ASN: California Native Sebastian Lletget Is Thriving in L.A.

The previous West Ham United reserve who by no means fairly acquired his shot within the English Premier League is tearing it up in MLS. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke to the red-hot attacking midfielder. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
August 06, 2015
1:55 PM

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THE LOS ANGELES GALAXY are past loaded—Bruce Enviornment might have assembled essentially the most proficient group in Main League Soccer historical past. Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, Omar Gonzalez, and Gyasi Zardes are the largest names on the squad, however this franchise at all times appears to search out hidden gems that shine nearly as vivid because the superstars.

Twenty-two-year-old Sebastian Lletget is one such participant, a midfielder acquired earlier this 12 months from West Ham United. After years of toiling—and infrequently excelling—for West Ham United’s reserve group, Lletget made the choice to signal for the Galaxy to get his skilled profession on monitor.

To this point this choice has labored out for each the participant and membership. In 10 leagues video games this season the San Francisco native has discovered the again of the online six occasions, taking part in an essential position of driving the Galaxy’s offense. He has proven composure in entrance of aim and possesses the type of final-third creativity that’s solely going to assist the Galaxy because the playoffs draw close to.

“It’s been fantastic,” Lletget informed American Soccer Now. “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long. My career was at a standstill for a while. I was waiting for the breakout to show what I can do. I am just thankful for the club for giving me the opportunity.”

Lletget’s performances have impressed not simply followers and coaches, however a few of his high-profile teammates as properly.

“He has got some quality,” Robbie Keane mentioned. “He’s very, very comfy on the ball, generally he simply has to discover ways to do away with the ball faster—which I’ve spoken to him about. He’s younger, he’s studying, he’s nice, he’s scoring a number of objectives which is essential to us.

“He is a lad that listens, and he has already been a big addition and going forward he will be.”

Throughout his time with West Ham United, the place he joined the membership’s extremely touted academy in 2010, Lletget was as soon as thought-about a high prospect. However each time he appeared on the verge of breaking into the primary group, supervisor Sam Allardyce would elect to go together with larger, stronger, or extra athletic gamers.

The irritating half for Lletget, nevertheless, was that West Ham was by no means prepared to let him go on mortgage. There have been occasions that the membership indicated a mortgage can be an possibility however then Lletget would take pleasure in a string of sturdy coaching classes in preseason or stable performances for the membership’s U-21 group. In consequence, he remained at West Ham as a result of Allardyce thought Lletget would possibly find yourself being a first-team possibility.

Lletget ended up making the bench for West Ham in 5 Premier League video games, however he by no means acquired right into a match. His solely look for West Ham’s first group got here on Could 1, 2014, in a 5-0 FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest.

“It was never the club,” Lletget mentioned of West Ham. “The membership was nice and I had a good time. It occurs on a regular basis with gamers and administration doesn’t have sure gamers of their plans for no matter cause. Everyone has completely different opinions on completely different gamers. That’s simply the stuff now we have to cope with as gamers.

“You just feel stumped,” he added. “Players are under contract and they do what they have to do. But I think everything just happened for a reason. I just have to learn. It built my character.”

Lletget took a circuitous path to the Galaxy. Two years earlier, Lletget had a chance come to MLS and play for Chivas USA however he declined. Regardless of choices to stay in Europe with both trials or affords from golf equipment within the Netherlands, Spain, and elsewhere, the California native got here house.

A part of the Galaxy’s enchantment was Kenny Enviornment, who has been on his father’s workers since 2014. The youthful Enviornment was very aware of Lletget, relationship again to his days as an assistant coach at UCLA when he tried—and failed—to recruit Lletget to play for the Bruins.

Kenny Enviornment persuaded his father to usher in Lletget to coach with the Galaxy throughout the membership’s preseason tour in Eire. Lletget was unable to play in matches however he did impress in practices. The Galaxy needed to signal Lletget however needed to look ahead to the brand new guidelines of the collective bargaining settlement to enter impact because the older guidelines required all former U.S. youth nationwide group gamers to undergo an allocation. The brand new guidelines offered that golf equipment might file discovery declare on sure gamers.

At first the New England Revolution had a discovery declare on Lletget however the guidelines, which had been up to date in Could, allowed for the Galaxy pay the Revolution $50,000 in allocation cash to forego its discovery declare.

In the end, after a five-month strategy of attempting to signal Lletget, the Galaxy lastly acquired its participant.

“I knew Kenny Arena and Bruce,” Lletget mentioned of his choice. “They made me really feel needed and that’s one thing I haven’t had for some time. They confirmed me how I used to be going to suit into the group, and it felt like I used to be extra prepared to come back in than another membership. That actually helped in my choice.

“Here, it’s fantastic. We have a great group of guys on and off the field and it is showing. The talent is great.”

Lletget has performed like one of many higher midfielders within the North American high flight. Within the Galaxy’s 3-1 win over Colorado on Saturday, Lletget’s efficiency which included a 56th minute equalizing aim earned him a spot on the MLS group of the week, the second time he has obtained that honor. He has now scored in six out of his final eight MLS video games.

“He is a good player, no question about it,” Bruce Enviornment mentioned in June. “You can see his quality on the ball. He can move the ball, he is a good passer, he can finish off players, so he is a good addition to our squad.”

Within the months earlier than he joined the Galaxy, Lletget continuously watched MLS video games on SkySports. The extra he watched, the extra he realized it was going to be a great match.

“Coming in, I think I knew the intensity was going to be very, very high,” Lletget mentioned. “I knew the standard within the league was selecting up. You realize from watching the video games that there are some actually, actually good gamers on this league.

“I am just trying to be one of them.”

Given Lletget’s sturdy begin and the arrival of Giovani Dos Santos, the third-place Galaxy are look prone to transfer up within the standings. Actually, something lower than profitable the MLS Cup might be going to be thought-about a disappointment.

And the Galaxy possible gained’t be glad with league success.

No MLS membership has ever gained the CONCACAF Champions League within the fashionable period and the Galaxy need to be the primary. On Thursday will kick off its 2015-16 Champions League marketing campaign in opposition to Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago.

“We want to win the league but also the Champions League that is coming up,” Lletget mentioned. “That’s a giant one for us. Within the eyes of the world, that’s taking a giant step up when you win that. It’s tough to do. You may positively really feel it. We need to take the subsequent step.

“Coming in here, that’s one of the things I’ve noticed. The standard is high. We have players that have won championships and demand a certain standard.”