Despite a weather delay, LAFC up for the start of the season

As we learned Friday, LAFC won’t be playing its anticipated Rose Bowl season opener as planned against the LA Galaxy, due to concerns about weather throughout Southern California. 

And that’s a shame, because the Black & Gold looked up for it. 

After starting its 2023 preseason without a win in its first three matches, LAFC got its second straight win on Saturday night, 3-1, against the San Diego Loyal at BMO Stadium, to close out preparations for what’s now looking like a season opener on March 4 hosting the Portland Timbers. 

It was a successful front office offseason in that LAFC was able to keep 10 of its 11 starters from a historic 2022 MLS Cup victory. However, they couldn’t keep Cristian “Chicho” Arango, the team's leading goal scorer and a pivotal contributor to its success last season.

Denis Bouanga looks ready to take on that offensive load, scoring in three straight matches to finish the season.

“Look, he is the prime of his career, he is physically a monster, he is tactically disciplined,” said Cherundolo about Bouanga after the club’s Feb. 11 victory over Toronto FC. Whether capitalizing on defensive mistakes via a header or beating his defender one-on-one, Bouanga has shown preseason signs that he’s ready to make a run for the MLS Golden Boot and possibly MVP this year. 

LAFC also added depth to the midfield with the surprise signing of 24-year-old midfielder Timothy Tillman on Feb. 10. (If the name sounds familiar, he is indeed the older brother of Rangers and sometimes-USMNT player Malik Tillman.) 

“We are excited to welcome him to LA as we firmly believe he will contribute immediately and help in our ambitions to win more trophies,” said LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington of the Tillman signing. As a result, there is much-needed depth in the midfield, of particular importance in Cherundolo’s system.

Tillman comes with European experience playing in Germany, a connection Cherundolo and Tillman share that might ease his transition into the team.

Still, Cherundolo’s expressing concern about how his squad compared to the MLS Cup winners from a year aog. 

“If you look at our roster compared to last season, it is very clear that we are not as deep as last season,” said Cherundolo after Saturday's game. Cherundolo specifically noted that “still looking to hopefully add a player or two” — and given the coach’s track record, a statement like that typically means that someone’s on the way, rather than it would be a nice idea if it happened. 

LAFC still has an open designated player slot that should be filled with a quality player, especially as the team is vying for a Concacaf Champions League title as well as defending its league title. 

“Last year, our tactical approach was more one of how the new coach, the new players settle in and use that information to improve in the summer,” Thorrington said in Wednesday's media availability. LAFC revamped their roster with key additions in the summer of last season, most notably Bouanga, and it’s something LAFC can very well do again.

“I think we choose to add key pieces that add versatility,” Thorrington added. “We intentionally went younger and wanted to get a more robust profile of players, players who we think can play three games in a week without much issue.” 

LAFC might look for a versatile player who can fill in at more than one position, given that Latif Blessing was moved to New England in the offseason, or might look for a true No. 9 to replace Arango if Stipe Biuk doesn’t develop quickly. With the Concacaf Champions League finals coming May 31 and June 4, there’s potential for a lot of first-half fixture congestion and therefore a need for second-half reinforcements. 

LAFC has also, along the way this offseason acquired an International Roster Slot from Sporting Kansas City in return for $150,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2023. This move indicates that the club is looking globally. 

Prior to Friday’s announcement of the Rose Bowl match postponement, LAFC’s focus was on starting the season by taking care of a milestone in the El Trafico rivalry: LAFC’s never beaten the Galaxy as a visitor, which it technically was for the match at the Galaxy’s original home. 

Carlos Vela, in particular, expressed confidence in the Black & Gold’s chances. 

“Why? Because we are a better team, or at least we feel we are a better team,” he explained, before remarking, “For us, it's extra motivation to play against more people against more fans, and the most important, like always, is to create a good game for everyone watching.” 

Vela knows he isn’t getting any younger and is appreciating and enjoying all the moments he has now. Vela has looked good in preseason, and though this match has been delayed, it’s certainly the LAFC fans’ hopes that he’ll be good to go in the derby once it is rescheduled. 

And while the Battle of Los Angeles would have been a fine way to start LAFC’s title defense, they’ll have to settle for a home opener between the ‘21 and ‘22 Western Conference Champions.