LOS ANGELES -- LAFC striker Marco UreƱa remained on the field following a first-half, bone-crushing collision with Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the grand opening of Banc of California Stadium last month.
But after the club revealed on May 1 that the Costa Rican international would require surgery that would likely keep him out until after he returns from World Cup duty, there were already questions whether the expansion side could continue to produce at their blistering offensive pace. Those have grown louder following a 1-1 home draw against FC Dallas last weekend.
āFrom the beginning of the year, weāve tried to establish different attacking ideas,ā Bradley said on Tuesday. āI thought overall against Dallas our ideas were very good. We created a lot of chances, didnāt take them all well, [but] sometimes that happens in football.ā
Many of those ideas revolve around Mexican international Carlos Vela, who had been playing behind Urena in LAFC's set up before the injury.
āWhen you use Carlos in a different role without a main striker in front of him [there are] ideas of how he moves," Bradley said. "Is he still in the right moments close enough to goal that when things develop heās where we need him to be?ā
Bradley will hope the answers come quickly, as Minnesota United come to town Wednesday (10 pm ET | Full TV & streaming info) on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Vancouver, where The Loons had to play down a man for nearly half the match.
Without UreƱa and until primary window deadline signing Adama DiomandƩ arrives, other players have stepped up in different ways to help the side cope.
"Marco is fundamental for us,ā midfielder Eduard Atuesta told reporters in Spanish Tuesday. āBut [Saturday] we demonstrated several things well to create good football until he comes back."
After being handed his first start against Dallas, the 20-year-old Atuesta is a piece of the ever-evolving puzzle that is LAFCās starting XI. The midfielder, who has captained Colombiaās U20 side, has flown under the radar after making a move to Los Angeles from MedellĆn early in preseason.
āEverybody came in following the [Dallas] match feeling like we played well, but that we should have won,ā said Bradley of the teamās attitude this week. āEveryone says, āLook Iām ready I feel good, letās keep going.āā
Meanwhile, just because UreƱa won't be available doesn't mean his influence won't be felt around the club following his surgery.
āIt went great,ā Bob Bradley said of the operation. ā[UreƱa's] been around, his mentality is still front and center. Heās such a good guy. Now itās just giving [the injury] time to heal.ā