Carlos candlewith whom they will play this Sunday Los Angeles FC (LAFC) MLS West Final vs. Austinassured this Friday that, just two games away from winning the MLS Cup, it’s time to “give it all” holding nothing back.
“You have to give everything. Being so close, you don’t have time to keep anything to yourselfto be sad or nervous,” the Mexican said at a press conference.
“You have to enjoy this moment and go for the win, there is no other way but to win,” he assured.
LAFC, who defeated Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández’s LA Galaxy in the Western semi-finals, will host Austin led by Argentine Sebastián Driussi.
The team from Los Angeles was the best team in the regular part of the season in MLS but Austin was second in the West and took both matches against LAFC this season (1-2 and 4-1).
With European stars like Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini and Wales’ Gareth Bale on the roster, LAFC, two-time champions of the MLS Supporters’ Shield (which awards the best team in the regular season), never qualified for the MLS Cup Final.
“I think when you see the target closer, there is always more enthusiasm, more desire for the next game– said Vela.
The soul of the team from Los Angeles since its inception in 2018, the Mexican striker pointed out that, in one-game duels like the one on Sunday, precedents don’t matter or past encounters.
“I don’t worry about the past or the future. The most important game is on Sunday. Everyone knows how important it is not only for us but also for the club, the fans and the city.”
The closest thing that Vela has to LAFC was in the 2019 MLS Cup Finalwhen they also defeated the Galaxy in the conference semifinals, but ended up being eliminated in the West finals by the Seattle Sounders.