6 minute read
SUMMER MOVERS
ABOVE: Douglas Costa for Bayern Munich
LEFT: Another great trophy-winner will be coming over to the MLS in Douglas Costa
BOTTOM: The Italian is the biggest name to move to MLS in 2022, even if TFC fans have to wait until after the Serie A season to see him live. and around the goal,” Vanney said. “I feel like whenever he’s on the ball, we can be very dangerous. Because he’s hard to stop in the one-on-one, which means he can get into di erent types of space. I’m pleased with the progression.” Costa has been searching for a new home since leaving Juventus to join Bayern Munch on loan in October 2020 and it looks like he may finally have found one in Los Angeles after a couple of di cult seasons. While he did manage to win the Bundesliga title with Bayern, he didn’t contribute a whole lot and was returned to Juventus at the conclusion of the campaign. He was then loaned out to Gremio in Brazil, before joining the Galaxy as a Designated Player. Despite the plethora of experience he has playing around the globe, there are still some unique aspects to MLS and soccer in North America that may take a little while longer to get used to. Unlike most other top leagues, MLS has a salary cap system in place ensuring parity across the board. MLS has never seen a team with nine consecutive championships like Juventus did in Serie A. There is also the aspect that some MLS teams play on turf, which is extremely rare in Europe. "Most games are even, there's not one team that's above another. Playing on turf, it's something that has been a problem for me to adapt to. I didn't have that when I played in Brazil." The Brazilian is not the only European arrival to have an issue with some of the turf pitches in MLS, with Sebastian Giovinco often criticizing the hybrid grass pitch at BMO Field during his time in Toronto. But he will have to learn to make the most of it as it isn’t going away anytime soon. There are currently eight teams across the league playing on either hybrid grass, field turf or polytan.
“We continue to put sand on the grass,” Giovinco said famously back in 2018. “The (CFL) Argos play (there), TFC 2 plays (there). Everybody plays on this fi eld and every game we lose a player (to injury). This is not possible.” Fortunately for Costa, the Galaxy play their home games at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson which has real grass. There have been few if any complaints over the years by Galaxy players or opponents about the pitch. Costa is far from the Galaxy’s fi rst high-profi le signing either. The club has been known to splash the cash on international superstars when needed. After all, they were the club that was able to convince David Beckham to make the move to MLS and as a result, helped create the Designated Player rule in the fi rst place. Besides Beckham, the likes of Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and of course the aforementioned Hernandez are just some of the internationally recognizable names the Galaxy have signed over the years. It will not necessarily be easy for Costa to live up to some of the expectations set by previous Designated Players considering Keane helped the Galaxy win three MLS Cups and a Supporters Shield during his time with the organization. However, the club have missed out on the playo s in four of the past fi ve seasons and haven’t had very much success since winning three MLS Cups in four seasons from 2011-2014. It’ll be interesting to keep an eye on Costa and the Galaxy this season as Vanney continues to shape the team in the way that he sees fi t. He arrived in Los Angeles last year after spending six-and-a-half seasons with Toronto FC, helping them win their fi rst ever MLS Cup in 2017. He is hoping to fi nd the same success with the Galaxy and may have assembled the squad to do it. While there are still questions surrounding Costa, if Vanney can get the most out of his newest weapon, then the potential for Los Angeles in 2022 is unlimited considering all the talent they already have.
ABOVE & TOP RIGHT: The Mexican international is playing in his third season with the Los Angeles Galaxy, looking to lead them to MLS silverware.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Keane helped the Galaxy win three MLS Cups and a Supporters Shield
BELOW: The Los Angeles Galaxy coach is tasked with getting the most out of his newest superstar, Douglas Costa
IS 2022 THE YEAR OF CHICHARITO?
After an incredible start to the campaign, Marco D’Onofrio looks at whether 2022 could be the season Javier Hernandez brings glory back to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez had been a dream signing for MLS clubs for years prior to his arrival in Los Angeles with the Galaxy in 2020. Although it was a shame that one of the greatest to ever play for the Mexican national team's fi rst season happened during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, fans were happy to see the striker plying his trade in MLS. The striker only managed to start seven games in 2020, scoring just two goals. He did much better in 2021 putting up 17 goals and providing three assists, but a calf injury and other setbacks meant he could only feature in 21 games. However, 2022 is quickly gearing up to be the year of Chicharito. The 33-year-old has been on fi re to start the campaign and has become nearly unstoppable for defenders. He’s scoring goals at will and looks healthier than ever. With the addition of Douglas Costa as well, he has a new teammate to link up with. His success early on hasn't gone unnoticed either as he was named the MLS Player of the Week in week fi ve of the campaign after his brace helped the Galaxy beat the Portland Timbers on the road at Providence Park. His excitement couldn’t be contained after the victory. “To come here, take the three points, it’s amazing,” he told reporters. Chicharito looks rejuvenated and excited which is a terrifying thought for MLS defenders. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to bring the club their record-setting sixth MLS Cup, but he certainly looks more destined to do it in 2022 than ever before.
