Carlos Vela: “When you get older and you feel like your retirement is coming soon”

Carlos Vela has made it clear that he wants to win more titles after leading the Los Angeles Football Club to obtain their first MLS Cup last year with a penalty shootout win against the Philadelphia Union. The 33-year-old wants to help LAFC win more trophies before he decides to hang up his boots with his contract expiring on 31 December 2023.

Vela’s motivation ahead of the start of the season

“Like I said last year. When you get older and you feel like your retirement is coming soon, you start to enjoy every single day because who knows when it will be your last game. So I feel that way, I’m enjoying it like a kid who has just started playing because I know there are not a lot of seasons left in me,” said Vela during Wednesday’s press conference.

“I feel great, I feel like I am enjoying where I’m at and that is my goal. Make the people enjoy my football, enjoy with the football [LAFC] and when that combination doesn’t work, then it is the time to finish. So for me it is a motivation to be healthy, to be feeling good to play and show how good I am. So that’s my motivation,” added Vela.

This will be Carlos Vela’s sixth season in Major League Soccer with the Los Angeles Football Club and he is expected to play a different role for the first time. Since the departure of Cristian Arango to Pachuca, LAFC’s head coach Steve Cherundolo will be using Carlos Vela more in the center of the attack as a false nine and less as a winger, like he has been playing in the past seasons.

“We know Chicho was an important player for us last year, but we know this is business. A lot of people come and a lot leave. So we have to be ready to see what we have, what is best for my teammates and work on that. I think maybe my role will be different this year and I think we have a good team. Now we have to let the young guys grow and show they are good players,” concluded Vela.