LAFC are the reigning champions of MLS. The question becomes, are they prepared to make a deep run for a second consecutive year? In 2022, Los Angeles Football Club claimed the Supporter's Shield and MLS Cup. Their final record was 21-9-4, amounting to 67 points. A late season slump at the very end of summer, which included three straight losses, held LAFC back from overtaking New England Revolution's points record of 73. In the playoffs, they knocked out LA Galaxy in El Trafico, Austin FC, then finally Philadelphia Union in perhaps the wildest MLS Cup in league history. Chicho Arango led the team with 16 goals, Vela scored 12, Cifuentes and Opoku provided seven each, while the unlikely source of Ryan Hollingshead added another six. Despite the incredible 2022 season that LAFC said, a lot has changed since November.
Cutting right to the chase, Chicho Arango's departure is a difficult one for LAFC to recover from. He was not even on a DP deal and was banging in goals for fun. The club, much to the disappointment of the fans, sold him to Liga MX's Pachuca for almost $6m. The legendary Gareth Bale retired after equalizing late in extra time of MLS Cup and representing Wales at the World Cup later in the month. Also on the way out is Latif Blessing, who was traded to the New England Revolution in exchange for $400k in GAM. Jhegson Mendez left MLS to join Brazil's São Paulo. The biggest reinforcement this off-season was Stipe Biuk, a Golden Boy award nominee from Croatia. He will look to integrate himself into a skilled attack. Timothy Tillman, brother of USMNT prospect Malik Tillman, also joined the side recently from Germany. Another USMNT player in Aaron Long will slot into the LAFC back line, as will new Spanish right back Sergi Palencia. The defensive signings come as a result of Sebastien Ibeagha leaving for FC Dallas and Eddie Segura becoming a free agent, though he could still return to the club. In addition to all of these moves, LAFC also added goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic from Everton and another central defender in Honduran Denil Maldonado. Cristian Tello signed with Al Fateh FC in Saudi Arabia.
LAFC may be defending their title, but it will be far from easy with all these roster moves. Eight new players joined the squad this off-season, while nine departed. The x-factor will likely be DP Denis Bouanga, who showed some of his quality late in the season. LAFC is still on the hunt for a #9, they were most recently linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, though that seems to have fallen through, for now. So, Bouanga will help to fill that role, along with Carlos Vela, Mahala Opoku, and Stipe Biuk. The midfield remains similar, sporting Kellyn Acosta, Ilie Sanchez, and Jose Cifuentes. A summer transfer would not be surprising for Cifuentes, nor would it be surprising for their starting left back in Diego Palacios. The question at center back is how often Giorgio Chiellini is able to play at the age of 38. Long, Jesus Murillo, and Maldonado will get plenty of looks in rotation. Maxime Crepeau fractured his leg in the final, so for now John McCarthy is expected to start. LAFC is most definitely still a quality team from top to bottom, but it will be interesting to see if their lack of depth and current lack of pure striker will hurt them.
Projected XI:
GK: McCarthy
DEF: Palacios, Chiellini, Long, Palencia
MID: Sanchez, Acosta, Cifuentes
FWD: Opoku, Vela, Bouanga
Off-Season Grade: B-
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