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When Carlos Vela left Spain for LAFC six years ago, his goals were clear. He was to win the MVP award and league championship for him, and set his MLS scoring record for one of his seasons.
In LAFC’s MLS Cup win last November, he achieved all three while adding the Supporters Shield along the way. However, far from satisfying him, that success has left him increasingly hungry for the new season next month.
“When you win a trophy, you feel the positivity, the energy and the joy of winning the trophy. [So] I want more, I want to be in that position again,” he said on Tuesday’s MLS Media Day. “There will be more tournaments and more chances to win trophies, so be ready to grab more.”
In fact, no MLS team is chasing hardware like LAFC this season. LAFC plays in the CONCACAF Champions League as well as the US Open Cup, the 1st League Cup, and he has two MLS competitions.
“Last year was a special year, unbelievable,” said midfielder Kerin Acosta. “But that was last year. This year has its own challenges. For five tournaments in a year, that’s a lot of football. increase.
“We want to win whatever tournaments we play, and playing these tournaments gives us a great opportunity to add to that list.”
LAFC will begin its chase at the start of the regular season against the Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on February 25th. The Champions League will face him on March 9 against Alajuelense, who has won his 30th title in his First Division in Costa Rica. Meanwhile, his first League Cup, a month-long tournament involving all 47 teams in MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX, begins in late July at his LAFC. , as reigning league champions, bid farewell in the group stage.
LAFC’s general manager and co-president, John Thorrington, has highlighted this off-season as LAFC’s general manager and co-president, John Thorrington, will be playing 54 games in about 41 weeks if they make it to those three tournaments and the final of the US Open Cup. increase. .
Thorrington rebuilt his team last season, adding eight players over the winter and two key additions in early summer: Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini and Wales captain Gareth Bale. That paid off with his two trophies, so Thorrington returned to the same playbook this winter, but this time reloading rather than rebuilding.
The 10 players who started at least 20 games in the regular season last season are back. Thorrington added to its core US World Cup player Aaron Long and Honduran international Denil Maldonado in the back line, and 20-year forward Stipe Biuk up front and back. Everton keeper Erdin Jakupovic scores. Gone is midfielder Latif Blessing, who was traded to New England. retired bale. Ecuadorian World Cup midfielder Jegson Mendes signed for Brazilian club Sao Paulo on Monday.
And Thorrington is not over. Bale’s retirement on Monday leaves a spot and some space for a draft pick under his MLS salary cap, but with his current LAFC roster make-up, the team has his MLS salary. Only DPs qualified under the U-22 initiative could be added.
“There are still quite a few moving parts with inbound, outbound interest, waiting for full clarification,” said Thorrington, who was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday. We’re seeing some movement, and it’s well documented that some players are getting quite a bit of interest.”
A leading player is Ecuadorian World Cup midfielder Jose Cifuentes, who said his agent had received a call from a European team.
Senegal’s Pape Guye (right) and Ecuador’s Jose Cifuentes battle for the ball during a World Cup Group A soccer match in Doha, Qatar, November 29, 2022.
(Natasha Pisarenko/Associated Press)
LAFC won its first MLS Cup in November, defeating Philadelphia on penalties and defeating Union in the Supporters’ Shield in a tiebreaker. And that puts a bigger goal on the team’s back, added to the challenges of the new season.
“We have to face this head-on and we are honored that the team really has their eye on us,” said Acosta. “We have to prove why we were champions last year and that starts every game.
“Of course we can talk about last year, but this is a new year. It’s like a reset for everyone.”
Vera, who turns 34 in March, said she’s embracing it.
“I like the pressure. When you get older you realize that your career is over or nearing the end. I want to enjoy every training session and every game,” said Vera, who is entering the final season of his contract. Told. “Ultimately I came to this club to make history, so my goal is to work hard to win more trophies. sea bream.
“If we win a few more trophies, [a] A better legacy than we leave now. ”
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