Carlos Vela chose to join a club without history, let alone one defined by winning, when he signed with the Los Angeles Football Club.
Pronouncing in 2017 that filling LAFC’s trophy case was the point of his journey, throughout the past five seasons as captain he did what he could to make it a reality. There were a variety of successes, personally and for the team, but not the championship by which Major League Soccer franchises are judged.
Then, in 2022, he lifted the MLS Cup.
“Definitely I feel more free getting the first one because when I came here I really promised I would make something good,” Vela told the Daily News late last month. “I will give you trophies. I will give you good moments, good memories. And when you don’t win trophies or don’t win a league you feel like, ‘I’m not doing my job.’ I’m doing good. I make history – MVPs, records in goals – but you are not complete. You are missing something.”
For the frantic last half hour of the final against Philadelphia, Vela wasn’t on the field like he would have wanted. He watched from the bench following his removal in the 97th minute for Gareth Bale, a fateful decision by head coach Steve Cherundolo, who had the good fortune to substitute one 33-year-old left-footed star forward for another.
To be fair, contributing into extra time of the championship represented a strong shift for Vela, who assisted on Jesus Murillo’s could-have-been game-winner in the 83rd minute with a sweeping corner kick at the near post. Prior to the Nov. 5 nail-biter at the previously named Banc of California Stadium, Vela had not played 90 minutes since the MLS All-Star break in early August.
Afterward, the affable Mexican reflected on what came to his competitive mind while he watched down the stretch: Why am I not there? I can help my team. They need me. Why can I not go and take a penalty? Put me in again.
Of course, this didn’t prevent Vela, who turns 34 on March 1, from enjoying his first…
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