Moments after LAFC was knocked out of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs by Real Salt Lake, Walker Zimmerman was doing his best to make sense of what just happened.
The visitors had just two shots on target in the match, yet somehow managed to score three goals. The third of which was an unfortunate deflection off Zimmerman and into his own net. It would prove to be the game-winner in the knockout match.
"I don't think we ever thought we were going to lose that game," Zimmerman told the media gathered in the press conference room of Banc of California Stadium after the match. "So at the end, when the whistle blew, I think what you could see on our faces just the shock of the cruelty and the reality of what our situation was."
As the disappointment began to sink in, Zimmerman's mood shifted from that of disillusioned to more resolute. He thanked his teammates, the coaching staff, and fans, adding he was proud of what LAFC accomplished in its inaugural season.
There was one caveat though.
"We still walk away knowing we have a lot more to give," Zimmerman said.
That theme of unfinished business ruminated with Zimmerman during an offseason. He made the remark at the time knowing his future was unclear. The center back was out of contract at the end of the year, and despite negotiating with LAFC throughout the season, he had additional offers on the table to evaluate.
On Tuesday, LAFC and Zimmerman put an end to the speculation. The center back signed a new deal keeping him in LA for the foreseeable future.
Officially committed to the Club and the city for 2019 and beyond, Zimmerman spoke with me about re-signing with LAFC and why that unfinished business was a factor in his decision:
Why Was Returning To LAFC The Right Decision?
I think I experienced a lot of positive things in Year One, from the soccer experience, from teammates, from the atmosphere in Banc of California Stadium to all the staff in the organization, there’s just a lot of positives that I took away from Year One. It made me feel like there’s some unfinished business. It really does feel like that, it’s such a strong community with LAFC. So that’s what brought me back.
What About LAFC's Play On The Pitch Made You Want To Return?
I really love the style of play that we’ve developed and the identity that Bob [Bradley] has created. You know, it’s always been a thing for him to create attractive football within our stadium. A product that fans enjoy and it’s a good product to watch on the field. For me, as a center back, there’s a lot more responsibility in terms of having the ball at your feet, your passing ability, the range of your passing and how you can break lines with your pass. Just being comfortable on the ball. I got a ton of touches in training and in games this year that made me realize I’m really developing as a passer and I’m growing as a leader. And certainly, our style of play, I believe we are one of the very best teams in the league. To come back to be a part of that and to push for our first trophy at the Club is something I am excited to be a part of.
Playing Without Knowing Where You'll Be Next Season Has To Be Difficult. How Did You Manage It With All The Other Pressures Of The Season?
It’s definitely a little stressful. Obviously, when you’re in a game, you’re focused on the game and winning. You’re trying to just check that one off and move on to the next one. When you’re doing that 30 to 40 times a year with all the competitions, you’re so focused. And then when it ends, you hit the limbo stage where you’re trying to figure out what’s next. For me though, it was just really evaluating some different options, trying to figure out what would be the best fit for my wife and I. As I said before, there are a lot of positive things about LA that were appealing. It made us really feel like we were at home there. Even though we had just been there for a year, we were there long enough for it to be considered a home.
You've Talked About Why LAFC Was The Right Place On The Pitch But Why Is LA The Right City Off It?
I think we love a lot of different things. There are so many different pockets within Los Angeles. Being in Santa Monica, having the accessibility of being on the Westside, then going to training near Pasadena, and having games downtown, so there’s a lot of different communities that we’ve gotten to explore and venture out. We still haven’t even covered what we feel is hardly any of it. So I felt like, obviously, there is still a lot more things to do. We got to meet a lot of great people, neighbors, friends, and make some community around us. Now we really get to invest in those relationships. And that goes for relationships within LAFC as well.
What Does LAFC Offer That Other Sides Couldn’t? How Important Was It?
It’s huge. When you’re in an organization like LAFC and they are doing everything the right way. You look at the stadium they’ve built, the practice facility they’ve built, the way they take care of our bodies with nutrition and performance staff, and even the technical staff with how they’ve helped me develop as a player, all those things are part of the equation. So, when you’re looking at other choices, maybe abroad or elsewhere, it’s tough. It’s tough to beat out what LAFC has put in place. That’s a positive thing for the Club, to know that they can compete with a lot of teams around the world.
Now That You'll Be Here Long-Term, Does It Change Your Mentality At All?
There is something about having that security, whether it’s intentional or not, makes you fully embrace where you are and fully embrace that responsibility to the guys around you, to work hard every day in training, and to show every match prepared mentally and physically. Those are challenges that we love as professional athletes. For me, I’m excited to know that LA is going to the place that I’ll be for a while. It’s exciting and it’s something that talking with John [Thorrington] and Bob that I’ve really been looking forward to. [LA] is going to be home for the next three-plus years. Let’s get after it and make the most of it.
After The Playoff Loss, You Spoke About 'Unfinished Business.' How Did That Shape Your Decision To Return To LAFC?
I want to win MLS Cup, and through six years I felt like I’ve been a part of some very good teams. But this past year, I thought it was the most talented group I had ever been a part of. Like I said, it goes back to a style of play and the quality of players that we have on our roster. So I think we all realized that we fell short of what our potential was. I know everyone can talk about the expansion being part of it, even being the most successful expansion team ever, but for us, that was never really an issue. It wasn’t about being an expansion team. We’re a team and we’re in this league. There shouldn’t be any extra added pat on the back for us for doing well. We wanted to win. When we came up short, I think all of us realized that there was unfinished business on the table.
In Just One Season, The Team Forged A Pretty Tight Bond. What Excites You About The Other Players In The Dressing Room?
We have a lot of good guys in our locker room. It’s a pretty good mix of international players, veteran players, and youth players. Guys that are all eager to learn and eager to win. I think that’s the mentality that being one of the older guys and being in that leadership position, I’ve always thought of myself as a winner. And if we can get enough guys to buy into the mentality that we’ll do whatever it takes to win, then we’re going to get really close to achieving that goal. So we’ve got a lot of guys in the locker room that bought into this idea of winning and we just know that we have to pick it up even more to bring that first trophy back.
Is There Something You'd Like To Tell The Fans Now That Your Officially Back?
I’m super excited to be back in LA. I appreciate their role in helping make this decision for me. Because as I mentioned before, the environment and the games at Banc of California Stadium were certainly a factor and the experience that I wanted as a professional. To be back in front of them and playing for them, I’m excited and I can’t wait to get started for Year Two. And I know that we’ll achieve even greater things.
