'Seven consecutive scoreless games': What to do about Son Heung-min? "This is not normal." Frustrated to the point of madness... LAFC head coach confesses

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

There is no turning back now. Marc Dos Santos, head coach of LAFC, which has fallen behind in the title race and sunk into a slump, openly shared his honest feelings about the team's difficult situation, including lack of finishing ability and gaps in the squad.

LAFC will face Real Salt Lake in an away match for the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) Round 23 at America First Field in Utah, USA, on the 6th at 10:30 a.m. Korean time.

LAFC's recent atmosphere has been sluggish. In their last eight games, they managed only one win (five draws and two losses). Key striker Son Heung-min also remained silent with just one goal during this period. Until the mid-season, LAFC was competing for first place, but after 23 matches (10 wins, six draws, seven losses; 36 points), they now trail Western Conference leader Vancouver Whitecaps (21 matches, 43 points) by as much as seven points. They are also three points behind second-place Houston Dynamo (22 matches, 39 points).

Coach Dos Santos expressed serious concerns about the team's lack of finishing ability during a pre-match press conference released by the club. "We need to improve on the attacking side," Dos Santos said. "In the last five games, we took 94 shots, but only around 22 or 23 were on target." He added, "We reach good positions and shoot, but we must finish much more cleanly."

He said, "Out of 100 shots, at least 50 must be on target to change the flow. I know well how a single goal can drastically alter the dynamics of a match." He continued, "In the San Diego game, we missed four crucial chances while trailing 0-0 and conceded a penalty. In the Portland game, we took 12 shots on target but only managed a draw thanks to a wonder goal. This is not normal," revealing his frustration.

He also did not hide the difficulties caused by a shortage of available squad resources and visa-related administrative issues. "It is fortunate that the transfer window has closed, but please do not ask when players will be able to play," Dos Santos stated. "There are administrative processes beyond the club's control, such as visa issuance procedures." He drew a line, saying, "Just because a signing is announced does not mean the player can step onto the pitch next week."

He also mentioned tactical limitations due to gaps in the midfield. "Currently, we do not have enough numbers in midfield," Dos Santos explained. "This forced us to reconsider our formation and tactical shape. If there are too many players at certain positions and too few at others, we must respond flexibly. Even if we have an ideal tactical vision, it is the coach's responsibility to make the best choice for the team by considering the imbalance in the currently available squad."

Additionally, Coach Dos Santos noted, "Immediately after the World Cup break, we scored 10 goals in three matches, but that was simply because our shot-to-goal conversion rate was very high at the time. Opponents have also changed their strength and are looking to turn things around, so this will be a completely different kind of match."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original