As Director of Sports Medicine, Pierra will monitor all aspects of player health and fitness for the Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Galaxy II and the Los Angeles Galaxy Academy. Pierra takes over for Armando Rivas, who is now with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.