Confused or irritated by the new MLS playoff format? Guess what, you and Carlos Vela have something in common.
The LAFC star, speaking at a news conference ahead of Saturday’s playoff opener between his team and the Vancouver Whitecaps, seemed perplexed by the league’s move to a best-of-three structure .
“It doesn’t make sense, but it is what it is,” shrugged when asked his opinion on a format that was last used more than 20 years ago. “The league has decided and we can only try to win the first two (matches) to have time to better prepare for the next round.”
LAFC will host Vancouver on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, then face a second game at BC Place eight days later on November 5. If a team does not win both matches (in regulation time or in a penalty tiebreaker, which will take place directly after the 90 minutes if the match ends in a draw), a third match will be played at BMO Stadium on November 9.
Making things even weirder, a series that goes the distance will mean that LAFC and the Whitecaps will have faced each other in four competitive matches in a row. The two clubs met on decision day, settling for a 1-1 draw in Vancouver.
Thursday’s press conference didn’t find many fans of the new postseason format among the LAFC team. Head coach Steve Cherundolo declined to discuss the subject, but only in a way that indicated a lack of enthusiasm for the new three-game setup that will only last one round.
“You know me well enough to probably know my opinion on the matter,” Cherundolo said. “I’ve said enough this year. It’s someone else’s turn.
#LAFC Steve Cherundolo on best of three playoff series,
“You know me well enough to probably know my opinion on the subject.”
After suggesting it was a cash grab by Apple, Cherundolo shrugged, adding:
“I’ve said enough this year. It’s someone else’s turn.”
– Justin Ruderman (@JustinRuderman_) October 26, 2023
Vela, for his part, said that despite its problems with the best-of-three structure, LAFC faces pressure after failing in four other competitions (CONCACAF Champions League, Leagues Cup, FIFA World Cup). US Open and Campeones Cup) and finishing only in third place in the Western Conference.
“We have already had other opportunities to win titles, to continue to mark the history of this club,” Vela explained. “We know we lost opportunities, we know what it means to risk everything in this tournament, and I think people are very excited… We want to repeat (as MLS Cup winners), we’re going to fight to keep the title with us and give everything we have.
