Gastón Brugman's 2023 Season Cut Short LA Galaxy's Next Steps

 Gastón Brugman's 2023 Season Cut Short LA Galaxy's Next Steps

Gastón Brugman's 2023 Season Cut Short LA Galaxy's Next Steps(Image-Getty)

LA Galaxy's midfielder Gastón Brugman's 2023 season has come to an abrupt halt following a successful surgical procedure to mend a torn meniscus in his left knee. The announcement was made by the club on Monday.

Looking ahead, the Galaxy will resume their MLS campaign with a match against Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park on August 20th, scheduled for 10:30 pm ET as part of the MLS Season Pass.

Original Report on July 29th - The LA Galaxy is facing a string of injury-related setbacks.

Head coach and sporting director, Greg Vanney, disclosed on Friday that Gastón Brugman, their central midfielder, is set for a period of recovery after suffering a meniscus tear during their recent Leagues Cup game against Liga MX side Club León.

Vanney described the injury as occurring without direct contact and anticipates more information will be available after Brugman, an experienced Uruguayan player, undergoes knee surgery early next week.

"Unfortunately, we are losing a valuable player in an unexpected situation," Vanney expressed. "It's just one of those things that happen, and we empathize with him. Hopefully, when they assess the situation, it won't be a major tear. Ideally, it's a minor one that can be addressed, allowing us to move forward."

Impact on the Galaxy

The 2023 season has brought about the third significant setback for LA, with starter Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez suffering a torn ACL in early June, and center back Martín Cáceres out of action since late June due to a knee injury of his own.

Brugman, aged 30, has been a constant presence in the Galaxy's midfield since joining in July 2022 from Italian side Parma. He has managed to score five goals and provide three assists in 36 games, 35 of which he started. His presence in the center-midfield alongside Mark Delgado and Riqui Puig has formed a robust trio. Additionally, Brugman has taken on the role of LA's captain following Chicharito's injury.

In light of the Brugman setback, Vanney emphasized the importance of squad depth and the need for other players to step up.

"In this kind of situation, in the short-term, the next player in line needs to step in and fulfill the position's responsibilities," Vanney stated. "However, they don't need to replicate Gastón's style. They just need to be themselves, have confidence in the system, and trust in our approach."

Looking Ahead

Following the conclusion of the Leagues Cup, the LA Galaxy aims to recover from a slow start to their 2023 season. The storied club currently occupies the 13th spot in the Western Conference table, trailing seven points behind the pace required for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with 12 games left in the season.

The team's pursuit of new recruits is somewhat constrained due to ongoing transfer sanctions, which only permit the signing of domestic players before the Secondary Transfer Window closes on August 2nd. However, after that date and before the Roster Freeze Date (September 15th), they will have the opportunity to sign free agents from overseas. The Athletic's Tom Bogert has reported that the Galaxy is set to secure the services of Japanese center back Maya Yoshida.