Carlos Vela doesn't speak often but when he does, it's always worth a listen.
This week, he joined Jordan Harvey and LAFC CBO Larry Freedman on their Shootin' The Shot podcast. The hour-plus conversation with the reigning MLS MVP and Golden Boot Winner had its fair share of interesting moments - Vela jabbing Harvey for his conduct at a craps table has to be one of the funnier Black & Gold stories ever told.
But there was plenty about Vela's life that we'd never heard before. Harvey and Freedman covered Vela's career from the U17 World Cup with Mexico to his time in England and all the back to Los Angeles. If you listen to the episode you get a much better sense for what Vela is like around his teammates and why he insists on making his own choices when it comes to his career and his happiness.
Here are 5 takeaways from Vela's time on Shootin' The Shot:
It's A Girl!
Bombshell announcement right off the top.
After Harvey and Freedman congratulate Vela on his two-year wedding anniversary and the announcement of a new baby on the way, the guys talk whether its a boy or a girl.
Obviously, an announcement of the gender of the baby on the podcast would be a big get. And Vela knows it.
"Money! You have to send me the check before I answer that question," Vela says.
But Vela makes an immediate reversal. He just can't hold it in.
"I want a girl," Vela says. "And I have a girl."
Fabregas Mentors Vela
It's not often you hear players of Vela's stature speaking about the players that helped them along the way.
In speaking about his time acclimating to joining a big club like Arsenal fresh from the U17 World Cup, Vela mentions Spanish international Cesc Fabregas as one of the people that tried to look after him in London.
"The guy that was always with me and trying to help was [Cesc] Fabregas," Vela said. "Because he is a Spanish guy, same language. He was always trying to say things to be a better player."
London Just Wasn't For Vela
Despite the help from Fabregas, it was clear London just wasn't the place for Vela.
"For sure, cut London," Vela said during a round of Start, Bench, Cut.
Pressed by Harvey to explain a little more, Vela didn't sugarcoat it.
"I wake up, it was dark. I come back from training, it was dark. I take a lunch, it was dark."
The London weather definitely isn't for everybody.
Harvey Gets An Assist On MLS Goals Record
In 2019, Vela set a new record for goals in a single season in MLS with 34. But did you know it was almost derailed?
The guys share the story of the unfortunate situation following LAFC's Supporters' Shield celebrations. Evidently, Vela's boots were stolen that night. Professional footballers have no shortage of options in boots but these were Vela's lucky boots. The boots he'd scored all 30 of his 34 goals with to that point.
"I promise you, if I don't score any more goals, I kill somebody. I promise you," Vela said. "Because I use the same boots all season. I was just scoring goals, goals, goals."
But luckily, Harvey comes to the rescue.
The LAFC defender helped Vela pick out a new pair of black boots. As Vela puts it, Harvey always had black boots. So, he asked where he could get his own pair. As luck would have it, Vela found a pair he liked but was still skeptical.
"I bought the shoes but I said, 'it can't be the same,' this boot that I bought on the internet. It doesn't have the magic," Vela said. "But lucky for you, for me, and for everybody else, they continued the legacy and we scored more goals and broke the record."
Vela went on to say he continues to wear the boots to this day.
Nothing Beats The 3252
The start of every LAFC match begins with the announcement of the starting XI. Like many teams, LAFC will announce the player's first name and the crowd will shout it back. And without a doubt, there's one player's name that's louder than the rest.
Obviously, this city loves its captain. But how does Vela feel about the adoration he receives from the LAFC fans and the 3252 at matches? He may not be as loud but the love is mutual.
"I appreciate the love you make, the atmosphere you create in the stadium," Vela said of the 3252. "All the things you make, they are a really important part of what LAFC is. They make it special every game at home. They sometimes push us to be a better team. And sometimes, they win the game."
