LOS ANGELES — Carlos Vela flashed his smile and soccer skills at the Los Angeles Football Club’s performance center for the first time in 10 months on Tuesday.
Waiting for medicals to clear him before rejoining the group after as a free agent, Vela went through a light workout on the side, getting loose while taking some touches with the ball as he appeared at home on familiar ground.
“It’s great to see him,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “He has always come to work with a smile on his face and enjoyed being here and loves this club, as this club and fans love him. So a very positive reaction and I’m looking forward to more.”
Vela should reveal how he feels and what he expects from himself during a press conference Wednesday at BMO Stadium prior to LAFC (14-7-6, 48 points) taking on Austin FC (9-12-7, 34 points).
With seven regular-season games to go plus the U.S. Open Cup final at home next week, Vela’s arrival coincides with the most critical point of the season for the club, which features a dozen players who weren’t in Columbus the last time the LAFC captain suited up during the unsuccessful 2023 MLS Cup final.
Other than Eduard Atuesta, a teammate of Vela’s during the club’s first four seasons, each addition means new connections for Vela to sort out, from homegrown talent to World Cup champions Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud.
“Right now, it’s about exposure,” Cherundolo said. “Exposure to the group. Exposure to training. See how he and his body reacts.
“I don’t think there’s anything complicated about this. It’s a player who’s been here since Day 1. It should be very natural and easy. The player will know. The team will know. And hopefully the coach will know when it’s time to put him back on the field.
“Carlos is one of the most intelligent players I’ve ever seen. Whatever we ask him to do, he’ll figure it out.”
A beneficiary of Vela’s adroitness last year en route to being the third LAFC player with an MLS Golden Boot award, forward Dénis Bouanga was excited for Vela’s return.
“Last year he gave me so many passes and we did so many great things together,” Bouanga said.
“He’s a person I like a lot, whether outside of the club or on the field,” the Frenchman added. “I think everyone at LAFC is happy to see him back and I think you can see the support on social media.”
Despite the news, on Saturday meant social media wasn’t all roses over the weekend. Losing El Trafico despite a two-goal lead at the half meant LAFC, the current No. 2 seed, is closer to the seventh spot than the top of the conference.
, the team has a chance to quickly turn the page like it did in Seattle after finishing runner-up in the Leagues Cup a few weeks ago.
A bounceback victory over 11th-place Austin, which will miss three players – striker Sebastián Driussi, midfielder Jhojan Valencia and defender Brendan Hines-Ike – due to yellow-card accumulation following a 2-1 loss at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday, would secure LAFC’s sixth playoff berth in seven seasons (if Dallas drops points in Salt Lake City).
“It can be super positive, energizing, push us over the finish line and I think that’s important,” Cherundolo said regarding Vela’s presence. “I also think that’s what we need. It’s been an amazing two and three-quarter years. Lots of ups. Some downs. But overall incredibly emotional and that can be taxing. That can be tiring. And a positive story like Carlos’ comeback can tip this thing to our advantage, especially with the excitement in the stadium.”
AUSTIN FC AT LAFC
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: BMO Stadium
TV/radio: Apple TV+ (Free), FS1/710 AM, 980 AM
