Galaxy Brass, Greg Vanney, and Will Kuntz face the unique and disruptive challenge of building a team around Riqui Puig. Not even Lionel Messi creates space for his team while on the ball, like Puig.
At his best, Puig beats all nearby defenders with deception and a burst of acceleration that opens up multiple opportunities for his team to exploit space. By contrast, Messi moves the ball in ways that exploit the space his teammates already control or are about to control. Both Messi and Puig can deliver a quick pass to an opportunistic runner. Both possess a clear mental vision of the entire field.
Whereas Messi makes it easier for his teammates to combine with him, Puig presents a steeper learning curve. Until Puig bursts past the defenders, it isn’t clear what spaces will open up and what kind of off-the-ball run to make. Even before Puig receives the ball, his runners must anticipate the spaces and sprint as soon as they become available.
Commentators don’t always emphasize the importance of well-shaped off-the-ball runs. Optimally, a diagonal run requires a straight pass, and a straight run requires a diagonal pass. A pass to feet should be hard, while passes to space need to be perfectly timed and weighted. Puig usually picks the right pass, but his mates often fail to set their feet for a first touch, run straight instead of diagonal, or vice versa. In some games this year, the Galaxy wasted exceptional moves by Puig because they did not see the opportunities quickly enough.
To compound matters, Puig carries the ball while running at top speed. At times, he accelerates away from defenders. His teammates cannot simply wander into position. They must sprint. At the same time, they must read the spaces and make appropriate runs. More often than not, Puig bursts past defenders only to cut the ball back to wait for late runs.
Finally, Puig’s unique skills make it imperative that players off the ball exhibit discipline. Not every player can move into position to receive a pass because Puig’s ability to leave defenders behind him puts the opponent in position for a numbers-up counterattack if the Galaxy lose the ball. In 2023, Vanney frequently pointed out how the Galaxy lost the ball in front of the defense, making them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
To play a possession game, the Galaxy must keep the formation compressed from front to back so they can open up width. They must advance and retreat together when Puig does his thing. That may give him fewer options, but intelligent early runs can make additional options unnecessary.
Kuntz and Vanney must get their signings just right. They must be fast enough to threaten behind the defense, disciplined enough to move forward and back with the team, and possess a high enough soccer IQ to anticipate what Puig will do. Vanney must solidify a defensive back six — defenders and defensive midfielders — to manage transitions long enough for wingers to track back and help out.
If Kuntz finds and signs the right players, and Vanney develops team coordination, the Galaxy can magnify the Puig effect, striking quickly while controlling the game with possession.