2022 MLS CUP: LAFC VS PHILADELPHIA

November 3, 2022

Carlos Vela

Banc of California Stadium

Los Angeles FC

Pregame Press Conference

Q. You've talked a little bit this year about the difference between Bob Bradley and Cherundolo, the way they act. How has that helped you or has it helped you on the field? What difference has it made on the field?

CARLOS VELA: Well, I always say, like every single coach in my career helped me to improve because every coach have a different idea about life, about football, about ethic of work.

So you have to take -- now seeing the players, it's what you take from every coach you had. Always focusing, get the best things from every single one.

And I enjoy every coach I had because always is a challenge for myself to show them I'm good, I can help the team, I can be important for the team.

That's what I focus my mind, and work every single day to show I can be an example for my teammates, a leader, and be ready for this club.

I think it's the most important. Doesn't matter who is the coach or who are the teammates. The important is to make a good group. I think we create a really good relationship between the coaches, staff, all the club and players. We have a really good connection, really good relationship.

I think the results are there.

Q. You signed in 2017; you've seen this club since its inception, and we see the culture now of winning and it brings you to an MLS Cup. How much do you credit the ownership of LAFC for giving you the chance to reach this point?

CARLOS VELA: Well, I think every single part of the club are important because when you are building a team, you have to project something to the players or the people you want to sign.

If they come with something, like, oh, we are a new team but you can come if you want and let's see what happens, of course you would not sign for them. But that was not the case. Every time I spoke with them, it was like we want to create something special, we want to win, we want people really commit with the team, with the club, with the culture and create something special.

I said from the first day, this club is special. I want to make the club special. I work every single day to make it.

This is a really good chance for us, for myself to do something good for them and get something back for fans, for the club, for families, for everybody that's involved in this club.

I think we are in a good position to do something good, to really say we make something special.

I think this game is really good, really important, and we have to enjoy it and of course bring everything, because it's the most important game of this club, so we have to be in that status.

Q. You are one of two LAFC originals left on this team. Obviously the captain and leader for basically the entire existence of LAFC. Can you talk a little bit about the journey to this point? Obviously reaching MLS Cup and winning it is the goal. You won two Supporters' Shield, reached CCL final. Now, after five years, you've reached it. Can you talk about the journey it's taken to get here?

CARLOS VELA: Yeah, like I said a little bit in Spanish, when I come here, there was nothing around the stadium, even an office. When I come, I arrive in LA, I was like, maybe there's nobody coming to pick me up.

So it was something really weird, but after I met the person, the owners, all the members of the club, was like, okay, this can be special. We will work to make this special.

Since the first day I said I will work really hard, I will do my best for bring trophies to this club to make at least every single year fight for trophies and be really a good team.

I think we created really something special, not only because we are playing good and we are in the final; we create something around the city.

I think the people feels connected with us. The people enjoy every single time we play in the bank. Our fans make a party every single game we play there.

I think everybody is deserving something good, and I think Saturday is a big chance for us to really get something good, something like we dream when we come here to the first day.

For me it's special. I'm really excited. I'm really motivated, and I will do my best for bring the trophy Saturday.