Oscar Pareja says he will not "interfere" with Orlando City's energy ahead of their meeting with the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference final.
Orlando will play in the conference final for the first time after edging to a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United in the semifinals last Saturday.
Their impressive defensive record has carried them through the playoffs so far, with a penalty shootout defeat their only blot during the playoffs so far.
With just one game standing between them and the MLS Cup final, Pareja is confident his team have all the motivation they need to come out on top at Inter & Co Stadium on Saturday.
"We have tried this week to stay concentrated on our responsibility and the opportunity that we have," Pareja told reporters.
"We're very proud that the group has achieved this for the club and fans, but we're eager to go for much more than that. The boys are ready, so I try not to interfere too much.
"We don't need to do anything different. It's the most important [game], but I hope I can say this after the next game when there's another one that's more important.
Meanwhile, New York are playing their sixth conference final after beating local rivals New York City FC 2-0 in the semifinals last week.
The Red Bulls came from behind after losing their first playoff game to Columbus Crew at home, but they have impressed on the road, winning both games so far.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz is expecting a tough test in Orlando and is keen to cut out some of the sloppiness he has seen during the postseason.
"We have to play more clean, like the first half against NYCFC, to not think too much about the big moments," he said.
"We have to play with a more clear direction to the goal with our transition moments. That's necessary.
"We know about the quality of Orlando, and we need the same intensity and behaviour in our pressing to be strong."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando City – Ramiro Enrique
Ramiro Enrique scored the lone goal in Orlando's win over Atlanta United in the conference semifinals, his ninth goal overall this season, all since the beginning of July.
Enrique and Facundo Torres (11 goals) are two of just 11 players with nine or more goals since the start of July (regular season & playoffs).
New York Red Bulls – Dante Vanzeir
Dante Vanzeir orchestrated the Red Bulls' win over rivals NYCFC in the conference semifinals, assisting Felipe Carballo's opener before scoring the second.
He has assisted 10 goals in MLS this season, more than any other player on the team.
MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN
This will be the first-ever playoff meeting between Orlando City and the Red Bulls.
Orlando have reached the conference final for the first time in the team's history after allowing just one total goal through their first four matches of the 2024 postseason. They are the fifth team in MLS history to allow just one goal over a span of four matches in a single postseason.
New York defeated Orlando 1-0 at home on June 1 to end a four-match losing streak against the Lions in all competitions.
The Red Bulls have reached the conference final for the sixth time in club history and the first since 2018. New York lost all five previous times they reached the Eastern Conference Final, with their only MLS Cup Final appearance coming in 2008 as Western Conference Champions.
The Red Bulls have won back-to-back road playoff games to reach the conference final, the third time they have won consecutive road games in a single postseason (2008, 2017). The only team to win three straight road games within a single postseason was the Chicago Fire in 1998.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Orlando City – 52.2%
Draw – 24.4%
New York Red Bulls – 23.4%
Martin: Southampton building up belief after earning first away point
Russell Martin believes Southampton have been building up their belief in recent weeks, which helped them earn a 1-1 draw with south coast rivals Brighton on Friday.
Flynn Downes scored his maiden Premier League goal to cancel out Kaoru Mitoma's first-half header to earn the Saints a first away point of the season.
They could have taken home all three points, but Cameron Archer's goal was disallowed for offside as Adam Armstrong was judged to have interfered with play from an offside position in the build-up.
Southampton remain bottom of the table, four points behind Wolves in 17th, but ended a run of nine straight Premier League away defeats.
"I liked a lot of it. I think we have been better than that and not got a point," Martin told BBC Sport.
"The second half I really liked. First half: a lack of conviction and aggression in certain moments. They responded brilliantly. Good performance against a good team.
"[Downes' goal was a] brilliant finish. A really good move from back to front. I liked the courage. We need to keep turning the screw. If they keep giving us everything, the results will change.
"They have been creeping up with belief. We've had a difficult level of opponent. We were excellent and went toe-to-toe with a team who have gone second."
Brighton sit second in the table after that result, at least temporarily ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures.
The Seagulls have failed to win five of the last 10 home league games where they scored the opening goal (D5), after winning each of the last nine before that.
However, Fabian Hurzeler is the first manager to avoid defeat in each of his first seven home games in the Premier League (W3 D4) since Maurizio Sarri with Chelsea in 2018-19.
The German was left frustrated, however, as his side failed to take a slew of good opportunities in the opening period.
"It was not the best game from us regarding our intensity and positional game," he told Sky Sports. "We only deserve the result like this.
"We should have finished the game in the first half, but we didn't and then we got punished.
"We had to make some changes, and we tried to get an impact on the game. We have to keep working, and it's a process, it takes time, and we have to improve for the next game.
"You have to focus on the small details if you want to win in the Premier League. We should see what the reality is. The reality is we have a lot of hard work to do."
Wilder 'always felt there was a winner' in Sheffield United after dramatic late win
Chris Wilder said he "always felt there was a winner" inside Sheffield United as they snatched a late win over Sunderland to go top of the Championship.
A thrilling first half saw a Patrick Roberts penalty saved by Michael Cooper after Jack Robinson's foul on Tom Watson before each side was shown a red card apiece before the break.
Chris Mepham received his marching orders in the 40th minute for bringing down last-man Tyrese Campbell before Harry Souttar was dismissed seven minutes later for a second booking after tugging back Wilson Isidor.
Anthony Patterson made smart saves to keep Sunderland level, but he was helpless when Tom Davies, on his return from injury, slotted an 83rd-minute winner past him.
It is an eighth clean sheet in a row at home for United, and Wilder was delighted with how they dug deep to get the three points.
"The last 20 to 25 minutes, there was only one team that looked like winning in my opinion," Wilder told Sky Sports. "That last 25 minutes were outstanding, and the fitness levels were amazing.
"We needed to control the middle of the park and when we did, I thought we were good. We still made poor decisions. When you make poor decisions, it becomes a basketball game.
"I always felt there was a winner inside us, and I never felt like they were going to score."
Meanwhile, Sunderland stay fourth in the table after their 10-match unbeaten run came to an end at Bramall Lane.
They had more shots (16 to United's 14) and created a higher expected goals (xG) tally with 1.69 to the hosts' 0.89, though their missed penalty was one of just two efforts on target.
Regis Le Bris was left lamenting his side's wasted chances as they missed the chance to go top themselves if they had won.
"My first thought is frustration," he told the club's media channels. "We played the game we wanted to play.
"Obviously, it was against a strong team in a tough place, but we dominated most of the game, and we were good out of possession and efficient.
"We took confidence, and the last point was to score, but we didn't, and my main concern is that one. How can we be so dominant against a strong team only to lose at the end?
"It's really frustrating, but it's a question of luck. We have to work; we have to build up the small details to find a solution."
Brighton 1-1 Southampton: Seagulls up to second despite Downes leveller
Brighton moved up to second in the Premier League table despite being held to a 1-1 draw by south coast rivals Southampton at the Amex Stadium.
Kaoru Mitoma gave the Seagulls a 29th-minute lead after stealing in front of compatriot Yukinari Sugawara to head beyond top-flight debutant Joe Lumley.
Flynn Downes then drew the Saints level just before the hour-mark with a well-taken finish from the edge of the area, netting his first Premier League goal.
Southampton thought they had earned a first away victory of the season when Cameron Archer turned home from close range eight minutes later, only to see it ruled out for offside.
That decision saw 10 minutes added to proceedings, and Brighton almost found a winner when Mitoma’s cross found Simon Adingra, but his effort glanced off the post.
Friday’s draw moves Brighton, at least temporarily, one place behind leaders Liverpool, who play Manchester City in a heavyweight clash on Sunday, while Southampton remain bottom.
Data Debrief: Downes does the damage
Southampton have Downes to thank for helping them seal a first away point of the season, though he was perhaps fortunate to remain on the field to score, having made more fouls (five) than anyone on the pitch before being replaced by Joe Aribo in the 66th minute.
The Saints also ended a run of nine straight away Premier League defeats, with Southampton avoiding defeat in a top-flight away game despite conceding the opening goal for the first time since January 2023 (2-1 v Everton).
Russell Martin's side have now scored in all 13 of their top-flight games against Brighton, the most they have faced an opponent while scoring every time in the competition, while Brighton have only faced Man City (15) more without keeping a clean sheet.
Despite the disappointing draw, Fabian Hurzeler is the first manager to avoid defeat in each of his first seven home games in the Premier League (W3 D4) since Maurizio Sarri with Chelsea in 2018-19.
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