SAN JOSE, Calif. -- LAFC forward Carlos Vela said there is "more to come" after his hat trick fueled a 5-0 demolition of the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
The Mexico international opened his account in the eighth minute, scoring on the easiest of tap-ins after San Jose keeper Daniel Vega fanned on an attempted clearance. After San Jose native Steven Beitashour doubled the visitors' advantage in the 26th minute, Vela increased the lead further just before half-time, redirecting Diego Rossi's low centering feed past Vega.
Vela then completed his hat trick in the 66th minute with a curling effort from 27 yards that left Vega with no chance. Rossi completed the scoring two minutes later.
"[San Jose] played one-against-one the whole field," said Vela. "We have quick guys in the middle and in attack. We found spaces, we found good moments to counter-attack. We controlled the game. I think it was a really good game for the whole team. We are really happy about that. It's just the start. We have to keep working."
Vela took his tally for the season to six goals, along with three assists, as LAFC have collected a league-best 13 points from five matches. LAFC manager Bob Bradley added that the team has built on the success of last year in terms of finding Vela in good spots.
"This year [Vela has] had such a good way of moving," said Bradley. "Instead of just coming back for every ball, he's found a really good balance between being on the move more and I think as a team we've done a better job finding ways to get him moving forward and that's very important."
Vela appears to be enjoying himself and his willingness to track back and help out defensively has endeared him to his teammates.
"[Vela is] a special player, but more importantly he's a special person. I think everyone in that locker room honestly loves him," said Beitashour. "He's like one of the guys, one of the boys. He's out there, he works hard, he's out there defending, chasing guys down. It's not like one of the players who sit up, cherry-pick, and let everyone else do the work for him. He's battling with us, and we're definitely still happy to have him on our side."
Beitashour added, "If [Vela] keeps this up, he should win MVP."
Bradley has been showing Vela clips of Barcelona star Lionel Messi, and while some heat was directed the manager's way for the comparison, it's been his way of trying to get more out of Vela after an inaugural season in MLS that saw him score 14 goals along with 13 assists.
"Look, I'm not stupid. Messi's the best player I've ever seen in my life," said Bradley. "But Carlos needs to be challenged at the top level. He gets it. He enjoys the football that we play. He has really enjoyed having a bigger leadership role and I think it shows every time he steps on the field."
Vela has taken Bradley's encouragement in the right way.
"I always worked to be the best player," Vela said. "Of course, when I was in Spain, we had Messi, we had Cristiano [Ronaldo] and it was impossible to be the best. But here, I feel like I'm in a good level. I still have a good feeling. I know I can be one of the best in this league, so I'm trying to show that every game."
When asked to rate his form at the moment, Vela added: "Very good, one of the best. But I still have more. There's more to come."