MLS Cup final LAFC vs Philadelphia Union players to watch: Carlos Vela, Julián Carranza, Ilie Sánchez...

Ahead of the MLS Cup final between LAFC and Philadelphia Union on Saturday, we take a look at three players to watch.

Carlos Vela

Carlos Vela joined LAFC from Real Sociedad in January 2018. In 38 appearances in all competitions this year, the forward has scored 12 times and provided 12 assists for his club.

The former Real Sociedad man has played a total of 138 matches for LAFC, according to Transfermarkt, scoring 79 goals and providing 42 assists. He has managed to find the net more times with Los Angeles than he did with La Real (73).

Vela will not be going to the World Cup with Mexico this month. In an interview with outlet SDP Noticias, the 33-year-old discussed why he doesn’t want to go to Qatar.

“It’s not a matter of excitement. When I was available and played for Mexico, I was excited to play in a World Cup and defend my country. But there are stages in football and in life,” Vela said.

“When you close a chapter, you have to let the others do their job. We have to support the side that we’re on and wish the best to those that Tata decides he wants to bring in.”

Vela is instead focused on his club football and will be hoping to clinch the MLS Cup with LAFC this weekend. LAFC were the best team in MLS this season and on Saturday they will be looking to end the campaign by winning their first MLS Cup.

MLS has revealed the team of the season. Eastern Conference champions and MLS Cup finalists Philadelphia Union have four players in the team of the season, with Andre Blake, Jakob Glesnes, Kai Wagner and Daniel Gazdag all featuring.

LAFC, meanwhile, have one player, Vela. Vela’s compatriot, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, who despite having a great season with LA Galaxy and scoring 18 goals, as well as being named player of the year for the Galaxy, has been left out of the team of the season.

Julián Carranza

Julián Carranza, 22, has 15 goals to go along with eight assists in 32 MLS appearances for Philly this year. Daniel Gazdag leads the scoring charts with 20 goals for the season. Gazdag has also registered six assists in what has been an impressive campaign.

Carranza was one of Inter Miami’s first signings ahead of their 2020 expansion season, joining in July 2019 from Banfield in the Argentine Primera Division. He then joined Philly this summer on a permanent deal from Inter Miami.

“We would like to thank Julián for his contributions to the club as one of the first signings in Inter Miami history, and wish him good luck in his future,” Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson said in a release.

Philadelphia beat New York City 3-1 on their way to the final. Carranza scored to draw the Union level after New York took the lead. Two minutes later, the Argentine forward headed a pass to Gazdag in the box, who made it 2-1 to Union. Cory Burke put the icing on the cake when he found the back of the net with just over 10 minutes of play remaining.

The Union are in their first MLS Cup final and will be hoping Carranza can help get them over the line on Saturday.

Ilie Sánchez

The former Barcelona player has been a key part of LAFC’s journey to the final. Sánchez joined LAFC from Sporting Kansas City in January of this year.

The Spaniard has been impressed by team-mate Vela, saying “Vela is our leader, he is the best player in the league without a doubt” in an interview with ‘El Larguero’ on Cadena SER.

The 31-year-old midfielder is hoping to go one better this year. He played for Kansas City teams that twice finished the MLS regular season atop the conference standings, before getting knocked out in the playoffs. Twice his team came within a goal of an MLS Cup final. Perhaps this is his year.