The Philadelphia Union is ready to make their MLS Cup debut on Saturday after triumphing in the Eastern Conference.
The workforce concluded the common season in first place with 67 factors in 34 video games and a document of 19W-5L-10D, earlier than conquering reigning champions New York City FC and FC Cincinnati in the playoffs to achieve the coveted closing. But the stress is on as LAFC enter Saturday’s match as the clear favorites, after clinching their second Supporters’ Shield and managing 21 victories.
Though Union ahead Daniel Gazdag expects a tough match at the Banc of California Stadium, he insists the present Philadelphia workforce has what it takes.
“We have a really good team. The chemistry is very good between the coaches and the players, between Jim and everything. And we have good players, which is very important in this game. We have an amazing goalkeeper, and defense, one Defender of the Year. The staff here, they built a really good team. Everything is working well between the players and coaches.”
Gazdag is presently in his second season in Major League Soccer, after becoming a member of from Budapest Honvéd FC in 2021. Though he struggled that yr, he has since tailored properly to Jim Curtin’s type, permitting him to thrive in the closing third.
He recorded 22 targets and 6 assists, numbers he didn’t even count on from himself.
“I wouldn’t say I expected more than 22 goals from myself. I wanted to score more than 10 goals and give more than 10 assists, so yeah I was happy but also a bit surprised of myself,” he mentioned with a smile. “Jim Curtin, and the tactics we play, his ideas, I feel like I fit into that system really well. And on the personal side, he’s helped me a lot since I arrived here.”
Now, Gazdag will face his greatest check but since becoming a member of MLS.
The two groups final confronted one another in May, throughout the common season. Gazdag opened up the scoring in the ninth minute to earn the lead, earlier than the recreation ultimately concluded in a 2-2 draw. But from what the Union ahead remembers from that match, the upcoming face off is sure to be as tense.
“My expectations,” he paused. “I think we can play a very good game against LAFC. They have a good team, just like us. We played against them one time, during the regular season, and that was a tense and tough game I remember. So I expect It’ll be really tough as well, but I think we will win.”
The Philadelphia Union stand only one victory away from making workforce historical past with their first-ever league title.