More action, less talk needed
Coming off its 4-3 loss to the Galaxy in 2018, the shell-shocked LAFC visited Atlanta United.
The midway point of a fivematch road trip that opened LAFC’s first season, while the finishing touches were put on Banc of California Stadium, did not go well.
The 5-0 defeat to Atlanta, which went on to win the MLS Cup that year, remains the most lopsided loss in LAFC history.
The response, however, set the tone for the club’s inaugural season and provided the first realworld example that Carlos Vela would be willing and able to act like a team leader.
“We have to be together all game, in hard situations too,” Vela said in 2018, responding to the club’s second loss in a row. “I hope we can change this situation and, in the next game, do better.”
LAFC reeled off four consecutive wins, made the playoffs in its first season and established a record number of points for an expansion team.
Making its second-ever visit to Atlanta today, the 2021 version of LAFC could benefit from a turnaround like that.
“We’re getting to a point in
Today: LAFC at Atlanta, 1p.m., ESPN
the season where it’s important to get every point,” LAFC center back Jesus Murillo said.
As LAFC fights for consistency in 2021, sharpening football details, said head coach Bob Bradley, and not discussing things such as motivation will be key to moving forward in a good way.
“Whether it’s in attacking moments or defending moments,” Bradley said, “the biggest focus this week has been on these kinds of details and now as always can you take ideas, and take video, and take things that happened in training, and turn it into more consistent, better efforts by more guys for 90 minutes.”
Bradley singled out star winger Diego Rossi as someone who needs to produce more. The Uruguayan designated player and last year’s Golden Boot recipient came off the bench to play the second half of last Sunday’s loss to San Jose.
Rossi’s response in training this week has pleased his coach, whose ideas have honed the club’s identity from its senior team down through the youth level.
“I think in this last couple of days there’s been a really good response by Diego,” Bradley said. “He’s been sharp in training. He’s been very lively and that’s the key. Now we need to carry that into a game and get a couple of really good games for him going for him. That will get him back to where we know he can be.”
After the team’s 4-1 loss at home to Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 4 and 2-1 defeat in San Jose, LAFC supporters are wondering the same about the club as a whole.
Following three strong seasons, LAFC finds itself with 23 points and clinging to the last playoff spot in the Western Conference ahead of its only visit to an Eastern Conference city this season.
The high-expectation Atlanta side has started even slower than LAFC (6-7-5), and is 10th in the East with 18 points.
On Thursday, Atlanta formally announced the hiring of its newest head coach, former Mexican international and Seattle Sounders assistant Gonzalo Pineda.
Pineda is the sixth manager to lead Atlanta (3-6-9) since it joined MLS in 2017. Rob Valentino will continue to serve as the club’s interim coach for the next two matches.