Major League Soccer (MLS) headquarters has presented key tasks each club must address ahead of the new season, and a clear directive was issued to LAFC: design a buildup structure that can properly utilize Son Heung-min and Dénis Bouanga.
MLS headquarters on the 24th (Korean time) released a club-by-club holiday wishlist for the 2026 season on its official website. In the case of Inter Miami CF, it noted the need to secure midfield resources to replace Sergio Busquets; for Austin FC, strengthening creativity in attacking buildup; for Atlanta United, a designated player rebound; and for Nashville SC, the acquisition of a key striker's supporting player was listed as a task.
Among these, the focus of the evaluation aimed at LAFC was clear. The headquarters cited improving ball possession and buildup ability as LAFC's most urgent areas to address. Despite possessing flashy attacking resources, the analysis found a lack of midfield operation to support them.
MLS headquarters pointed out that LAFC ranked 12th in the league in the number of passes played into the box during the 2025 regular season. This was not simply a statistical issue but indicated that passing routes leading to decisive spaces were limited. The assessment said attacking buildup was not structurally refined and scenes relying on individual ability were frequent.
This trend is evident in the actual numbers. LAFC scored 65 goals in the 2025 regular season, the fourth-most among the league's 30 teams, but 39 of those goals were the responsibility of Son Heung-min and Bouanga. A large portion of the scoring was concentrated on specific players.
The match content was not much different. There were many scenes creating chances through quick transitions and individual dribbles, but organized attempts to attack the opponent's box from midfield by passing were limited. As a result, scenes of Son Heung-min dropping near the half line to receive the ball were frequently captured. It meant the forwards were shouldering not only the finishing but also the buildup process.
For LAFC, which aims to win next season, this problem can no longer be postponed. The most important task under new manager Mark dos Santos is to establish a buildup method that can retain possession in midfield and control tempo. A structure is needed that allows Son Heung-min and Bouanga to participate in decisive moments more often from higher positions.
The number of star players is already sufficient. The next step LAFC must overcome is how to connect those stars. As MLS headquarters' assessment suggested, LAFC's next leap depends on ball possession and the quality of passing.
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