Veteran LAFC left back Jordan Harvey has been writing a regular diary for the Los Angeles Times about his experiences at the MLS is Back Tournament.
In his latest dispatch, he spoke about a moment when the enormity of the task of staging the tournament hit home for him.
"I finally got a chance to watch some of the games on television," Harvey said, "and it made me realize what a huge achievement this tournament is for the league and what a massive display of commitment it has been from the players."
Harvey's whose LAFC team played out a thrilling 3-3 with Houston Dynamo in their tournament opener, said he was happy to have games to focus on after FC Dallas and Nashville SC — including his former teammate Walker Zimmerman — were forced to withdraw from the tournament when several players tested positive for COVID-19.
He is also adjusting to the unique challenges of summertime in Florida.
"Of course we knew it was going to be hot and humid playing in Florida in the middle of summer but now with thunderstorms every afternoon, delays are inevitable," he wrote. With all that said, everyone seems to be rolling with it and staying positive. Collectively, our group is determined to make this work and we’re focused on the reason we’re here, the football.
Now at the forefront of Harvey's mind is Saturday's El Trafico match against local rivals the LA Galaxy (10:30 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN in Canada).
For more of Harvey's thoughts, visit his diary at latimes.com.
