Tired of sports cliches? Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena can help

Bruce Arena, the Galaxy’s head coach and general manager, has a keen sense of humor and a quick wit.

But Arena also doesn’t suffer fools or reporters’ questions that he finds wanting. So in the sea of cliches that is sports, Arena is one of those coaches who stands apart. (The Kings’ Darryl Sutter and the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick also come to mind.)

Exhibit A was Arena’s answers to questions after the Galaxy lost, 2-1, to FC Dallas on Sunday.

The Galaxy already had clinched a playoff berth in its bid for a record fifth Major League Soccer title. But for Arena, that didn’t mollify his feelings about losing the match, in which FC Dallas scored the go-ahead goal with only three minutes left in regulation play.

So when Arena was asked at what point the Galaxy had lost control of the FC Dallas match, he replied: “We didn’t lose control of the game, we lost the game.” Questioned about opportunities that the Galaxy had to pull ahead, Arena said, “Didn’t get it done.”

And Arena was asked whether the loss had been a learning experience for his club. His response: “It’s not a learning experience. They should have learned this a long time ago.”

Arena’s bluntness doesn’t stop with his own team. Last month, he was fined $20,000 by the MLS for comments critical of the league.

The Galaxy has two regular-season games left, both against the Seattle Sounders, who are tied with the Galaxy for first place in the MLS Western Conference. The first game is Sunday at StubHub Center, and the second is Oct. 25 in Seattle.