Cristian Tello an ‘obvious fit’ for LAFC, says GM John Thorrington

As if their summer time recruitment wasn’t spectacular sufficient, LAFC’s late seize of Cristian Tello makes them an much more terrifying prospect heading into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Tello arrived on a free switch shortly earlier than the MLS roster freeze on September 2 following a five-year spell with La Liga aspect Actual Betis. In fact, Tello lower his enamel at FC Barcelona and likewise lists the likes of Porto and Fiorentina on his résumé.

The 31-year-old winger will face severe competitors for minutes at Banc of California Stadium, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Carlos Vela, Kwadwo Opoku, and Cristian Arango all battling for a spot in LAFC’s ahead line.

However given his expertise, type, and pedigree, Tello may simply be the proper late-season addition to a aspect chasing Supporters’ Defend and MLS Cup glory.

“With Cristian, it is a pretty apparent match due to how he performs, the place he performs, the locations he is performed,” LAFC co-president and common supervisor Thorrington mentioned. “There’s lots of overlap in what we attempt to do.”

Tello has been formally cleared to make his debut towards FC Dallas this weekend and head coach Steve Cherundolo has confirmed Thorrington’s view, with the one-time Spain worldwide already settling in properly together with his new teammates.

“His integration course of has been very, very simple on the sector,” Cherundolo mentioned. “Now the immigration course of is accomplished, and he might help us in sport conditions.”

The signing of Tello was much more essential given LAFC had already let Uruguayan winger Brian Rodriguez depart for Membership America. Thorrington confirmed the 2 offers had been depending on one another.

“We had been evaluating whether or not we had been going to promote Brian Rodriguez or not,” defined Thorrington. “We had been solely prepared to make sure choices offered we may do different issues. So we moved in a short time with Cristian.

“When you concentrate on rules and elegance of play and a participant’s formation, their schooling, their formation – on the subject of a spot like Barcelona – for us it is actually interesting.”

As talked about, Tello goes to must work onerous for a spot in Cherundolo’s beginning XI. Nevertheless, it is a problem he is already used to throughout his time enjoying for some European giants – and one he is relishing.

“It is an essential problem. I am becoming a member of a membership that has many top-level gamers, like all large golf equipment have,” Tello mentioned.

“The purpose is to work my hardest in order that the coach sees that I am bodily match and I can take the step into the beginning XI and play my half.”

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