The most impactful player in the MLS Cup final on Saturday will not even be on the field at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Riqui PuigThe dynamic midfielder who makes the galaxy offensive disappear, has drink around the team's training sessions on crutches this week after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the Western Conference final. And his absence of Galaxy Programming will change the way the two teams are approaching the game.
For Galaxy coach, Greg Vanney, it means having to find a replacement for the most irreplaceable player on the team. For New York Red Bulls, the absence of Puig will influence the way they prepare for the game.
“He's a very good player, a key player. But they have a lot of good players,” said German coach Sandro Schwarz, who is in his first year with the Red Bulls. “They won many games, especially at home in their stadium. It is therefore a challenge for us. ”
“It's my job,” he added. “To find the solution for Saturday.
On paper, the match looks like a gap.
The Galaxy, which won only eight games a year ago, finishing 13th in a conference of 14 teams, represents 23-8-7, including the playoffs, this season and are champions of the conference for the first time since 2014. They continue their sixth title of MLS and they will play at home, where they are incessant in 19 games throughout the competition.
The Red Bulls, an original MLS team, are looking for their first title during their second appearance in the championship match. They went 11-9-14 during the regular season, winning only two of their last 14 games to participate in the eliminations of the Eastern Conference in seventh seeded. But once they arrived, they took place, eliminating the title champion Columbus on penalty kicks before closing New York City and Orlando City to become the lowest team to reach the MLS Cup final.
Galaxy players celebrate on the podium after a victory against the Sounders of Seattle in the Western Conference final on November 30 won their place in the MLS Cup final.
(Etienne Laurent / Associated Press)
“Perhaps for many people outside this club, it is the biggest,” said Schwarz, whose goalkeeper Carlos Coronel had a hot hand in the playoffs, making 19 stops. “I would also say that we played most of the time in the regular season in a very good place, a very good quality. When you start the playoffs and get the results, it is certain that it does something with the team to get confidence.
“This is the final, the MLS Cup final. Now, it's Crunch time and we have to show our quality.”
If they win on Saturday, the Red Bulls will join DC United from 2004, the Houston Dynamo 2006 and the Real Salt Lake 2009 team as MLS champions with the least regular season victories.
Red Bulls like to press opposite and frustrating offenses and taking advantage of reversals or pieces to mark.
“We have to find our moments with the ball or in transition,” said Schwarz.
The galaxy widely open and based on possession is the opposite. This season, they have become the first MLS team to have four players to double with Puig, Dejan Jveljic, Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec combining for 69 goals and 52 assists, including the playoffs. The Galaxy has outraged opponents 16-3 in the playoff series, breaking the League record for most goals through four games in a single qualifying series.
But all of this occurred with Puig Quarterrière of the offensive. Without him, Vanney is likely to get more involved in the game of passes while taking little risks in the midfield.
“We have to redefine who we are going to be and how we will win this match without someone like Riqui on the field,” said Vanney about his Talisman, who had careers in careers for goals (17) and assists (18) and led the league this year.
Marco Reus, who played in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund six months ago, is the most likely replacement, but he was slowed down by a groin injury. He returned to training on Wednesday, although his availability for Saturday could be a match decision.
Diego Fagundez is also an option, but he has not started or played more than 17 minutes in a match since September 14. This leaves Mark Delgado as the most capable replacement, but he turns out as a playmaker compared to the other two.
