Steve Cherundolo, Head Coach of Los Angeles FC, discussed Son Heung-min’s integration into the team following his signing. Cherundolo described the moment as significant for both LAFC and the MLS, emphasizing Son’s potential impact on and off the field.
“Son brings great quality and personality, which will help us both on and off the pitch,” Cherundolo said. “His versatility is something we’re looking forward to.”
Currently completing his immigration process, Son Heung-min is not yet able to join team practices or matches. Cherundolo clarified that while Son cannot participate in team activities until his paperwork is finalized, he has already been training independently.
When asked about Son’s potential role on the field, Cherundolo explained that the club’s attacking setup is flexible. “Our attack is based on three interchangeable players, so Son can play in any of those positions,” he noted. “He’s played across the attack throughout his career, and we expect him to do the same here.”
Cherundolo also addressed the potential overlap between Son and Denis Bouanga, who can both play in similar positions. “The two can rotate positions during the game, which will create more challenges for defenders. We encourage this kind of fluidity,” Cherundolo added.
While Cherundolo doesn’t have a clear preference regarding Son’s position, he stated that Son could play on the left, the right, or through the middle. “We’ll see how things develop in training,” he said, emphasizing that the most important goal is for the team to continue scoring and improving their overall performance.
On the subject of the team’s road performance, Cherundolo acknowledged the challenges caused by a packed schedule and travel fatigue. “We’ve had a lot of games in a short period, and it’s taking a toll,” he explained. “But we’re working to improve our mentality on the road.”
Finally, Cherundolo confirmed there would be no changes to the team’s captaincy. “There will be no change in the captaincy, regardless of Son’s arrival,” he stated firmly.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
AND YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
