Notes from Training: Prepping for Inter Miami

On a chilly Friday morning, two days after returning to Los Angeles following its 6-1 victory in Honduras in its Concacaf opener, LAFC wrapped up preparations for its MLS regular-season debut against Inter Miami at the LA Coliseum on Saturday night.

Transitioning from the humidity and 80-degree temperatures of Honduras to the brisk wind in LA caught at least one LAFC player off guard.

“I love new experiences, I love new challenges, one thing that I don't like is cold,” forward Son Heung-Min said with a laugh. “Yeah, LA is very cold. I'm surprised. John [Co-President and GM John Thorrington] told me that every day the sun is shining [in LA], it’s nice weather. Today—our last couple of days [were] a little bit shocking.”

The cool air was ideal for a second day of video study and physical regeneration, the players’ work on the field concluding with a fun yet focused session of corner-kick and free-kick practice. After one more night’s sleep, the defending MLS Cup champions await.

"It’s the best opponent we could get in game one,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “We're excited about it. We understand that we're playing last year's MLS Cup champion, a big team in this league. To start with this opponent, it's the best choice possible, especially here in Los Angeles. We're ready. It was important to give a good sign in Honduras and to set the table for this game. It's going to be an amazing game against an amazing opponent. ”

The media hype around Saturday’s matchup is focused on Korean superstar Son squaring off against Lionel Messi, Inter Miami’s two-time reigning MLS MVP, 2025 MLS Golden Boot winner, and eight-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or (given annually to the world’s best player). But Son’s focus is elsewhere.

“Football is never an individual sport,” Son said. "I don't want to talk about Messi because probably everybody's talking enough. We all know that he's the best player and he has [had] so many influences on football. But I don't look at a football match as an individual. He's obviously a different level than any other player. I'm looking at the game as LAFC against Miami. I'm looking forward to winning as a team. I'm looking forward to playing as a team and celebrating as a team.”

“Obviously, it will be a big game,” said forward Denis Bouanga, whose 24 goals finished tied for second behind Messi (29) in last year’s Golden Boot race. “Opening the season with this game, it will be up to us to show that we're a new team, that we have new ambitions, and to demonstrate that we can do new things and new approaches with Marc. ”

MEET THE NEW BOSS

Eleven weeks into his new role as LAFC’s head coach, Marc Dos Santos has rewarded Bouanga’s belief that he was the right choice to succeed Steve Cherundolo. “Last season, I was being asked what would be the best choice in terms of coaching,” Bouanga continued, “and without hesitation I picked Marc. I think he has really good ideas and his ideas are really in line with mine. I'm glad we're off to a good start with him and I'm really happy to be working with him. ”

After absorbing Dos Santos’ attacking ideas throughout the preseason, Son is also a believer. “I think he just wanted to change a little bit of our style of play,” Son said. “He wants to have the ball more and he wants to be more aggressive when we lose the ball. I really like it. I used to play like that [at Tottenham Hotspur], so yeah, I'm enjoying every single training session.”

Added Dos Santos: “We felt that every day of preseason we were stepping towards the team we want to be. We talk a lot about identity, but identity without functionality doesn't mean anything. What I felt is that every day we were putting the stones in place to become a certain team with a certain identity. We arrived in Honduras ready for that game, and we're ready for the game tomorrow. ”

SUPPORT IN THE STANDS AND AMONG TEAMMATES

In Honduras, Bouanga was surprised to look into the crowd at Estadio Francisco Morazán and find a large and loud section wearing black and gold. “The fact that some of [our] fans had a five-hour flight to see us in Honduras, to be with us and support us, was amazing. I'm really happy to have that support and I will try to give it back on the pitch, to match the level of confidence and support that they have, to give this [to fans] as a reward. ”

Early on against Real España, 20-year-old attacker David Martínez (below) drew a penalty that resulted in the first of Bouanga’s three goals on the night. The young Venezuelan scored himself moments later, offering yet another clue as to what his third season with LAFC might look like. “I try to give him advice,” Bouanga said of Martínez. “He obviously has a lot of talent. He's a sort of a diamond in the rough. He has a lot of potential ... Last year he didn't get much of a chance, but I think probably this year will be the one. Sonny is also participating in giving him advice, and sort of mentoring him. ”

That Son is devoting his time to the development of a teammate comes as no surprise to Dos Santos, who is often asked about Son’s impact on the club since his arrival six months ago. “Every day I get asked about it,” Dos Santos said, “and one day I'm just going to tape an answer and press play [because] it doesn't change. Sonny, what impressed me the most in him – we knew the ability as a player, the quality as a player, that's why when we had the opportunity to bring him to LAFC we did it right away. But what impresses me is the person.

"He's such a competitor. People were asking me about Honduras – they were surprised that he played that game. No, he wants to play every game. He's a leader. He contaminates the others around him ... So when you're that and you're a good player, you bring a lot to the locker room.”

Son also noticed the support LAFC received in Honduras, from locals as well as traveling fans. Saturday’s he’s facing another team, Inter Miami, from a Spanish-speaking city; and next month he’ll play in Houston and Dallas, cities steeped in Hispanic culture. The most famous Korean athlete in the world doesn’t take his massive Latino fan base for granted.

“It's crazy. Having this fan base is always hugely helpful,” Son said. “It gives me more motivation, you know. I would love to speak Spanish, but first of all I have to speak good English. And then Spanish. We have a lot of guys [on the team] who speak Spanish – that helps me.”

As for his legions of fans across Latin America, “They're passionate,” Son said. “I always want to give them something, a special feeling, special moments. I really appreciate [their] amazing support, amazing passion. That's what LAFC is here for, you know?”

THE STANDARD

When Bouanga was asked about his goals for this season, the three-time MLS Best XI honoree replied: “On a personal level, it's to be better than last year. I always try to improve. From the collective perspective, the goal is clear: We'd like to win all of the competitions and trophies and bring them home.”

EUSTÁQUIO ESTA AQUI

LAFC’s final acquisition of the preseason, midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, a Canadian international who spent the last four years with powerful Portugeuse club, Porto, has known Dos Santos for years. “I coached his brother Mauro when I was the head coach of Ottawa [2013-2015],” Dos Santos said. “Mauro now is a coach in the Canadian Premier League. It's a family of soccer, the Eustáquios. Both of them are amazing kids, great education, great parents.

"[Stephen] is a player that grinded his way up,” Dos Santos continued. "Nothing was given to him. He started in lower divisions in Portugal, then played in the third, second, first division, ended up playing for Porto, then Champions League, Europa League, a lot of games. He was never a key player in the Canadian youth system, then he made his way up to the first team and [he is now] an important player for Canada. When the [LAFC] opportunity came, the door opened, it was a really easy talk between me and him.”

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