Galaxy’s Edwin Cerrillo thriving in new start after trade
Edwin Cerrillo underwent a big career move when he was traded by FC Dallas to the Galaxy in August.
Cerrillo was an FC Dallas Homegrown player, making his professional debut at the age of 18 in 2019.
“Last year, I think I came in with a little bit of nervousness coming to a bigger team,” said Cerrillo, who had joined the FC Dallas Academy at 15. “The change happened so fast, I was comfortable where I was, I kind of had to get used to the change.
“I knew everybody there, from top to bottom, I’m 23 now and it feels like I’ve been in the league for awhile. Making that big move was a big deal for me, but it’s time for me to grow. It’s been good coming to L.A.”
The defensive midfielder made 11 appearances with the Galaxy last season, but returned in the preseason with a more in-tuned approach.
“Coming into this preseason, I felt like I got a new start and got a fresh shot at another year,” he said. “I think that’s been the key.”
With Gaston Brugman recovering from injury, Cerrillo has stepped up. He’s started the first four games, playing 310 minutes, heading into Saturday’s game on the road against Sporting Kansas City (5:30 p.m., Apple TV+).
Cerrillo’s contract was extended this offseason by the Galaxy for three years with two options, adding some stability.
“It gives me a sense of security, first of all,” Cerrillo said. “I’m happy that I’m here in a good environment, good team and grateful to be part of it.”
Cerrillo’s arrival came right around the time of Brugman’s injury last season. Brugman was lost for the remainder of the year following an ACL injury.
“Last year, when he arrived, we really liked his skill-set, he’s a really, very good athlete, covers ground, clean with the ball,” Vanney said. “I think he just needed to settle in to a new environment. He’d been in Dallas for a long time and now he’s at a big club, new environment and I think some of it, this year, is having that experience of last year coming into the group. But he continues to learn his craft and where to position himself in certain moments to be supportive of the center backs when we’re building and in possession, but also still being aware of where Riqui (Puig) dropping down and what spots he’s finding to try to balance. That got a little messed up in the last game.
“I think he’s (Cerrillo) really develop a feel for his teammates, his role and that understanding of what we need from within our group from that defensive midfield position, then he brings all of his attributes to the game that are very helpful, power, speed to cover in transition moments. He doesn’t have the desire, which is really important for a defensive midfielder, to want to be involved in attacks and want to be moving forward. He’s very comfortable in what his role is to sit, protect the center backs, recover balls and stop plays in transition.”
At some point, there might be a tough decision for Vanney to make regarding who starts: Cerrillo or Brugman.
“Depending on how we want to set up, Gaston right now, we’re working him getting used to playing sometimes a little higher up the field,” Vanney said. “We know we can use him at times in a lower position. Sometimes maybe we’ll play in a double pivot where the two of them will sit together. The thing is right now, we’re playing one game a week, so it is guys, if they’re in form, have been able to stay on the field, for the most part.
“We know we need to get guys going and get the rest of the group moving because we’re six weeks away from starting to play multiple games in a week where you need to have rotation. We know Gaston brings a lot of quality to our group and Eddie (Cerrillo) has brought us some nice stability … it’s a good thing to have, another midfielder and a group that has been very solid the last couple of years.”
Galaxy at Sporting KC
When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
TV: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)