LAFC: MLS is Back provides chance for young players to impress

LAFC’s newest signings are going to have plenty of opportunities to impress the coaching staff during the MLS is Back Tournament later this summer.

The return of Major League Soccer will come with different changes to the game when the players take to the pitch for the first time in four months. One of those new rules is the increase to five substitutions. This rule change has already been on display in various leagues around the world who have returned to play including the Bundesliga and La Liga and has seen teams be more aggressive in their tactical decisions.

Clubs have utilized all five substitutes as they manage the fatigue that comes with playing a jam-packed schedule along with any fitness that may have been diminished during lockdowns due to COVID-19.

This rule change has opened the door for younger players who might not have been regularly selected otherwise. As such, when MLS returns, expect the best young talent in the league to be on full display with the extra substitutions available.

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Los Angeles FC are one of the many MLS clubs to have acquired a number of young talented players over the course of the last year. They are among the best in the league when it comes to the amount of potential on their roster.

The likes Bryce Duke, Francisco Ginella, and Jose Cifuentes represent high-potential acquisitions who are still acclimatising to MLS. All three have already made their first appearances for LAFC but, with the season postponed after just two matches, they are still looking to establish themselves in the first team.

All three are central midfielders of some form and will compete among themselves for places in the starting XI. Duke was a substitute in both of LAFC’s matches in March. He is searching for his first assist. He is has been highly praised by the club’s front office as a player with terrific natural ability. This tournament will be his first real test with the first team as he is certain to get plenty of chances to come off the bench and make an impact.

A standout at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Ginella proved he is capable of being a regular starter for LAFC. He was in the starting XI against Inter Miami in the opening fixture of the 2020 season and was a substitute in the six-goal thriller against the Philadelphia Union. MLS is Back is going to be a proving ground for Ginella to show he deserves to be a weekly selection in the starting XI.

Cifuentes, meanwhile, was the highest-profile signing of the 2020 offseason by LAFC. The Ecuadorian had attracted interest from multiple clubs in top European leagues after his performance in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. To date, he’s made one MLS appearance, a 14-minute cameo against Inter Miami. The upcoming tournament is a big opportunity for Cifuentes to display why he is regarded as the club’s top prospect.

When the MLS is Back Tournament kicks off, keep an eye on these three LAFC players as they should be heavily involved with the addition of two substitutes to the rules of the game. This tournament offers them each a chance to establish themselves in the senior set-up and earn a greater share of the playing time. It will be fascinating to see how they fare.