Álvarez is top question for 2023 season
Efraín Álvarez is still just 20 years old.
In the ever-changing world of Major League Soccer, he enters his fifth season with the Galaxy, the longest tenure of anybody on the roster.
With that, comes a lot of questions. First and foremost, is this finally the season Álvarez puts everything together?
The attacking midfielder played in a career-high games (28) and minutes (1,385) last season and finished with three goals and six assists, also career bests.
Despite that, it wouldn’t be unfair to think the East L.A. native is capable of more.
“You’ve seen over many stretches in his young career how talented he is,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “But it’s not about talent, it’s not about the one moment. It’s about the consistency inside of a game, it’s about the consistency from game to game, it’s about everything, lifestyle, to performance, to everything that you want to achieve out there.
“He’s been highly focused and dedicated through the course of preseason. I think he’s taken big steps forward even in preseason. He knows this is an important year for him because he can’t any longer really be the talented young player. That’s kind of over now and it’s now it’s the player that has to step in and have an impact on the team and help decide games, because he’s capable of it. He’s capable of getting goals and assists and changing the outcome of things.”
By now, many probably expected Álvarez to be somewhere in Europe. His name has been linked to European and Mexican clubs in the past, but no move has materialized. He made his Mexican senior national team debut in 2021 and also made appearance for Mexico in the 2021 Gold Cup.
His two-year contract extension ends after this season. The Galaxy has a club option for 2024.
As a 17-year-old, Álvarez was labeled the “biggest talent” in MLS by then-teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“He goes on the field and you see when he plays, he’s all natural: the way he thinks, the way he moves the ball, the way he touches the ball,” Ibrahimovic said. “By far the best player in MLS. He just needs his game time, and he will show it also.”
The question facing the Galaxy and Álvarez this season: Has that time finally arrived?
“This preseason has different for me, a different mindset,” Álvarez said. “This has to be my year and at the same time, it has to be our year. I had a personal trainer, dieticians, just a little extra stuff.
“I talked to several people, important people and I think it was time for me to change for the right thing, for the club and for myself. It’s a dream come true to play for the Galaxy, it’s the biggest club in MLS and I’m always happy to represent the club.”
Here are some other questions facing the Galaxy this season:
WILL THE FANS SHOW UP? >>
Jay-z once said, “Nobody wins when the family feuds.” Well, the Galaxy front office and the team’s supporters Groups probably haven’t listened to the “4:44” album.
In January, five Galaxy supporters groups called for a boycott of the club due to president Chris Klein receiving a contract extension. In their initial joint statement, they said “we will not return to the stands until change is made at the highest level.” Klein is currently suspended from any sporting-related responsibilities by MLS due to the club violating salary budget and roster guidelines rules in the 2019 signing of Cristian Pavon. Klein’s suspension will be lifted at the end of the current transfer window in April.
Attendance at the last two home preseason games has been sparse, but that was preseason. The Rose Bowl is nearing a sellout for Saturday. The first true home game is March 18.
CAN THE TEAM SURVIVE THE BUSY SCHEDULE? >>
The schedule is extremely crowded this season. On top of a 34-game regular season, there is the expanded Leagues Cup tournament, the U.S. Open Cup and now a new playoff format. That means a potential addition of 20 games to the schedule.
We’re not sure if any club will be able to compete across all competitions, but it will be interesting to watch. The Galaxy’s depth will be tested throughout this season, but it could lead to larger roles for young players like Jalen Neal, Adam Saldana, Jonathan Perez and Daniel Aguirre.
WILL THE GALAXY GET BACK TO BEING MLS CUP CONTENDERS? >>
Vanney said he believes last season’s team was on the verge. The Galaxy made a late-season run, advanced to the conference semifinals and lost to LAFC. Could that result have been different if the game was at home? Vanney believes so.
To do that, the Galaxy will have to turn in a more consistent effort in the regular season. Entering this season, you could say the Galaxy has taken a step back with the departures of Julian Araujo (Barcelona), Samuel Grandsir (Le Havre) and Kevin Cabral (Colorado).
However, if the club finds consistent contribution to replace Grandsir and Cabral, continues to develop with a full season of Gaston Brugman and Riqui Puig, and the reported move to sign Lucas Calegari as Araujo’s replacement goes through, then this team, on paper, would be better.
Consistency will be the key word this season.