CARSON, Calif. — It’s getting to be a familiar scenario for Romain Alessandrini and the LA Galaxy.
The club announced on Friday the talented Frenchman will be out until at least September after he underwent successful meniscus root repair in his left knee.
Alessandrini, who has totaled 24 goals and 21 assists since signing with the club in January of 2017, also has missed 15 regular-season matches, a figure that will grow substantially with his latest extended absence only adding to a Major League Soccer career that has been plagued by various injuries.
“It’s a big blow,” goalkeeper David Bingham said Friday as the team prepared to face Real Salt Lake on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park (5 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet). “It’s unfortunate, but the next guy’s got to be up and ready to go.”
Alessandrini suffered the injury during the Galaxy’s recent 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo. Emmanuel Boateng started in his place in last weekend’s scoreless draw in Minnesota, although Chris Pontius is another candidate to be in the lineup on the wing.
Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese said he was hopeful Alessandrini will have a speedy recovery.
“Everyone knows what Romain means to our club,” he said. “First of all, he’s a very, very good guy who’s part of the team and unlucky so far this season.
“We need to be very, very supportive and helpful on his rehab so we can obviously re-integrate him this season and take part at the end of the season.”
Alessandrini’s absence to an already offensively-challenged team – just 13 goals in eight matches – could force te Kloese to bring in another player prior to the closing of the current FIFA transfer window which ends May 7, but he wouldn’t go that far.
“To be honest, we were already scouting,” he told reporters. “We’ve looked at offensive pieces because, as you know, with Ola (Kamara) leaving (for China) just before the season, obviously Giovani (dos Santos) parting, our needs have been partly offensively.
“With everything that went into those moves, we were able to create some possibilities in the midfield with Joe Corona, with Giancarlo (Gonzalez) coming in. And I think it’s part of the puzzle that you’re trying to create here to be strengthening everything.
“But an offensive piece before this transfer window ends,” he continued,“ would be very welcome, yes.”
Galaxy head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto said he was optimistic his team can compensate for the loss of Alessandrini.
“We know what we are losing,” he said, “but we are confident with our other players.”
Schelotto also said he wasn’t sure if his strategic decisions will change with the Frenchman unable to play.
“I don’t know,” he said. “He’s very important for us, a DP (designated player). But we need to figure out what to do with other players and make some different tactics.
“We are in a fight.”