LAFCs Marc Dos Santos to restore attacking

Recent losses, outdoors criticism and a sense that the group’s identification has strayed from its unique path have left LAFC in an uncomfortable place.

As the group prepares to host the Seattle Sounders on Sunday at BMO Stadium before a necessary break for the World Cup, coach Marc Dos Santos shared his ideas on the group’s adversity and targets for the future.

The coach said one of his main self-criticisms concerned straying from the attacking identification he supposed to construct at LAFC since taking over as head coach.

“Outside criticism when the team loses isn’t that important to me because I’ve learned in my life that if you’re going to build a life based on what outsiders think of you, you’re going to be very unhappy,” Dos Santos said. “But in self-reflection, I’ll tell you one thing: I’m hard on myself. I believe we were building something with a clear identity, and after the series against Cruz Azul — in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals — I thought about switching to a three-man backline to defend more. I went in a more defensive direction, and I don’t want to be like that.”

The coach said the tactical change was the flawed transfer for LAFC.

“It was a mistake on my part, and it doesn’t reflect LAFC’s identity — it’s not what I want to build here,” Dos Santos said. “I want to make sure that this summer I thoroughly analyze what we need to change, and I have to stay true to LAFC’s identity.”

The feedback come at a delicate time for LAFC, which has let potential MLS wins slip away despite exhibiting aggressive moments not too long ago against St. Louis City SC and Nashville SC.

LAFC had hoped to once again be one of the dominant groups in the Western Conference, but offensive inconsistencies and tactical changes have led to questions about the teaching employees. The Los Angeles aspect sits in seventh place in the West with 21 factors, eight factors behind the chief, the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Dos Santos dismissed the concept that the issue is solely associated to the tactical scheme and insisted that the most important change includes reclaiming aggressive rules with and without the ball.

“When we have the ball, we have to show the character to go after it — we can’t be afraid,” he said. “And when we don’t have the ball, we can’t just sit back. Look at one of the best teams in the world, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. Look at how they run without the ball. That’s soccer today.”

Amid this soccer overhaul, one of the most intently watched names stays Denis Bouanga. The Gabonese ahead hasn’t made the same dominant affect as in earlier seasons, though Dos Santos insisted that his relationship with the participant stays stable and clear.

“Denis knows what I want. I’ve always been very honest with him,” the coach said. “Last year we played a lot of games in a 3-5-2, defending a lot with Denis and Son [Heung-min,] but the club and I want to move to a different model. We’re all on the same page.”

Son Heung-min will quickly go away LAFC after the match against Seattle to be part of South Korea’s training camp forward of the World Cup, which shall be performed in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Asian ahead said his full focus stays on this weekend’s match.

“I’m not thinking about that yet,” Son said of the World Cup. “The most important match is on Sunday. I just want to make sure we get a great result before heading to the World Cup and arrive in good physical condition.”

Son expects to be examined when South Korea travels to Mexico to play some of its World Cup matches.

“It’s not easy in Mexico, honestly,” he explained. “The altitude and conditions are different, but you have to love those big challenges. We’re really excited.”

As Son prepares to go away, LAFC faces a second-half schedule crammed with intense competitors. Following the match against Seattle, the membership will return from the break to play against the rival Galaxy on July 17.

For Dos Santos, these challenges outline the calls for of managing LAFC.

“LAFC is a club that wants to win and whose fans want to see it win,” Dos Santos said. “Here, there’s always the responsibility to perform at a [high level]. If you don’t want to be in big games, you don’t coach at LAFC.”

The coach said exterior criticism isn’t influencing his plans.

“The pressure we feel is the pressure we put on ourselves,” Dos Santos said. “Pressure is when a doctor calls you and tells you you have a problem, or when your child has a problem. Soccer is a sport. You can win or lose. What you can control is improving the team during the week.”

Dos Santos said the World Cup break will serve as a key alternative for inner analysis before redefining the membership’s soccer direction. With the season barely midway through, the coach said that regaining the group’s identification shall be just as important as incomes factors when MLS returns in the summer time.

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.