Galaxy Searches for Its Focus

Throughout the Galaxy’s dog days of summer, many critics pointed to its misfiring midfield as the root of its post-title blues.

Two of the defending Major League Soccer champions’ midfielders, though, said Friday that the Galaxy’s problems with six regular-season matches to go are more in their minds than in their feet.

“It’s a mental thing now,” said Simon Elliott, a former team most valuable player who has but one assist this season. “If you get your head right individually and as part of a collective, you’re going to be fine.”

So how does the Galaxy arrive at such a peaceful destination?

“Just application,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure you’re concentrating every day in training and that you’re switched on for 90 minutes in a game.

“Most of the time it’s not technical ineptitude that gets us in trouble; it’s just lack of mental application. That’s when breakdowns occur. We’ve just got to apply ourselves and have a bit of belief in ourselves that we can go out and get results when we need them.”

Peter Vagenas, who questioned the heart of the Galaxy after last week’s disheartening 2-0 home loss to Chicago, said he has seen more attention to details in training this week.

“Once you get to the top there’s a sense of complacency that you have to fight but that’s all said and done at this point ... basking in last year’s glory is over,” Vagenas said. “This team can be better; there’s no doubt. The finals are yet to be written and it’s something we expect to be in.

“[But] I think we’ve accepted mediocrity a little more easily this season than we have in the past.”

Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said he thought his team was playing better of late, even with the Galaxy riding a two-game losing streak in which it has been outscored, 4-1.

“For us it’s a matter of things bouncing right a little bit,” he said. “But there’s nobody in this league that we’re afraid to play or that we don’t feel we can beat.”

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A Moving History

Wimbledon, the soccer club, not the tennis venue, became the first team in the English football league’s 114-year history to permanently relocate to a new town or city with Friday’s announcement of its move from London to Milton Keynes.

Wimbledon, in last place of the First Division with six straight defeats, plays its first match in its new home -- the National Hockey Stadium -- on Sept. 27. Attendance went from an average of 7,000 last year to 1,054 in its last match.

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GALAXY TONIGHT vs. D.C. United, 7

Site -- Home Depot Center.

Radio -- KMPC (1540), KTNQ (1020, Spanish), Radio Korea (1230, Korean).

Records -- Galaxy 7-9-8, D.C. United 9-8-6.

Record vs. D.C. United -- 0-1-0.

Update -- Galaxy forward Diego Serna has feasted on D.C. United defenders in his career, scoring 27 points on 11 goals and five assists. The all-time regular-season series between the Galaxy and D.C. United may be tied, 10-10-0, but D.C. United has beaten the Galaxy in two MLS Cup title matches, in 1996 and 1999. The first 12,000 fans will receive a Cobi Jones bobblehead doll.

Tickets -- (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000.

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Times wire services contributed to this report.