As Greg Vanney said after the win against Austin, “It’s going to take a good team to get through the playoffs”.
Having a good team requires much more than a good starting eleven. While stars like Riqui Puig and Gabriel Pec deservedly take most of the plaudits, the LA Galaxy have a roster full of players worth appreciating.
This two-part series will highlight the contributions of some players who have quietly turned in massive performances for the Galaxy during this historic season.
It’ll start with the foundation of championships: defense
Unsung Heroes: DEFENDERS
Maya Yoshida
LA Galaxy’s captain has a strong case for being the team’s most valuable player in terms of overall contribution, considering not just his own performances but also his influence on the team’s burgeoning defensive talents.
Besides playing more minutes than any other player (114 minutes more than second place Miki Yamane) at a consistently high level, Yoshida performs a key role in making sure his younger center back partners are up to the level that Greg Vanney demands.
When asked about how he felt about the newly emerging Emiro Garcés, Yoshida mentioned amid heaps of praise that the Columbian still has a tendency to switch off, so he is sure to constantly talk with his young teammate to keep him alert throughout the 90 minutes.
These nudges in the right direction are often invisible to spectators, but they have a massive impact on the quality of a young player’s performance. With Maya Yoshida behind them, both Neal and Garcés play with a wealth of experience earned playing at the very highest level.
It is difficult to quantify exactly how beneficial the captain’s influence is, but there is no doubt that Yoshida is playing a huge role in the developments of Jalen Neal and now Emiro Garcés.
With Maya Yoshida there to help mold them into top-quality center backs like himself, the LA Galaxy are looking at either long-term stability or high-margin profitability in their young and talented defenders.
John Nelson
John Nelson continued strengthening his case for the starting left back spot with an impressive performance against Austin FC. A MLS veteran, Nelson has brought maturity and experience to the left back position that the Galaxy might not be used to with Julian Aude in that role.
Nelson is a dynamic player who was all over the pitch during the 2-1 win against Austin. He gets into good spots to make important defensive plays and, while he may lack the directness of someone like Julian Aude, Nelson has a great appreciation for the more conservative ways he can support the Galaxy’s attack.
A sequence in the 29th minute, just before the Galaxy’s opening goal, showed how Nelson has been a quietly vital asset in all phases of play since taking over for Aude.
Nelson tracks Jélson O’brian’s run, allowing John McCarthy to come out and claim the ball. Nelson immediately gets up to stretch the play and receives a pass high in his own half.
He then shows his eye for recognizing threatening moments by immediately taking a touch into space and playing a pass towards his striker Dejan Joveljic, who put in a long ball for Joseph Paintsil to chase. All it took to create that chance was a decisive touch from a confident left back.
Nelson’s defensive and attacking qualities were on full display in this sequence, demonstrating how he is often the reason why opponents can’t finish plays and a big part of why his side seem to be able to create chances at will.
His intelligence and experience have been hugely valuable as the Galaxy have looked to move on from the temporary loss of Julian Aude.
While it’s great to know that the Galaxy can rest easy with Nelson in the lineup, Aude’s return to fitness just as they prepare to head into the playoffs could not be better timed.
Both he and John Nelson will be vital in each game of the playoffs, regardless of who Greg chooses to secure a strong start and who he chooses to close out each game.
Edwin Cerillo
Of course he’s not an out-and-out defender, but Galaxy supporters know better than to take Edwin Cerillo’s defensive contribution for granted.
Since joining from FC Dallas for $200,000 in GAM in midseason in 2023, Cerillo has been a quietly strong and dependable piece of the Galaxy’s midfield.
After a 2023 where he mostly saw minutes coming off of the bench, Cerillo earned himself a place in Vanney’s starting lineup in 2024. This was made clear from the season opener against Inter Miami when Vanney rightfully trusted Cerillo to contain Lionel Messi.
After standing up to the greatest of all time, Cerillo has continued being a common fixture in the Galaxy’s starting lineup.
He recently earned some buzz after scoring the leveler against LAFC in jaw-dropping fashion at Dignity Health Sports Park. After receiving an audible ovation upon being subbed off and LARS Man of honors, Cerillo said that it was a special moment that was especially meaningful to him after a difficult period following his transfer to LA.
The clip shows how much this season has meant to Cerillo, and the standings show much much Cerillo has meant to the LA Galaxy.
Yoshida, Nelson, and Cerillo are just a few players who have consistently turned in impressive performances this year among a roster of excellent players.
Next, this series will take a look at some players further up the pitch who have also done their bit to earn some praise.
PHOTO: ANDRE BANNIS PHOTOGRAPHY
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