TORREON, Mexico -- LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane believes Major League Soccer is level with Liga MX in terms of quality, having seen a gradual improvement in the northern league since joining in 2011.

"If you look at the MLS in terms of the first year I came until now, you would say that the MLS now would be on par with the Mexican league," Keane said in a news conference ahead of the Galaxy's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Santos Laguna.

"As the Mexican league has stayed [the same], the MLS has got bigger and I think it's going to continue to get bigger."

The Galaxy goes into Tuesday's game needing a score draw or victory to advance after the 0-0 tie in the first leg and Keane thinks his experienced side -- including Steven Gerrard, Giovani Dos Santos and Nigel De Jong -- has the best chance of any Galaxy team he has been involved with of earning CONCACAF glory.

The reason for previous failures and Mexican domination -- Liga MX teams have won the last 10 CONCACAF club titles -- in the competition is simple for Keane.