MLS
Carlos Vela: “I’m playing badly and the team needs more from me”
The Los Angeles FC captain reflected on the team’s goal drought with the Black & Gold failing to find the target in their last four games.
Los Ángeles FC have seen a major dip in form at a critical time in the regular season with the Black & Gold now dropping to fourth place in the Western Conference. With just three games left, Steve Cherundolo’s men need to get back on track and secure an all important top four finish that assures two home games in the first round of the new format playoffs.
LAFC have now gone four games without scoring and this is worrying captain Carlos Vela who reflected on the poor performance that the forwards are undergoing. The Mexican believes that the side are not playing as a team and that is impacting on decisions in the last third of the field.
Vela self-critical
“I don’t remember in six years that we’ve ever gone four games without scoring. I think it’s something unusual for us. When four games go by like this it is simply because we are not doing the right things. We can improve a lot and we are making bad decisions and I think we are not playing as a team”, commented Vela after the home defeat to Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
“Right now we are making things more difficult for ourselves. I assume responsibility because I am one of the forwards and I have to improve. I am the first to say that I am not in my best shape and the team needs more from me. I have to see what I am doing wrong and work to change that because the team needs it and I have to be there for them," he added.
At the age of 34, the Mexican is not having one of his poorest seasons since his arrival at Los Angeles FC in 2018. In 30 appearances so far this year, Vela has nine goals and seven assists with the LAFC captain’s last goal coming on 24 August 24 against Colorado Rapids as part of a 4-0 victory.