In a team sport, no player is irreplaceable. But for the Galaxy,, Riqui Puig approaches.
Puig, the playmaker and leader of one of the most powerful attacks in the history of the franchise, will miss Saturday MLS Cup final with New York Red Bulls in Dignity Health Sports Park after tearing the anterior cross ligament In his left knee during the final of the western conference of last weekend with Seattle. He will soon undergo surgery and should be absent until at least next summer.
And that leaves the galaxy in search of a replacement for his most irreplaceable player.
“We will definitely miss Riqui,” said the midfielder Mark Delgado said Tuesday. “Special player. It just brings something completely different that no one can really bring.
“We just have to move forward. The game stops for anyone and we just have to settle it. And that's Greg's work.”
Greg would be Greg Vanney coachWho was kept in the way he could change his programming in the absence of Puig on Saturday. When Puig was not available during the regular season, Vanney used Marco Reus And Diego Fagúndez in his place. But Reus is dealing with a problem with persistent groin and Fagúndez has not started a match or played more than 17 minutes in one since mid-September. The other options include Delgado and Gastón Brugman.
“It will be a type of player different from Riqui,” said Vanney. “Marco, we will see how his health is as the week progresses. Diego gives us a little the option we have seen before. I also look at the Red Bulls (and) see them as a little a unique competitor because of their pressing.
“We work, let's talk, the good staff to try to approach the game.”
The Red Bulls, 11-14-9 in the regular season, finished seventh in the table of the East conference, but were cut in playoffs, sweeping the champion in title of Columbus Columbus Crew in the first round of the first three rounds, then closed the city of New York and Orlando City in the elimination games to become the lower team to reach the Cup final.
The Red Bulls, who have won only two of their last regular regular season games, dating from June 22, only granted two goals to the playoffs, the Carlos Coronel goalkeeper by launching three whitening and making 19 stops.
The only team to end the regular season with a losing record before winning the title of the League was Real Salt Lake (11-12-7), which beat the Galaxy on penalty kicks in 2009. The Red Bulls, an original MLS team, never won the MLS Cup, losing the only final in which he played in 2008. This match was also played in Carson.
Improving their chances in it is the fact that the Galaxy will not have Puig, which has scored a career summit of 13 goals and collected 15 assists in the regular season, the 28 goals in 29 games ranking 10th in MLS. He also led the league in keys and passes, making him the engine of the only team in the history of the MLS to have four players with 10 goals or more.
The Galaxy Riqui Puig striker controls the ball during a victory in the Minnesota series on November 24.
(Shaun Clark / Getty Images)
And he was even better in the playoffs, scoring four goals and obtaining three assists, contributing to the score during the four victories in galaxy. Including the playoffs, Puig has had a goal or help in 12 of its last 15 MLS games dating from mid-July.
The Galaxy made a record of victories in the five MLS games that Puig has missed this season, going 3-1-1, but the team only scored 1.6 goals in five games, against 2.33 when Puig played.
Puig tore the ligament in its left knee at the start of the second half of the final of the conference on Saturday on a contactless game.
In the 60th minute, Cristian Roldan of Seattle dropped Puig with a heavy tackle just outside the Spenders penalty surface, pulling a yellow card and leaving Puig twisted on the ground and tightening his left knee. Puig finally made his way to the Galaxy bench, where he was briefly followed by coach Cesar Roldan, Cristian's brother.
But three minutes after the tackle Roldan, while the Pedro race of the Vega of Seattle for a loose bullet, the left leg of Puig gave in and it fell intact. It was at this point that the injury occurred although Puig played on Puig's goal, set up the winning goal of Dejan Jveljic in the 85th minute.
“It was a fairly simple ACL tear,” said Vanney. “I think that, given the moment, adrenaline, competitor inside him, I don't know if he knew it completely.
“He had the impression that his knee was a little unstable, he felt a click. But he did not hear or necessarily felt like a pop, which is sometimes an indication. In fact, I did not even know that he had a knee problem.”
It was obvious that he was sick; Late in the match, after having planted on his left leg to take a gunshot, he was drinking, bending his knee. After the final whistle, the severity of the injury became apparent and a Puig in tears motioned for his parents to get out of the stands and join him on the ground, where they tried to console him. Vanney also kissed and comforted Puig, who then wore a towel above his head.
“Emotionally, it is devastated,” said Vanney. “This is why he came here, to be in this match and win a championship. This is what was motivated and motivated.”
Vanney has some experience of devastating injuries. He was appointed to the American World Cup team in 2002, but missed the tournament after being injured in one of the last warm -up matches.
“I understand a little about the devastation that accompanies him, and I hope to try to be a resource for him,” he said. “But it will be difficult for him. I can already see that the messages he sent to the group, so he is there, and the group will want to fight for him. Because he has certainly helped us arrive here.”
Puig, 25, an MLS All-Star, was appointed Tuesday to the best XI of the League. He has become one of the most dynamic and influential players in the league after the Galaxy paired him with fast wingers Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec this season.
The three designated players, nicknamed “The Killer Ps”, combined for 39 goals and 39 assists during the regular season, making it the most productive trio in the league.
