Carlos Vela: “I want to show that I’m better than anyone else in MLS”

We are about a month away from the start of the 2023 Major League Soccer regular season and the reigning champions, Los Angeles FC, are ready to defend their title. The Black & Gold are going to be led for a sixth season by Carlos Vela and the former Mexico international is ready to keep demonstrating he is the best player in the league.

After obtaining his first major title at club level, Vela is ready to set new goals in the upcoming season and one of his objectives is to become the Most Valuable Player at the end of the season. The forward is motivated to start the new year and keep winning titles with LAFC, including the CONCACAF Champions League.

“When you win one title, you feel positive things, the energy, the thrill of winning a trophy and you want more. The group is really excited for the upcoming season and we are ready to win more,” Vela said during the 2023 MLS Media Day on Tuesday in San Jose, California.

“Individually I want to show that I’m better than anyone else in MLS. I came to LAFC to make history and I want to set the bar very high when I leave,” he added. The 33-year-old knows what it takes to be the best player in the league, because in 2019 he broke all the records in MLS, winning the golden boot and the MVP award.

LAFC will have a busy season ahead with the start of the CONCACAF Champions League and the MLS regular season. The Black & Gold made some roster moves to be as competitive as possible with the signing of Aaron Long, Stipe Buick, Denial Maldonado and Edin Jakupovic. LAFC also confirmed Gareth Bale (retirement), Sebas Mendez, Latiff Blessing and Sebastián Ibeagha will not return for the upcoming campaign.

Vela on Bale’s retirement

“If he [Bale] believes that retirement is the best for him, then we are happy for him,”Vela said. “He is a good person. I wish that he could be a part of the team in one way or another because he has been very important for us since he arrived.”