Gerrard seeks Galaxy rebound in play-offs
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Steven Gerrard will be aiming to prevent his debut season in Major League Soccer from coming to an abrupt end on Wednesday as Los Angeles Galaxy travel to Seattle for a must-win play-off game.
The Galaxy's regular season tailed off poorly with just one win in their final seven games and a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City at the weekend has left them facing a post-season trip to the Pacific Northwest to face the Sounders.
Gerrard, whose form has fluctuated since he arrived in California in July, said he is confident the Galaxy can keep their season alive if they can improve their play in the final third against Seattle.
"I think that we've done everything great until the last pass and the last finish," the former Liverpool and England captain told the Galaxy's official website.
"That explains the reason why everyone is a bit flat and a bit down because we haven't finished the good move and the good play off," added Gerrard, who has scored only two goals in 13 appearances for his club.
"We haven't rewarded ourselves for all the good play. Football can be a tough game if you don't make that last play or score that important goal. It can make you feel this way.
"No one is feeling more disappointed or down or flat than me at the moment. I'm one of the experienced players in the dressing room, and I need to lead the way," Gerrard said.
The veteran midfielder added he was still haunted by a glaring miss against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, when he was put clear only to see his shot cleared by goalkeeper Tim Melia.
"I've played it 50 times in my sleep. That's the type of player I am, I over-analyse, and it got me to where I am today," Gerrard said. "Nothing's going to change on that. I drive myself batty all day."
Galaxy captain Robbie Keane, who heads to Seattle after netting his 20th goal of the season in Sunday's defeat, said Los Angeles would draw confidence from the fact they had beaten the Sounders at their CenturyLink Field fortress before.
"The good thing is we know we can go there and win the game, because we've done it in the past," he said.
"We've played so much there we kind of know the field probably more than anybody else in this league. We have to go there and give it our best and make sure we come out of there with a win."