Walker Zimmerman: LAFC “chasing trophies” from the start

Speaking to the press at the U.S. Men’s National Team camp in Carson this week, Los Angeles Football Club defender Walker Zimmerman said the club is not coming out like a traditional expansion club, just hoping to compete.

“I think we’re chasing championships, we’re chasing trophies and that’s something we want to be very clear about up front,” Zimmerman told a group of reporters. “We aren’t coming in as an expansion team hoping to compete, we hope to dominate.”

He said it was important to want more than just to make the playoffs and that the team’s mentality will reflect one of not being satisfied with just that.

“If the standard is making the playoffs, we want more,” Zimmerman said. “I mean, we want to win the MLS Cup, we want to win the Open Cup, the Supporter’s Shield … I don’t think we want to set a goal too low.”

LAFC acquired Zimmerman in December from FC Dallas for $250,000 in General Allocation Money along with $250,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and the top Allocation Order spot. The trade was the first for LAFC in MLS.

Individually, Zimmerman said his goal was to “take every opportunity seriously,” referring to his call to the USMNT camp.

“For this year, I don’t want to set any goal too low, I want to make it attainable but something that I’m chasing for,” Zimmerman said. “For me, on an individual level, I mean, it would be getting called in to each and every camp.”

Zimmerman, 24, was drafted by FC Dallas out of Furman University in 2013 and he received his first USMNT call-up in January 2017. He debuted against Jamaica. This marks his second call to the national team.

“It’s exciting. There’s a lot of talent here, a lot of young guys here and every time you wear this jersey it’s an opportunity to impress … an opportunity to grow as a player and make new friends,” Zimmerman said.

The U.S. will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at 4:30 pm PT on Jan. 28 at the StubHub Center.

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