Gaston Brugman, a midfielder with the LA Galaxy, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Tuesday’s Leagues Cup loss to Club Leon, 1–0.

When things seemed to be looking up for the Galaxy, a major setback struck. Until the 30-year-old midfielder has surgery next week to repair a torn meniscus, head coach and sports director Greg Vanney will not know how long he will be without the player.

“Unfortunately, we lose an important player in a situation that isn’t much of a situation,” remarked Vanney.

It’s the way things are, unfortunately, so our sympathies are with him, and we pray that the tear isn’t too severe when the doctors examine him. I’m crossing my fingers that it’s a little problem that can be easily fixed and we can go on.

Since 2023, Los Angeles has had a string of bad luck with injuries, losing attacker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez for the year with a ruptured ACL and defense Martin Caceres with a knee injury.

Los Angeles’ season trajectory can be partially attributed to player absences due to injury.

In the meanwhile, Vanney said, “It’s one of those situations where the next man needs to step in and fulfill the obligations of the position, but in the way that that player plays the position. He doesn’t have to act like Gaston; he simply has to be himself and have faith in the system and in what we’re doing.

At the moment, Vanney can count on Efrain Alvarez, Marco Delgado, and Riqui Puig to carry the load in the Galaxy’s midfield.

The squad is currently ranked dead last in Leagues Cup Group C and needs a victory against the Vancouver Whitecaps to advance. Prior to the interleague break, the Western Conference powerhouses had fallen to 13th place in MLS.