There’s more than just three points on the line when Carlos Vela takes the pitch for LAFC against the Galaxy on Saturday. It’s also a matter of bragging rights.
It’s no secret Vela is close friends with El Tri teammate Giovani dos Santos. The Galaxy midfielder has helped Vela settle in to his new home of Los Angeles, even giving tips on places to eat around town. But that doesn’t mean Vela is going to take it easy on his friend when the whistle blows.
“When you play against a friend, you work more because after the game, you have to speak with him. So if I lose, I have to hear all the time ‘I’m better, we’re better.’ I prefer to win. I can say, ‘Gio, we are the best in the city.’ And I hope we can have a great game and take the three points,” Vela said after training on Thursday.
Competition between friends aside, there’s a deeper divide within the city around Saturday’s match. And Vela knows what’s at stake.
“We are fighting to be the best team in the city,” Vela said. “It will be a great competition for the team and players to show what we are doing in training, what we are doing in the League.”
“I hope we can show the way we play and win the game. That’s the most important.”
