NEW ARRIVALS ON THE FIELD
LAFC took another step forward in preparing for the 2022 season this week, as several key players who had been absent from preseason training due to national team commitments returned to the Club. Kellyn Acosta, who led the U.S. National Team to a huge win vs. Honduras in World Cup Qualifying on Feb. 2 with a sparkling performance, went through his first training sessions with the Black & Gold, while new goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, who was with the Canadian National Team for their two Qualifying wins, also now has about six days of training under his belt.
“These last few weeks have been great,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “It is a huge positive effect for us to get our international players back this week to complete our coaching staff as well. A lot of the pieces of the puzzle are all coming together in the later stages of the preseason.”
Diego Palacios and José Cifuentes who were both with the Ecuadorian National Team for their World Cup Qualifying matches also were able to return to the pitch at the Performance Center this week.
“We are excited to have every one out on the field and to make us complete,” Cherundolo said.
After his sterling performance vs. Honduras, Cherundolo is also looking forward to integrating the multifaceted Acosta in the middle of the field to help orchestrate the LAFC attack.
“Kellyn brings to this group so much,” Cherundolo said. “His ability in the midfield to make key passes, and pass the ball the way we like it – by connecting the backline to the front three and then of course the obvious weapon he brings that we all see is on set pieces. He has a very big motor and an engine that can cover a lot of ground in the middle of the park. His attributes fit this team like a glove.”
Cherundolo is also high on the cerebral approach Acosta brings to the Club – and says his role will vary depending on game situations and the opponent – but expect Acosta to always be in the middle of the park.
“Whether he is an eight or a six or something in between, a lot of that will depend on the moment in the game,” Cherundolo said. “Kellyn has the tools and the brains to figure that role out.”
Acosta is ready to go and help get LAFC back to the playoffs, a position that he helped put them in by leading his old team, the Colorado Rapids, to a victory over the Black & Gold in the 2021 season finale.
“I’m looking forward to contributing to the group,” Acosta said. “It has been great so far, there is a lot of quality in the team and I can’t wait for the season to start. I’m excited to link up with Carlitos, and Brian [Rodríguez] and Chicho. I will be feeding them the ball a lot – and I’m already learning a lot from U.S. National Team legend Steve Cherundolo. The experience he is giving me and just hearing about his experiences at the club and national team level. It has only been a few days – but I’m learning a lot and taking everything up like a sponge.”
LAFC’s newest goalkeeper Maxi Crépeau is also taking in new information, joining LAFC this past week from Vancouver to play for his first professional team outside of his home country, Canada.
“Max has proved over the last two seasons that he is one of the top goalkeepers in the league,” Cherundolo said. “On top of that, his personality and character – we have been looking forward to that. He is a great communicator and he brings a lot of energy on a daily basis. That is something we have been trying to interject and he has only been here a couple of days and we see that already.”
For his part, Crépeau is already enjoying his time in Los Angeles.
“Fantastic,” Crépeau said about the start of training camp for him. “So far it has been amazing. I see the quality here already and I am so enthusiastic for the new season. I was ready for this new chapter with an organization that has a winning mindset. Just five years in the league and the club has that mentality and winning culture within in the team and with their fans, so we are ready for the season.”
NEW ARRIVALS ON THE SIDELINES
In addition to new players arriving this week – LAFC officially announced its coaching staff for the 2022 season on Tuesday, bringing Ante Razov back to the sidelines for his fifth year with the Club, as well as Marc Dos Santos and goalkeeper coach Oka Nikolov. Dos Santos returns for his second stint with LAFC, after serving as an assistant in 2018 and then moving to be the head coach in Vancouver for the two and a half seasons, where he coached Crépeau.
The coaching staff is long on MLS experience – something Cherundolo says is vital in this league.
“We cover that incredibly well now,” Cherundolo said of the group. “We were also looking to have some continuity here, and every one here is more than capable of running this on their own, and we are sharing responsibilities in all facets of the game. I am very pleased to have those three at my side.”
INJURY UPDATE
With LAFC rounding into shape for the home opener vs. Colorado on Feb. 26, Cherundolo was able to give some injury updates on a few players who have not been training with the first team. Eddie Segura, who suffered a serious knee injury that caused him to miss the second half of the 2021 season, continues his rehab and is closing in on a return to training. However, Cherundolo stresses that the team will not rush back the tough Colombian defender.
“Eddie is coming along very well and projections are always tough, but he is probably a little bit ahead of schedule which is a credit to our performance and training staff,” Cherundolo said. “We are excited to get him involved with the team, but it is important that he feel good. I personally have been through an injury like that – so I know we are going to give Eddie as much time as he needs to recover.”
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi continues to recover from a preseason procedure that leaves him training off to the side, and Danny Musovski, who strained a hamstring in the LAFC preseason match vs. New England Feb. 5 is back with the team.
“I’m quite happy where we are in the preseason,” Cherundolo said. “But it is important to understand that an MLS season is a marathon, not a sprint. We will be ready for game one, but we will also be ready for the final game and it is important to keep track of that perspective.”
FULL SEASON OF CHICHO
LAFC’s leading scorer last season, Cristian Arango only played in half the teams games after arriving in the summer from Millonarios in Colombia. In just 15 starts, he proceeded to score 14 goals – and LAFC is hoping that a full training camp with the Club will help the goal scorer pick up where he left off.
“Chicho is a goalscorer” Cherundolo said. “He proved that last year and we expect that from him again this season. The pace that goal scorers score usually comes in waves, and that will be no different with him, but we are hoping he will be able to do it again like last year.”
