'LA Galaxy still the clear-cut favorites' - Jalil Anibaba on MLS Cup predictions, Inter Miami hiring Javier Mascherano and MLS's 'disheartening' coaching diversity issue

GOAL: What are your thoughts on the playoffs and the upcoming final?

ANIBABA: The East was a complete whirlwind, it was a completely entertaining one and something that no one would have expected.... As you slide over to the West, you have the Western Conference champions in the LA Galaxy, which a lot of people pegged them as the best team in the West going into the playoffs. A lot of people expected them or LAFC [to go to the MLS Cup final]. What I really loved is not only are the LA Galaxy the best team in the Western Conference, but they've proved it in every single playoff game... They've been dominant on the offensive side, but not a lot of people are talking about their defense. They've given up three playoff goals and scored 16. When that's your goal differential in the playoffs, it's absolutely an amazing accomplishment up to this point

This is going to be a final where you're looking at a potential "fire and ice" situation. Even though Riqui Puig has unfortunately suffered an ACL situation, you still have an LA Galaxy team that has an amazing front set of players that can score goals by the bundles. But you also have an extremely stingy playoff side.

GOAL: Prior to Puig's injury, LA Galaxy were seen as outright favorites for the MLS Cup in the matchup against the Red Bulls. Following it, has that position changed for you?

ANIBABA: It impacts them heavily, but they are still the clear-cut favorites because of so many of their attacking players have been playing at such a high click. You're going to be looking at what does Dejan Joveljić do, because he's been scoring a ton of goals in these playoffs. You look at what does Marco Reus do, what can he contribute on the offensive side and how long does he play? Is he match fit to go the distance. Who really replaces Puig? Is it Diego Fagundez or who else do they trust to trust into that role? Do they change formation? What is this going to look like?

Don't forget about Panstil and Pec, they've been sensational in their respective sides as wingers. I don't think this Galaxy side, as good as they are, are saying "Oh my goodness, we have no way to be dominant as we were during the playoffs without our main man."

GOAL: You brought up Marco Reus. He started off brightly in MLS before having peaks and valleys - does the pressure of being the main playmaker now fall on him?

ANIBABA: It could, but it depends on what [LA manager] Greg Vanney does. It depends on what his physical status is... You could place Reus in Puig's spot and let him float on the ball but, if this is what Vanney does, it would be a different style [than what Puig brings]. Reus tends to float a bit more, trying to find little pockets either a long or on the side of No. 6s on the other side. If you bring in a Fagundez, he has a style that's a little more similar to Puig's style, where he'll drop and be more aggressive to get on the actual ball [compared to] Reus where he will float and try to evade you and pick up the ball up where you don't know where he is until it's a little bit too late.

GOAL: What do you like about the New York Red Bulls? And they will win MLS Cup if....

ANIBABA: What have I liked about the Red Bulls in the playoffs? Everything. [Manager] Sandro Schwarz, every way he's set up his side, it's been great. They switched into a back three system to really throw Columbus off in the first round. Schwarz thought it would be a very good idea as far as tactically matching up well and to be able to be well allocated around the pitch playing against Columbus. It worked... Then they flipped that into "OK what ain't broke. you don't try to go and fix that." They've stayed with the back three and it's very much paid off for them. But what I like the most about the way that they've gone about the playoffs here is that everyone on their team has collectively risen their level. They all seem to be playing on one accord...It's been about the collective and I'm one that I love a good underdog story.

What do they need to do to win the game? It's to continue to rely on their defensive cohesion, their ability to defend, [especially] when the kitchen sink is being thrown at them because best believe they're going to face an LA team that will create chances. Are they able to be prolific on set pieces or can they pick their moments [on attack]? They'll have their fair share chances as well.

GOAL: Is it a big miss that Inter Miami aren't playing in MLS Cup Saturday?

ANIBABA: People thought that it was a foregone conclusion that they were going to make it all the way to the final and, hoist another trophy, but this is exactly why we play the games.

GOAL: What are your thoughts on their hiring of Javier Mascherano?

ANIBABA: Some people are saying that it makes perfect sense. Some people are up in arms about it because of maybe his lack of experience at the first team level. For me, I think you're not bringing a manager in there that Lionel Messi isn't completely comfortable with. And that's why the hire makes a whole lot of sense, at least from the outside looking in. Not only are they former Barcelona teammates for a long time, but obviously, longtime teammates with the national team as well, and, Messi will be an extension of Mascherano on the pitch and vice versa.... Now the question is going to be how quickly does he get on the right side of that learning curve in terms of MLS? And understanding how to manage the other big names in the room as well - which he also has ample experience with as well. So for me, it makes perfect sense.

GOAL: Speaking about teams in L.A., where do you think it went wrong for LAFC this postseason?

ANIBABA: I don't think it went wrong for them, I just think they went up against a Seattle team that a lot of people counted out this playoff run. Seattle did a good job of just frustrating Steve Cherundolo's side. One thing LAFC struggled with this season is how to get behind teams that don't really give you space behind them. They went up against a Seattle team that's the best defensively in the league by far.

GOAL: Why didn't work for Olivier Giroud this season? And did LAFC make the right choice in signing him?

ANIBABA: I think on paper it's an excellent signing. I don't think that we saw the best of Giroud in an LAFC kit and I don't think that that's really too surprising from my standpoint. Typically, there's a transition period for players when they really transition to any league, but especially MLS because the travel's different. The country is much bigger than people realize. it's a different playing style than it may even appear on TV or X, Y, and Z. But you cannot question Olivier Giroud's talent, his ability to potentially continue to contribute to this side.

And LAFC is a team as well that one of the main reasons why they've been one of the best teams we've had in MLS for what, six, seven years since they've been in the league is because they're always a side that is not one-dimensional. They always have a few at least three to five attacking options that can really punish you and typically they have a few defenders that can chip in on the goal scoring as well and that still remains to be the case with them. So I would like to think with a preseason under his belt and the ability to really be comfortable in LA and get himself fully settled, Olivier Giroud should be killing people in no time.

GOAL: Speaking about coaching hires, last season, there were 11 MLS coaching openings -- only one minority in Chris Armas (who is Hispanic) was hired on a permanent deal. This postseason, there have been 12 openings so far and out of the positions that have been filled, only one has gone to a minority candidate in Mascherano (also Hispanic). Considering the diversity on the pitch, what are your thoughts on this?

ANIBABA: I think its a problem for leagues around the world, not just in soccer. Aside from the NBA, which has the proper amount of representation from black coaches. Outside of that, the typical conversation is there aren't enough minority leadership figures in leagues. And definitely the same is true in MLS. So, that's where I stand. That's a fact.

There are so many examples of minorities being completely welcomed through the door as players, but then as soon as you retire, it's like, "Well I don't think you can lead though." I think there are some top level black and minority managers that are available. Whether they get jobs or not, we'll see. It'll be interesting to see how vacancies play out here. This might be a more interesting conversation in late January or February, when preseason starts.

GOAL: OK so if February starts and none of the 12 vacancies are filled by another minority candidate, you would be feeling ... ?

ANIBABA: It's hard to say, but I would say now I would be disheartened. Because the way that I personally look at these things is that the best person should get the job. But too many times you'll see candidates getting jobs that are unequivocally not the best person. Whether its track record, or lack of resume, or etc. Then six to 18 months later, X organization has given a job to a manager who a lot of people knew wasn't up to snuff before they gave him the job and then they have to hit this whole reset.

I think people get things misconstrued, like [saying] people are advocating for minorities to get the job just because of the way a lot of [black] people have been discriminated against... It's not about deserving something you haven't earned. It's that there are plenty of minority candidates who have done the due diligence to put themselves in the conversation and have done way more due diligence than most and they still aren't getting the opportunity.

So it's like, what gives now? I think that distinction is important, from where I'm coming from and where BPC is [that] there are black coaches, and here are other minorities as well, that are viable candidates that are getting overlooked. And it's hard for me to see any other reason other than what they look like and where they come from.

GOAL: Just to provide visibility into those candidates, who do you think deserves a shot to be a MLS coach?

ANIBABA: Robin Fraser would be one that obviously has put in the work not only as a player but as a great player, a Hall of Famer. He also has spent time a lot of time as an assistant coach under very successful managers in Jason Kreis and Greg Vanney, competing for and winning titles. And then taking over the Colorado Rapids and refortifying that organization, as well, for periods of time while he was there, getting them into the playoffs. So I think he's a candidate that could benefit any of the organizations who have vacancies at the moment.

We saw Pa-Modou Kah just recently get the job with Phoenix Rising. I think he is, no pun intended, a rising star in the coaching ranks. I loved what he was able to do under Dean Smith and in Charlotte, and also too his time as a head coach in North Texas and the Vancouver Whitecaps before that. So there's a lot. Ezra Hendrickson, as well, didn't - in my opinion - get a fair shake in Chicago. So, the list continues to go on. You have Khano Smith, whose doing amazing things with Rhode Island FC. Marlon Leblanc is an excellent coach who's just led Philly 2 to an MLS Next Pro Final as well. So, the options are plentiful.

The opportunities to fill some of these spots don't rise all the time, but you noted there have been ample vacancies in MLS in just the last two years.

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