Ghanaian forward Joseph Paintsil has voiced his disappointment following LA Galaxy’s failure to reach the MLS playoffs, describing the campaign as a humbling reality check for the defending champions.
The Black Stars winger found the net in the club’s final regular-season match, a 2-0 victory over Minnesota United, registering his tenth goal of the campaign. However, the win did little to salvage a difficult season, as Galaxy finished 14th in the Western Conference and 26th overall, well below expectations.
Red-hot Paintsil strikes again as LA Galaxy edge Minnesota United
Reflecting on the team’s struggles to the press, Paintsil admitted the season fell far short of their ambitions and urged his teammates to treat it as a turning point.
“I think this season was a lesson for us, and this is also a wake-up call for us as a team. It hasn’t been the way we wanted it to be. Unfortunately, we gave out a lot of points, a lot of unnecessary goals, a lot of mistakes. We get punished, and we’re here now, not even playing for the playoff. It’s really a sad moment for a champion team last season and not playing in the playoffs,” he said after the game.
Despite the disappointment, Paintsil maintained a positive outlook, insisting the team must remain grateful and focused on rebuilding.
“We should have at least been in the playoffs even for us to test ourselves and see how far we would go. But in everything, you just need to give thanks to God. He knows the best. So I would just be calm and just look forward to the next season,” he added.
The 2025 LA Galaxy pic.twitter.com/qtuiCnFl1n
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 19, 2025
With the 2026 MLS campaign already on his mind, Paintsil vowed to help Galaxy recover from their poor start and reclaim their winning identity.
“That’s the most important thing. We have some Cup games that’s ahead of us. We just need to come back, work harder and not to repeat the start of the season, how we started the season, and just to work on something so that we can be better during the season,” he emphasized.
After a season defined by inconsistency and missed opportunities, Paintsil’s words echo the sentiments of a player determined to see LA Galaxy rise again.
