After runaway MLS Golden Boot leader and early MVP frontrunner Carlos Vela was fouled eight times in LAFC's 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers, head coach Bob Bradley was not happy.
Despite the win, Bradley sounded off in attempt to protect his star, who he feels is getting unfair treatment.
“We’re not naive. We understand that teams are going to have a hard way to play against us, are going to try to make it hard,” Bradley said. “[But] when’s the last time you saw [Lionel] Messi get mauled the way Carlos got mauled tonight? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game where Messi got mauled like that."
Does Bradley have a point? Is Vela being unfairly targeted?
Vela has been fouled second-most in MLS this season (47), behind only Nico Lodeiro (56), but he isn't atop the fouls per 90 minutes list, minimum 500 minutes.
Player |
Fouls per 90 |
Minutes |
|---|---|---|
Sebastian Saucedo |
4.29 |
587 |
Nico Lodeiro |
4.06 |
1,242 |
Ezequiel Barco |
3.55 |
557 |
Paxton Pomykal |
3.53 |
688 |
Jacori Hayes |
3.49 |
567 |
Pedro Santos |
3.33 |
1,243 |
Sam Nicholson |
3.29 |
520 |
Latif Blessing |
3.21 |
1,288 |
Maxi Moralez |
3.04 |
948 |
Carlos Vela |
2.96 |
1,429 |
Last season, Vela was 5th in total fouls (80) and 9th in fouls per 90 minutes (2.92), with Lodeiro tied atop both lists.
Will Bradley's words change how Vela is monitored by referees?
