Latest news with #CarlosVela
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
LAFC are co-owned by Will Ferrell and Magic Johnson after only being founded 10 years ago... now an ex-Blues cult hero and former Tottenham captain are plotting Chelsea's downfall at the Club World Cup
Ten years ago, LAFC was a club in the infancy of its existence. Having been founded in October 2014, there was very little expectation that they would become one of the biggest teams in the US. But, a decade later, they find themselves competing in the Club World Cup on home soil. Their first task? Taking on Enzo Maresca 's Chelsea. This would be a daunting challenge for many, but LAFC are a team on the rise that have received significant backing to get to their current position. They are unlikely to go down without a fight. Getting a project off the ground requires belief from those involved that something special can be built. It became clear that LAFC had this when NBA legend Magic Johnson became part of their ownership group, and he was swiftly followed through the door by A-list actor Will Ferrell in January 2016. Throw two-time Women's World Cup winner Mia Hamm Garciaparra into the mix and that is quite the leadership team. But sides are ultimately judged by what they do on the pitch. Luckily for LAFC, they have also delivered in that department since joining MLS in 2018. In just their second season, LAFC won the Supporters' Shield - given to the team with the best regular season record - while ex-Arsenal star Carlos Vela earned the MVP award. Further silverware was just around the corner as a Gareth Bale-inspired LAFC won the MLS Cup in 2022 alongside claiming another Supporters' Shield. LAFC then triumphed in the U.S. Open Cup last year to continue their trophy streak. They still weren't due to play in this summer's tournament, but were handed a late lifeline after Mexican side Leon were kicked out due to multi-ownership rules. LAFC went into a play-off against Club America and were heading out when they fell 1-0 behind, but a late equaliser took the game to extra time, and they ended up prevailing 2-1 to book their spot in Group D alongside Chelsea, Flamengo and Esperance Sportive de Tunis. It has been some journey to get to this stage. Bale and Vela helped LAFC through the early days of their growth, and with celebrities watching from the sidelines and the opportunity to live in Los Angeles on offer, attracting high-profile players has never been an issue for the club. Legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini finished his career Stateside, while proven MLS goalscorer Bradley Wright-Phillips also had a brief spell at LAFC. Now, LAFC have two former Premier League stars on their books, including an ex-Chelsea cult hero. Olivier Giroud spent three years at Stamford Bridge between 2018 and 2021, and often produced the goods for Chelsea when they needed him most. He won the Champions League, Europa League and FA during his time in west London, and is fondly remembered by the Chelsea faithful. He has since won a Serie A title with AC Milan, and has now made his way over to Los Angeles. Giroud has just five goals in 33 appearances for LAFC, but Chelsea know only too well about the threat he poses in the penalty area. The 38-year-old is looking forward to facing his old club, but has admitted that a lot has changed since he left. 'Everything is different,' Giroud said about Chelsea, as quoted by The Athletic. 'From the ownership, the manager… also people working for the club, communication, marketing, not much is staying. But hope I will see some familiar faces.' The veteran striker is excited to see how his side match up against a Premier League giant, urging his team-mates to 'seize the moment'. 'For the fans it also means a lot and we can also see where MLS stands now compared to Europe,' he added. 'We are doing this job for these kind of games so we just need to seize the moment and to enjoy every single moment.' At the other end of the pitch is a former Tottenham captain who will be doing everything he can to bring down Chelsea. Hugo Lloris, also 38, made almost 450 appearances for Spurs across 12 years, and was involved in some fascinating battles with Chelsea. He will get to face Tottenham's London rivals once more on Monday evening, a challenge he will relish. With Giroud and Lloris to call upon, LAFC have two World Cup winners in their squad. By contrast, Chelsea have just one - Enzo Fernandez. But make no mistake, Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites to win Monday's match. It would be a major shock if they are beaten by LAFC, a team who currently sit fifth in the MLS Western Conference standings. Still, LAFC have come a very long way in a short space of time, and with Ferrell and Johnson at the helm, they have ambitious plans. Can they stun Maresca and Co to pick up their biggest win ever? We are just a matter of hours away from finding out.
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Chelsea's World Club Cup group stage opponents in focus
Having also sealed a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023 there is a feelgood factor surrounding the Blues that they will be hoping to carry with them to the United States. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Londoners' group stage opponents and beyond. With his first-half assist against Sporting Kansas City, @LAFC's Denis Bouanga became the second player in club history to reach 70 career goal contributions, joining Carlos Vela (137). — MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) June 9, 2025 The MLS side were a late addition to the tournament and were nearly not involved at all, with an 89th-minute equaliser from Brazilian midfielder Igor Jesus salvaging their preliminary play-off against Club America of Mexico last month before French winger Denis Bouanga won it towards the end of extra time. The play-off came about after Club Leon, also from Mexico, were disqualified from the tournament over FIFA's rules on dual ownership. LAFC, who are first up for Chelsea in Atlanta on June 16, are relatively new to MLS having been founded in 2014. They finished top of the Western Conference last season and qualified for the play-offs where they ultimately finished third, with their only national title coming in 2022. Former Tottenham goalkeeper and France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris and ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud are standout names, while Odin Holm, on loan from Celtic, will also be familiar. Coach Steve Cherundolo played more than 300 Bundesliga matches for Hannover. See you in two weeks, @LAFC 🇺🇸 — Flamengo (@Flamengo_en) June 10, 2025 A clash with Brazilian giants Flamengo follows in Philadelphia, with the Rio de Janeiro state champions and current leaders of the national championship likely to be the strongest opposition faced by Maresca's side in the group stage. They qualified as Copa Libertadores winners in 2022. A familiar face awaits in the dugout with former Chelsea full-back Felipe Luis leading the team as head coach, though the former Brazil international made only 15 Premier League appearances in his single season at Stamford Bridge in 2014/15. Jorginho played more recently for the club, leaving for Arsenal in 2023 and moving to Flamengo earlier this month, while defender David Luiz – a Champions League winner with the Blues in 2012 – departed only last summer. Flamengo lifted the Intercontinental Cup back in 1981 after a 3-0 win over Bob Paisley's Liverpool in Tokyo, and with seven titles they are the joint-third most successful club in Brazilian football. 𝓢𝓮𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓘𝓷 𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓪. ! 🇧🇪😍#TakeItToTheWorld #FIFACWC#ترجي_دولة#للعالمية_يا_مكشخين — Espérance Sportive De Tunis (@ESTunis1919) June 4, 2025 Tunisian club Esperance qualified by virtue of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) ranking, having last won the African Champions League in 2019 – their fourth title. The squad is a mixture of domestic players and recruits from further afield including Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. Captain Yassine Meriah has 85 caps for Tunisia and the defender played against England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has played in the Champions League for Olympiacos. The club were given the nickname 'The Beast of Africa' in 1994 to reflect their dominance of football both domestically, where they have been champions 34 times, and on the continent. 7️⃣ DAYS TO GO UNTIL OUR FIRST #FIFACWC MATCH!🆚 Al Hilal 📺 Watch every FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game LIVE, on @DaznFutbol!#TakeItToTheWorld — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 11, 2025 Should Chelsea progress as group winners it will mean a last-16 meeting with the side that finishes runner-up in Group C, likely to be Benfica or Argentina's Boca Juniors. Bayern Munich are another possible opponent, as are New Zealand club Auckland City. Thereafter things become less easy to predict, but topping the group could well set them up for a quarter-final against either Real Madrid, Paris St Germain or Borussia Dortmund.
North Wales Chronicle
13-06-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Chelsea's World Club Cup group stage opponents in focus
Having also sealed a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023 there is a feelgood factor surrounding the Blues that they will be hoping to carry with them to the United States. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Londoners' group stage opponents and beyond. With his first-half assist against Sporting Kansas City, @LAFC's Denis Bouanga became the second player in club history to reach 70 career goal contributions, joining Carlos Vela (137). — MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) June 9, 2025 The MLS side were a late addition to the tournament and were nearly not involved at all, with an 89th-minute equaliser from Brazilian midfielder Igor Jesus salvaging their preliminary play-off against Club America of Mexico last month before French winger Denis Bouanga won it towards the end of extra time. The play-off came about after Club Leon, also from Mexico, were disqualified from the tournament over FIFA's rules on dual ownership. LAFC, who are first up for Chelsea in Atlanta on June 16, are relatively new to MLS having been founded in 2014. They finished top of the Western Conference last season and qualified for the play-offs where they ultimately finished third, with their only national title coming in 2022. Former Tottenham goalkeeper and France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris and ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud are standout names, while Odin Holm, on loan from Celtic, will also be familiar. Coach Steve Cherundolo played more than 300 Bundesliga matches for Hannover. See you in two weeks, @LAFC 🇺🇸 — Flamengo (@Flamengo_en) June 10, 2025 A clash with Brazilian giants Flamengo follows in Philadelphia, with the Rio de Janeiro state champions and current leaders of the national championship likely to be the strongest opposition faced by Maresca's side in the group stage. They qualified as Copa Libertadores winners in 2022. A familiar face awaits in the dugout with former Chelsea full-back Felipe Luis leading the team as head coach, though the former Brazil international made only 15 Premier League appearances in his single season at Stamford Bridge in 2014/15. Jorginho played more recently for the club, leaving for Arsenal in 2023 and moving to Flamengo earlier this month, while defender David Luiz – a Champions League winner with the Blues in 2012 – departed only last summer. Flamengo lifted the Intercontinental Cup back in 1981 after a 3-0 win over Bob Paisley's Liverpool in Tokyo, and with seven titles they are the joint-third most successful club in Brazilian football. 𝓢𝓮𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓘𝓷 𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓪. ! 🇧🇪😍#TakeItToTheWorld #FIFACWC#ترجي_دولة#للعالمية_يا_مكشخين — Espérance Sportive De Tunis (@ESTunis1919) June 4, 2025 Tunisian club Esperance qualified by virtue of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) ranking, having last won the African Champions League in 2019 – their fourth title. The squad is a mixture of domestic players and recruits from further afield including Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. Captain Yassine Meriah has 85 caps for Tunisia and the defender played against England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has played in the Champions League for Olympiacos. The club were given the nickname 'The Beast of Africa' in 1994 to reflect their dominance of football both domestically, where they have been champions 34 times, and on the continent. 7️⃣ DAYS TO GO UNTIL OUR FIRST #FIFACWC MATCH!🆚 Al Hilal 📺 Watch every FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game LIVE, on @DaznFutbol!#TakeItToTheWorld — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 11, 2025 Should Chelsea progress as group winners it will mean a last-16 meeting with the side that finishes runner-up in Group C, likely to be Benfica or Argentina's Boca Juniors. Bayern Munich are another possible opponent, as are New Zealand club Auckland City. Thereafter things become less easy to predict, but topping the group could well set them up for a quarter-final against either Real Madrid, Paris St Germain or Borussia Dortmund.
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Chelsea's World Club Cup group stage opponents in focus
Having also sealed a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023 there is a feelgood factor surrounding the Blues that they will be hoping to carry with them to the United States. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Londoners' group stage opponents and beyond. Los Angeles FC With his first-half assist against Sporting Kansas City, @LAFC's Denis Bouanga became the second player in club history to reach 70 career goal contributions, joining Carlos Vela (137). — MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) June 9, 2025 The MLS side were a late addition to the tournament and were nearly not involved at all, with an 89th-minute equaliser from Brazilian midfielder Igor Jesus salvaging their preliminary play-off against Club America of Mexico last month before French winger Denis Bouanga won it towards the end of extra time. The play-off came about after Club Leon, also from Mexico, were disqualified from the tournament over FIFA's rules on dual ownership. LAFC, who are first up for Chelsea in Atlanta on June 16, are relatively new to MLS having been founded in 2014. They finished top of the Western Conference last season and qualified for the play-offs where they ultimately finished third, with their only national title coming in 2022. Former Tottenham goalkeeper and France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris and ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud are standout names, while Odin Holm, on loan from Celtic, will also be familiar. Coach Steve Cherundolo played more than 300 Bundesliga matches for Hannover. Flamengo A clash with Brazilian giants Flamengo follows in Philadelphia, with the Rio de Janeiro state champions and current leaders of the national championship likely to be the strongest opposition faced by Maresca's side in the group stage. They qualified as Copa Libertadores winners in 2022. A familiar face awaits in the dugout with former Chelsea full-back Felipe Luis leading the team as head coach, though the former Brazil international made only 15 Premier League appearances in his single season at Stamford Bridge in 2014/15. Jorginho played more recently for the club, leaving for Arsenal in 2023 and moving to Flamengo earlier this month, while defender David Luiz – a Champions League winner with the Blues in 2012 – departed only last summer. Flamengo lifted the Intercontinental Cup back in 1981 after a 3-0 win over Bob Paisley's Liverpool in Tokyo, and with seven titles they are the joint-third most successful club in Brazilian football. Esperance de Tunis Tunisian club Esperance qualified by virtue of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) ranking, having last won the African Champions League in 2019 – their fourth title. The squad is a mixture of domestic players and recruits from further afield including Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. Captain Yassine Meriah has 85 caps for Tunisia and the defender played against England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has played in the Champions League for Olympiacos. The club were given the nickname 'The Beast of Africa' in 1994 to reflect their dominance of football both domestically, where they have been champions 34 times, and on the continent. After that? 7️⃣ DAYS TO GO UNTIL OUR FIRST #FIFACWC MATCH!🆚 Al Hilal 📺 Watch every FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game LIVE, on @DaznFutbol!#TakeItToTheWorld — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 11, 2025 Should Chelsea progress as group winners it will mean a last-16 meeting with the side that finishes runner-up in Group C, likely to be Benfica or Argentina's Boca Juniors. Bayern Munich are another possible opponent, as are New Zealand club Auckland City. Thereafter things become less easy to predict, but topping the group could well set them up for a quarter-final against either Real Madrid, Paris St Germain or Borussia Dortmund.
Rhyl Journal
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Chelsea's World Club Cup group stage opponents in focus
Having also sealed a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2023 there is a feelgood factor surrounding the Blues that they will be hoping to carry with them to the United States. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Londoners' group stage opponents and beyond. With his first-half assist against Sporting Kansas City, @LAFC's Denis Bouanga became the second player in club history to reach 70 career goal contributions, joining Carlos Vela (137). — MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) June 9, 2025 The MLS side were a late addition to the tournament and were nearly not involved at all, with an 89th-minute equaliser from Brazilian midfielder Igor Jesus salvaging their preliminary play-off against Club America of Mexico last month before French winger Denis Bouanga won it towards the end of extra time. The play-off came about after Club Leon, also from Mexico, were disqualified from the tournament over FIFA's rules on dual ownership. LAFC, who are first up for Chelsea in Atlanta on June 16, are relatively new to MLS having been founded in 2014. They finished top of the Western Conference last season and qualified for the play-offs where they ultimately finished third, with their only national title coming in 2022. Former Tottenham goalkeeper and France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris and ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud are standout names, while Odin Holm, on loan from Celtic, will also be familiar. Coach Steve Cherundolo played more than 300 Bundesliga matches for Hannover. See you in two weeks, @LAFC 🇺🇸 — Flamengo (@Flamengo_en) June 10, 2025 A clash with Brazilian giants Flamengo follows in Philadelphia, with the Rio de Janeiro state champions and current leaders of the national championship likely to be the strongest opposition faced by Maresca's side in the group stage. They qualified as Copa Libertadores winners in 2022. A familiar face awaits in the dugout with former Chelsea full-back Felipe Luis leading the team as head coach, though the former Brazil international made only 15 Premier League appearances in his single season at Stamford Bridge in 2014/15. Jorginho played more recently for the club, leaving for Arsenal in 2023 and moving to Flamengo earlier this month, while defender David Luiz – a Champions League winner with the Blues in 2012 – departed only last summer. Flamengo lifted the Intercontinental Cup back in 1981 after a 3-0 win over Bob Paisley's Liverpool in Tokyo, and with seven titles they are the joint-third most successful club in Brazilian football. 𝓢𝓮𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓘𝓷 𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓪. ! 🇧🇪😍#TakeItToTheWorld #FIFACWC#ترجي_دولة#للعالمية_يا_مكشخين — Espérance Sportive De Tunis (@ESTunis1919) June 4, 2025 Tunisian club Esperance qualified by virtue of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) ranking, having last won the African Champions League in 2019 – their fourth title. The squad is a mixture of domestic players and recruits from further afield including Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. Captain Yassine Meriah has 85 caps for Tunisia and the defender played against England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has played in the Champions League for Olympiacos. The club were given the nickname 'The Beast of Africa' in 1994 to reflect their dominance of football both domestically, where they have been champions 34 times, and on the continent. 7️⃣ DAYS TO GO UNTIL OUR FIRST #FIFACWC MATCH!🆚 Al Hilal 📺 Watch every FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game LIVE, on @DaznFutbol!#TakeItToTheWorld — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 11, 2025 Should Chelsea progress as group winners it will mean a last-16 meeting with the side that finishes runner-up in Group C, likely to be Benfica or Argentina's Boca Juniors. Bayern Munich are another possible opponent, as are New Zealand club Auckland City. Thereafter things become less easy to predict, but topping the group could well set them up for a quarter-final against either Real Madrid, Paris St Germain or Borussia Dortmund.
