LA Galaxy center-back Maya Yoshida has put the 2023 season in the rearview mirror and is aiming for bigger and better things in 2023 with the five-time MLS Cup winners.
Yoshida joined the Galaxy in August 2023, looking to bring solidity to the backline after managing well over 350 appearances while in Europe playing for the likes of Schalke 04, Sampdoria, Southampton and VVV-Venlo.
Yoshida started off on the right foot with the Gs in a 3-0 triumph over Chicago Fire at Dignity Health Sports Park — in which he grabbed an assist — while also taking down in-state foes San Jose Earthquakes on the road 3-2 and drawing 0-0 against the impressive Houston Dynamo.
LA managed a 2-2 draw against expansion side St Louis CITY, and things were looking up for Greg Vanney’s side and there may have been a feeling they could snatch a postseason spot late on in the regular season.
However, LA won just once in their last eight games of the season – a chaotic 4-3 victory over Minnesota United – solidifying their place near the bottom of the Western Conference standings in 13th place with 36 points, just above Colorado Rapids who collected a mere 27 points.
“I’m very happy to be here but I’m not happy for the results,” Yoshida said exclusively to 90min.
“As a player, it was a very disappointing season last year. So, surely I want to make it much better than last year, and I think everybody feels the same.”
The 35-year-old explained that it was a difficult challenge joining the Galaxy when they were near the basement of the Western Conference, as he was eager to take part in MLS Cup playoffs but didn’t get the chance to do so.
“The expectation was the same, to go through the playoffs. When I arrived, we are second from the bottom, and we finish second from the bottom. So, literally, it’s not enough. And especially the performances weren’t stable.
“We shouldn’t concede [goals] like that. Because especially me, a center-back, the club expected me to organize the defense.
“Some games I did, some games I couldn’t. So we need more stability and we need to have more defensive solidarity.”
Stability is something that the Galaxy must develop if they are to return to the playoffs, and the front office has moved to improve the defense that conceded the most goals in MLS in 2023 (67, which works out to roughly two goals conceded per game) by bringing in goalkeeper John McCarthy from LAFC, full-backs Miki Yamane from…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at 90min EN…