Too Much Fire, Not Enough Shield: The Emiro Garcés Conundrum
An examination of why Emiro Garces has yet to become an elite MLS center back
After becoming an instrumental player and putting up an MVP-level performance in the LA Galaxy’s 2024 MLS Cup Final victory, the 2025 season looked like the year where Emiro Garcés could establish himself as one of the best center backs in MLS.
2025 has seen Garcés deal with consistency issues and hasn’t taken that next step in his development to become an elite center back in MLS.
The LA Galaxy’s 2-1 road loss to San Diego FC brought the Colombian to the forefront with his poor clearance that led to the game-winner for the home side. An awkward clearance led to Lozano getting the game-winning goal while Garcés watched the ball float into the back of the net.
“Emiro is sauntering up trying to catch his breath, I don't know but he wasn't engaged and focused on the play and the switched pass, it just becomes just a series of events of just bad decisions, not prepared, bad decision, and then the snowball just rolls down and builds momentum and finding the back of the net,” said Head Coach Greg Vanney postgame.
“We give it away at the end and suffer from what could have been a solid road performance on the end. It's disappointing.”
The LA Galaxy is yet to win a game and record a clean sheet through 15 MLS regular-season matches. Garcés isn’t completely at fault for this record, but his inability to take a leap in his development has been a storyline for a good portion of the season.
Here is a look at what is causing the Colombian to have consistency issues and why teams have begun targeting him on the backline. The talent is undoubtedly there for Garcés to be considered among the best defenders in the States.
What makes Garcés such an interesting player is his aggressiveness combined with his physical tools. He doesn’t get into crunching tackles but rather is committed to one player’s movement, which leads to moments of vulnerability on the backline.
Against LAFC, the Colombian tracks Denis Bouanga’s wide run aggressively, which leads to Nathan Ordaz finding a lane in the box to receive the ball and score.
Yoshida and Garcés start the sequence very compact, but Garcés is pulled by a run from Bouanga. Yamane isn’t actively covering the wide space, but Bouanga is running wide, not directly to goal. If the ball is played to Bounaga, he’ll be closer to the corner flag than the goal. In that moment, there is no need to follow Bounaga aggressively and break away from Yoshida.
Bounga allows for the space in behind to open for Ordaz. He is able to beat Yoshida as he runs to the space while Garces is still working on tracking Bounaga.
Garcés turns around, and Ordaz has already beaten Yoshida and has a clean look at the goal. LAFC goes up 2-1, and Garces’ aggression is taken full advantage of.
“Garcés [is] an aggressive guy so he's always looking to step. So obviously behind is going to happen, and there was like a little moment of that in the first half where Denis tried to play it,” said Ordaz to reporters after the game.
Vanney's defensive structure depends on players taking up their opponent's space and avoiding direct threats to the goal. Garcés’ tendency to wander out of position and break the center back line can be costly on occasions.
Another example comes from LA’s 7-0 loss to the Red Bulls. The Galaxy plays in a back three to start the match, and thus, there is a need for good communication and awareness of space. In this clip, Garcés drifts to follow a runner who is not heading toward the goal, and it allows for Emil Forsberg to finish a one-on-one chance.
Following the LA Galaxy’s 1-1 draw to the Portland Timbers in March, Vanney told reporters explicitly that Garcés was dropped in favor of Zanka “because he's more under control and he's more involved” compared to the Colombian.
“I want him to grow and understand the positional responsibilities, the priorities, how playing next to somebody, all the things that are, I think, details that are going to be important for him to continue to improve as a player, and for him to be able to reach the next level of what he's able to do. These are things that I want from Emi, and he's aware of that,” added Vanney.
Garcés can be a boom or bust player with his decision-making at times. Teams are noting that he can drift away and create openings in the backline. That’s not ideal for a team that looks to be in control of games, but when the Colombian is on it defensively, he is quite the rock in the backline.
Garcés still shows moments of brilliance when defending in the open field on the wings. His pace when defending is in the upper echelon of the league and is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the most dynamic wingers.
Vanney tasks Garces to play as a right-sided center back as part of a back three, which allows him to use his speed to cover ground if LA is under pressure. This role is perfect for Garces to show his defensive skills when matched up with attackers in open space.
In this clip, Garces is looking forward to marking Bounaga and does well to get him off the ball in open space. The Colombian is able to quickly adjust his body when Bounaga cuts inside and pokes the ball out to win possession back for the Galaxy.
Aside from his blunder at the end of the match, Garces had some solid moments defensively for the Galaxy. The aggressiveness was still there, but in a more calculated manner that was an asset for the Galaxy.
In this clip, Garces anticipates Luca de la Torre receiving the ball and quickly jumps to press him. He’s able to poke the ball away from the American midfielder and ruins San Diego’s opportunity to get possession in the final third. This play shows the positive side of his aggressiveness - being a destroyer who can win back the ball.
Open space is where Garces is at his best, which is why Vanney makes him play on the outside rather than being in the middle of the pitch. Garces is able to make quick work of Anibal Godoy in a one-on-one situation. He easily wins the ball, and Godoy fouls Garces right after he loses the duel.
These flashes have been present all season long, and there is no doubt about the talent that the young center back possesses.
In order to become elite in your position you need to not only shine when on the ball but also in how you read the game. Garcés needs to be more controlled and calculated in order for him to grow tactically and help the Galaxy backline as it searches for its first clean sheet of the season.