CARSON, Calif. — A new coach has arrived for reeling Chivas USA, but two key contributors appear to be headed out of town.
Barring any last-minute changes, midfielders Eric Avila and Giovani Casillas are bound for sister club Guadalajara, sporting president Dennis te Kloese told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday following new manager José Luis Real’s introductory press conference.
“We’re basically evaluating the futures of two players, Giovani Casillas and Eric Avila,” te Kloese said. “It would be an enormous boost for both Chivas USA and MLS if either one or both players ended up winning a roster spot in a club like Guadalajara.”
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Avila and Casillas did not travel with Chivas USA to Carolina for Wednesday’s US Open Cup tournament matchup against the RailHawks. They stayed in town to train with Guadalajara, who arrived in Los Angeles earlier this month as part of their preseason training ahead of the Liga MX 2013 Apertura season.
When asked how likely it is that both Avila and Casillas will stick with Guadalajara, te Kloese was blunt.
“It’s pretty likely,” he said.
An announcement is expected in the coming days.
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Avila, 25, has a goal and two assists, and ranks third on the squad with 11 shots while having played in all 13 matches this season after being acquired from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Nick LaBrocca in January. Avila is Mexican-American and has represented the US at the youth level.
Casillas, 19, was acquired on loan from Guadalajara prior to the season. He has a goal in five matches.
“We need to go over a few things because obviously there’s all kinds of administrative obstacles,” te Kloese said. “But based on their soccer evaluation, it’s been very positive.”
