PASADENA, Calif. -- Robbie Keane called the LA Galaxy's 7-0 defeat vs. Manchester United "embarrassing" and said the lopsided scoreline should serve as a wake-up call.
Keane played the first half of the game at the Rose Bowl and, at the interval, the Premier League giants already enjoyed a 3-0 lead.
"It's embarrassing because the scoreline doesn't reflect who the LA Galaxy are," said Keane. "We gave up three goals on three mistakes. When you give opportunities to good teams they are going to punish you."
Louis van Gaal's men went on to add four second half goals and Keane believes that hard work is the best way to remedy what went wrong in front of a crowd of 86,432.
"It's a kick up the backside and it makes us realize that we have to get back down to earth and get back on the training field and back into games and do everything you know from start to the finish and not make silly mistakes."
In contrast to Keane, Landon Donovan insisted the result was not embarrassing and added that the manner in which United played should serve as a lesson to the Galaxy squad as a whole.
"Everything happens a second or two faster," said Donovan. "The speed of thought the way they move technically, tactically all those things. They do all the little things right and how can we get better."
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Galaxy coach, Bruce Arena, echoed Donovan's views and challenged the younger members of his roster to use the chastening defeat as a learning experience.
"I think we can actually use this as a positive, obviously there was a lot I wasn't pleased with but I think really a good lesson. We've done this for a number of years against quality clubs, and have always been able to hang in a lot better than we did tonight, so I think it's a good lesson for our team."
Arena identified the areas in which his side, which returns to MLS action on Monday vs. Seattle, must improve.
"Our young players and a number of our players still are not quality passers. And one thing you saw tonight, the passing by Manchester United was quick and crisp; it was of quality. We have too many players who are technically deficient right now, and it's something they should learn.
"It's also speed of thought. Quickness in moving, winning tackles, running off the ball... all the simple things we frequently talk about but unless you see it live and in real life it's sometimes hard to have a picture of it, and they got a great picture of it tonight."