Christian Ramirez Ready to Begin LA Galaxy Chapter and Adjust to New Role in the Attack
Christian Ramirez’s career has taken him across many different experiences, from being the face of Minnesota United as it joined MLS, stints at LAFC and Houston Dynamo, a turbulent experience across the pond with Abredden in Scotland, and becoming an MLS Champion with Columbus Crew.
Now, he gets to experience being able to play with his childhood club back in his native Southern California.
Ahead of Sunday’s clash against San Diego FC, Ramirez told reporters he was excited to start this new chapter of his career.
“I never knew that this opportunity would present itself, and I'm grateful for it. Growing up in Southern California, watching this club since I was little, so it's a dream come true to be able to put these colors up,” said the 33-year-old striker.
This opportunity to play for the Galaxy may have never come had Ramirez pulled the trigger on a transfer that would’ve sent him to Colombia. The transfer to a Colombian team was in the final stages, but the offer from the Galaxy came, and Ramirez described the option to represent the reigning MLS Cup Champions as a “no-brainer.”
“I've done really well these last two years to put myself in this situation where a club of this stature would come after me, and I'm grateful for that,” said Ramirez. The Garden Grove native recorded 22 goal contributions in 55 appearances for the Columbus Crew in the last two seasons. He was a key part of Colombus’ run to winning the 2023 MLS Cup - including scoring the winning goal in the 115th minute of extra time of the Eastern Conference Final.
Returning to SoCal has given Ramirez a sense of familiarity and comfort ahead of the upcoming season. As a new player on the team, Ramirez has continued to mesh well with his new teammates and the coaching staff.
“Christian is just a great guy who has the background, knows our league, comes from down the street, but also, just as a human, he's just seamlessly slipped into our team as if he had been here for a year or two years,” said Head Coach Greg Vanney following Friday’s training session.
The 33-year-old striker is going to have to adjust to a different set of demands with the Galaxy compared to his time with the Crew. Ramirez tended to drift into the half-spaces and play underneath strikers Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi. There were a few moments when Ramirez played as a traditional striker as he was tasked to provide more link-up play than finish-off possessions.
“I want him to shift his mindset over, to make sure that he's arriving into goal-scoring and finishing positions,” said Vanney. “That he's not getting caught up trying to connect with the group and build up moments or in possession moments and then not making his way to the front of the goal.”
The preseason for Ramirez has been about trying to adjust to this change of system and be in tune with the playstyle Vanney is asking out of him. The Coachella Valley Invitational was about learning the tendencies of his teammates but also getting into the habit of playing as the focal striker.
“Just different vocabulary and different spots on the field, but also just switching my mindset a little bit in the attacking third to put myself in more situations, to find the back of that and less about linking up,” said Ramirez when asked how his conversations with Vanney have gone during the preseason.
“[Vanney'] has been very patient, very helping in certain areas. So I'm thankful for that and everything that you hear about him off the field as a competitor, coming back in and now playing under him. It's true, he's very smart and savvy tactically, so it'll be fun.”
The Galaxy will celebrate their 2024 Championship on Sunday night, but Ramirez hopes to be part of the group that adds the next piece of silverware to the club’s name.
“I know that there's a lot of great players here, and so for me, it's just about doing my part and helping them achieve more - hopefully lifting some silverware.”