Georgio Chiellini is hoping Los Angeles FC’s young roster will help him not less than partially rediscover the fountain of youth.
In return, the veteran Italian defender seems to assist the membership seize its first Major League Soccer championship.
“I would say that LAFC is the perfect team for me because the team is full of young players. I think they can help me,” the 37-year previous Chiellini stated Wednesday throughout his introductory press convention at Banc of California Stadium. “Surely it’s impossible for me to have the same physical characteristic like 10 years ago, but I can bring also something to them, and we have to create a good mix with experience and enthusiasm with younger players in order to become a winner.”
LAFC went into Wednesday night time’s match in opposition to FC Dallas with the league’s greatest document at 10-3-3. LAFC received the Supporters Shield because the league’s prime staff within the common season in 2019, however has not had postseason success. It missed the playoffs for the primary time final 12 months.
“The team is fantastic,” Chiellini stated. “As I said before, I don’t have to change something or to bring something special. Just to add what I am and hope to continue in this way because we are at the top and we have to finish at the top, but it’s a long trip.”
Chiellini had been at Juventus since 2005, capturing 9 Serie A and 5 Coppa Italia titles. He additionally performed his ultimate match June 1 for Italy’s nationwide staff.
Chiellini stated talks a few potential transfer stateside started final 12 months, however didn’t speed up till March after Italy failed to high quality for this 12 months’s World Cup.
For a league the place a lot of the large signings are geared towards young, attacking forwards, the addition of Chiellini goes in opposition to the grain, however he additionally stated one thing that’s generally stated in American soccer.
“I read in the U.S. that the forwards, that the attackers sell tickets, that the defense win the league. Then this is my goal and my target,” he stated.
Chiellini will give LAFC a veteran presence at middle again. Eddie Segura has not performed this season due to a knee harm and the place has been break up between Jesus Murillo and Mamadou Fall.
Chiellini might be eligible to make his LAFC debut after the secondary switch window opens July 7. The membership’s first match after the window opens is in opposition to archrival LA Galaxy on July 8.
Gareth Bale may additionally make his debut within the rivalry recreation dubbed El Trafico by the followers of each golf equipment, however his immigration paperwork remains to be being processed.
The additions of Chiellini and Bale, together with re-signing 2019 MLS MVP Carlos Vela, ought to hold LAFC among the many league’s prime golf equipment the remainder of the season. But Vela stated Tuesday loads of work stays to be executed.
“It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve played in some place,” Vela stated. “You have to put in the effort, and you have to do what is best for the team. Now we have a lot of talent coming in, so we just have to figure out what’s best for the team, put it in and go for it. It’s the only way we’re going to win a trophy.”
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