#CREATEADVENT 02 - The MLS

Behind door number 2, MLS is hiding, as usual, we look at the Team to Watch and two Players to Watch (one of them U23)! In the main round of the season, Los Angeles FC only finished 9th in the Western Conference, which meant finishing behind city rivals LA Galaxy, missing the playoffs and the end of the season. The team of former national coach Bob Bradley, full of South Americans, performed outstandingly with a view in to the data, was very creative especially in the attacking third and was eager to finish (Arango with 14 goals), but clearly conceded too many goals due to the weak defence around keeper Blackman. In addition, superstar Diego Rossi (to Fenerbahce in September) could not be replaced.

Our Player to Watch is the German wing-back of the capital city club DC United, who missed the play-offs despite an outstanding season of the 27-year-old. Gressel contributed 9 assists, was a constant source of trouble, especially with his many accurate crosses, and provided the second most crosses in the entire league - only Revolution playmaker Carles Gil created more goal-scoring chances this season!

From Argentina to Chile at a young age, later to Uruguay and then to New York City FC in 2019 for just €450,000 - 23-year-old centre-forward Valentin Castellanos' career is really taking off via a few detours. Castellanos has been convincing throughout his career with his many accurate shots, but he has been far too wasteful with his chances. Recently, however, he was able to snatch the MLS top scorer's golden ball thanks to 19 goals in the main season - in the Conference Final against Philadelphia he will be suspended due to a red card.

CREATEFOOTBALL Solutions is a football consultancy that uses its know-how in the field of data scouting to provide national and international professional football clubs with strategic and holistic advice on squad planning and also cooperates with consulting agencies and media companies. More information at:?www.createfootball.com/en/