Starting with a 2-0 loss to the Galaxy at Banc of California Stadium one year ago last week, sorting through minor details has turned out to be a major task for the Los Angeles Football Club.
Addressing their meandering form over the last 12 months, LAFC coach Bob Bradley and his players have regularly referenced the need to ramp up their awareness, sharpness, speedy decision-making and other characteristics of successful teams.
The club was aware and sharp enough in 2018 to establish a record-setting expansion campaign.
It was more aware and sharper than anyone else by a wide margin in 2019 while setting the MLS benchmark for points and capturing the Supporters’ Shield trophy.
Last year was understandably different and challenging, yet an important competitive benchmark was reached when the club raised its level and nearly won the CONCACAF Champions League.
From the outset of the 2021 season the finer points that make or break results have been consistently elusive, which is why LAFC finds itself needing to rally to avoid missing the MLS postseason for the first time.
Sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference heading into the second “El Trafico” of the season on Saturday, with the schedule tightening and wiggle room all but gone, LAFC (6-9-5, 23 points) is in the throes of a club-worst four-game losing streak, part of a seven-match winless stretch.
“The biggest thing is to not allow frustration to get the best of us when things don’t go as planned,” midfielder Eduard Atuesta said. “In previous games we did the right thing and created multiple opportunities but the ball just hasn’t gone in. The frustration has gotten the best of us and ultimately the result doesn’t go our way.
“I think if we focus on those key moments and correct those minor details everything else will adjust and we’ll end up with results that we want.”
These “minor” yet clearly critical elements seemingly establish the dividing line between quality and mediocrity when it comes to the attacking, ball-hawking identity Bradley instilled in LAFC’s first team, its USL affiliate in Las Vegas, and throughout the youth academy program.
“There’s little things but absolutely at this point it’s so close in so many ways that right now we need the right play at the right time and I think you’ll see guys be ready to have some joy and push things,” Bradley suggested, noting that the afterglow of coaching the MLS All-Stars to a 2-1 victory over Liga MX with important contributions from Atuesta, Jesus Murillo and Diego Rossi on LAFC’s home field “felt really good for people and hopefully we can build on that for this game.”LAFC must do so without its best player, Carlos Vela, who will miss Saturday’s attempt at a bookend performance against the fourth-place Galaxy (11-8-2, 35 points).
The 2019 MLS MVP aggravated his right quadriceps, the same strain he suffered in Week 1, during LAFC’ 2-1 loss at Vancouver last weekend.
The 32-year-old Mexican forward could miss several weeks, adding to his time away from the field during the last two seasons, while LAFC heads into a stretch that will likely determine the fate of its season.
LAFC vs. GALAXY
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Banc of California Stadium
TV: FOX (Ch. 11); FOX Deportes (Spanish)
Radio: 1110 AM, ESPN App, 980 AM (Spanish)
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August 28, 2021 at 08:31AM
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LAFC looks to correct ‘minor’ details against Galaxy - LA Daily News
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