Dean Smith is intent on reminding Charlotte FC "how good we could be" as the visitors look to back up an impressive win when they head to Columbus Crew in MLS.
Smith's side humbled Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati with a 3-1 victory last time out, with Ashley Westwood assisting all three goals – a club record.
That eye-catching result marked a perfect response after back-to-back defeats against Inter Miami and Houston Dynamo, leaving Charlotte sixth in the East standings.
The next challenge for visiting head coach Smith is to keep his side honest, and more importantly, consistent.
"I keep talking in our dressing room about how good we could be. And we've got to be consistent," Smith said.
"We've just lost the last two games. I thought we played really well against Inter Miami. Our first half against Houston, we dropped our standards and got beat because of that.
"So we wanted to make sure that our standards were back there. And I thought it was a good follow-up performance to the Inter Miami game."
Westwood was the hero, picking apart the 10-man Cincinnati with ease en route to a headline result against the division leaders.
"We never know when we're beaten, and that's a good thing to have," said former Burnley midfielder Westwood. "We get knocked down, we keep coming back up.
"And it's a real togetherness. All the lads are running for each other. We know how organised we are. Everyone knows what they're doing."
The Crew are third in the same standings after smashing Los Angeles FC 5-1 in their last match – a result that delighted boss Wilfried Nancy.
"Really happy because the task that we had was really difficult, knowing the context and the situations," Nancy said.
"My players found a way to be ourselves and to play the way we wanted to play and to play really good sequences, but also to be disgusting to play against.
"This is something that I like. I'm happy because the level was good. I'm happy."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Cucho Hernandez was on target in the hammering of LAFC last time out, and will continue leading the line and aiming to extend his remarkable run in front of goal.
The Crew star has scored eight goals in his last seven appearances, with his overall tally for the season at 12 goals in 16 MLS matches.
Charlotte FC – Ashley Westwood
Westwood has become an integral part of Smith's side, leading the way from midfield.
The former Premier League midfielder collected two first-half assists in Cincinnati before adding another after the break, taking his season tally to five in 22 MLS games.
MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN
The Crew are the overwhelming favourites for this one, signified by their high likelihood of victory in Opta's pre-match predictions. That owes to their strong recent form.
Columbus have won their last five matches by a combined 20-2 scoreline, since losing to Inter Miami towards the end of last month.
The hosts will take confidence in knowing they have avoided defeat in their last two home meetings with Charlotte, drawing 1-1 in 2022 before a 4-2 victory last season.
Charlotte do, however, have the chance to inflict an unlikely double on Columbus after triumphing 2-0 in March's reverse fixture.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew win – 61.9%
Draw – 20.2%
Charlotte FC win – 18%
FC Cincinnati v Chicago Fire: Noonan desperate for response after 'flat' performance
FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan is desperate to find a remedy for his side's "flat" performance last time out, ahead of Chicago Fire's midweek MLS visit.
The Orange and Blue produced arguably their worst performance of their season during Sunday's 3-1 home defeat against Charlotte FC.
Cincinnati will have another chance to respond at TQL Stadium, bidding to remain top of the Eastern Conference standings after a surprise defeat in their last encounter.
Home head coach Noonan acknowledged his side must perform better.
"Our first 35 minutes were probably the worst of the year," Noonan said of the Charlotte showing. "We weren't ready, and that starts with me.
"I have to look at why it was so flat… A lot of poor performances and some avoidable mistakes on the two goals that really put the momentum in their favour.
"I think the warning signs, in terms of how we've conceded, have been there for a couple weeks now.
"There was loss of concentration, lost a mark, set pieces again… some things that we will continue to try to find answers to. Yeah, the way we're conceding goals is concerning."
The Fire, in stark contrast to Cincinnati at the summit, are just one spot from the bottom of the East table.
Chicago did manage a goalless draw with New York City FC, however, in their last match and keeping them ahead of bottom side Philadelphia Union.
Frank Klopas' side have accumulated 10 points from their last seven outings, though their away form is the worst in the Eastern Conference – with just seven points from 33 available on the road.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta
Luciano Acosta has been the leading light for Cincinnati's attack this year, sitting top of the club's scoring charts with 11 goals from 23 MLS appearances.
The Orange and Blue forward will be integral once more if the hosts are to down the struggling Fire here.
Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuypers
It remains to be seen whether Xherdan Shaqiri will return from Euro 2024 in time for this one, having announced his international retirement for Switzerland on Monday.
Hugo Cuypers will be expected to step up in his absence again, with the striker scoring nine goals for Chicago in MLS this season – at least four more than any other team-mate.
MATCH PREDICTION – FC CINCINNATI WIN
The home side are the dominant favourites for this clash, with the Opta supercomputer backing their victory chances at a hefty 66.1% from their data-led pre-match simulations.
Cincinnati have triumphed in 12 of their last 15 MLS matches, although three defeats have come in their past eight such outings.
That trio of losses have all come on their home ground, too, yet Cincinnati will be confident of getting over the line in this one.
Klopas' visitors have failed to score in their last two outings, and that will only boost the hosts' hopes heading into this midweek clash.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Cincinnati win – 66.1%
Draw – 18.4%
Chicago Fire win – 15.5%
Atletico shift Saul out on loan to LaLiga rivals Sevilla
Saul Niguez has moved from Atletico Madrid on loan to Sevilla with the option of an extension after the 2024-25 campaign.
Both LaLiga clubs confirmed the transfer agreement on Monday, with each side referencing the "possibility of an extension" past the upcoming season.
The 29-year-old has started just 25 La Liga games across the last two seasons for Atletico, who are reportedly keen to reduce their expenditure on their first-team squad salary.
Reports in Spain suggest the midfielder has a three-year offer from league rivals Sevilla, though a complex transfer means the deal cannot be described as a purchase option with the possibility of a return to Atletico.
Saul made 49 appearances for Diego Simeone's men last season, though starts were limited as Atletico finished fourth in the Spanish top flight.
He has been capped 19 times by Spain and made 23 appearances for Chelsea, his last loan spell in the 2022-23 season before returning to Simeone's team.
Saul's addition marks the fourth arrival in Andalusia, with Arsenal's Albert Sambi Lokonga also loaned, along with moves for Chidera Ejuke and Peque Fernandez.
Ten Hag slams 'not good enough' Man Utd after surprise friendly defeat to Rosenborg
Erik ten Hag slammed Manchester United as "by far not good enough" after their shock friendly defeat to Rosenborg on Monday.
The Red Devils suffered a late 1-0 loss at Lerkendal Stadion after Noah Holm's 93rd-minute winner.
An underwhelming performance in their first pre-season game was in stark contrast to their last outing before that, a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Rosenborg were denied by the woodwork on four separate occasions while attempting 22 shots to United's meagre five.
Ten Hag started the likes of Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Marcus Rashford, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mason Mount, leaving the United boss somewhat furious with their efforts in Trondheim.
"The result is not secondary. We play pre-season but at Manchester United, there's a standard," said Ten Hag to MUTV after the game.
"You win games. Definitely, you don't lose games. If you can't win, don't lose the game as we did at the end, the last second of the game.
"The performance is more important. The performance was below standard."
Radek Vitek, United's 20-year-old goalkeeper, was forced into seven saves in a one-sided pre-season meeting as the only Red Devils player to impress.
"Let's say he got the opportunity from the team to make some very good saves because our performance as a team is by far not good enough," Ten Hag responded when asked about Vitek's showing.
"I have seen this is not the standard for top football. Top football, you have to achieve much higher standards. It starts with any individual, make sure you are fit.
"I know we can't be match fit in this moment, therefore, you need these games. I know we are playing an opponent who are in their league, they have a much higher fitness level.
"But still we are Man Utd and players and teams from Man Utd must perform better."
Ten Hag's only credit from the game was placed on the youngsters who came on at half-time in wholesale changes.
"They always listen, they try to transfer. We didn't succeed today," the Dutchman said of his younger players.
"But the attitude, they want to transfer the coaching play model, they are always willing to do it. But it is clear today we didn't transfer it to the pitch."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
