Peter Luccin wants FC Dallas to finish their season on a high when they play their final MLS match of 2024 against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
Dallas can only finish as high as 10th in the Western Conference but have won just one of their last seven MLS matches, losing the last two on the bounce.
Despite not reaching the playoffs, Luccin is already looking at the positives they can carry into next season, though he still expects his team to show their best form against Sporting KC.
"Our duty is to give all we've got," he said. "The attitude of the team against Portland was positive and that's the least we can do for the fans.
"At the same time, we need to think about next year. The attitude of the players has been great, but we didn't lose games because of that. It came down to qualities or specific details, not mentality.
"It's good, we are growing up as a team, so we need to see how they do against Kansas."
Kansas City, meanwhile, are guaranteed to finish 13th no matter the result.
They are on a three-match losing streak in MLS and head coach Peter Vermes wants to make sure his team finish on a high after that poor run of form.
"Every week, no matter where you are in the season, you're always working, thinking, preparing to make sure your team is ready for the challenge, and not just from the soccer perspective," he said.
"You're trying to get the mentality right. It's much more challenging in a situation like this, but I think it will say a lot about the players that go on the field about how serious they take it."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Dallas – Petar Musa
Petar Musa has scored 15 goals this season, 10 more than any other Dallas player.
That is the second-largest gap between a team's top goalscorer and second in MLS this season, behind only Christian Benteke, who has scored 17 more goals than any other D.C. United player in 2024.
Sporting Kansas City – Daniel Salloi
Daniel Salloi has scored eight regular-season goals against Dallas, three more than against any other opponent in his MLS career.
No player has scored more goals against Dallas since Salloi made his MLS debut in 2017.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC DALLAS WIN
Dallas have won only one of their last seven regular-season matches (D2 L4). They have conceded three goals in all four losses in that time but conceded just one in the other three matches.
Kansas City have won three straight meetings with FC Dallas in all competitions for the first time since 2017. Only once before has either team managed a four-match streak (Sporting KC in 2004), and Dallas will be keen to ensure they do not manage the same feat on Sunday.
Sporting KC, meanwhile, have just 31 points coming into the final match of the season, and will finish with fewer than 35 points for the first time since 2009 (33). Sporting hasverecorded fewer than 32 points only once before, totalling 20 points in the 1999 campaign.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Dallas – 46.6%
Draw – 26.5%
Sporting Kansas City – 26.9%
Los Angeles FC v San Jose Earthquakes: Cherundolo focused on what he can control
Steve Cherundolo wants Los Angeles FC to focus on their own game as they look to secure top spot against the San Jose Earthquakes.
LAFC can finish top of the Western Conference if they win by a two-goal margin and LA Galaxy lose to Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Cherundolo's side kept themselves in contention going into the final day by snatching a late 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps, extending their winning streak to four games.
And though the head coach would like to finish top of the pile, he acknowledged that it was largely out of LAFC's hands.
"We don't spend a lot of time discussing scenarios," he said. "I think for us the important thing is to enjoy the weekend, and obviously, that is trying to win the game with a two-goal advantage.
"What happens elsewhere we'll obviously be monitoring, but not closely. We're better off focusing on ourselves.
"We've won a couple of games in a row now and to finish the season on a high with a win is important. We're focused on what we know we do well and that's great preparation."
No matter the result, San Jose will finish bottom of the table, with the worst result of any team in MLS.
Interim head coach Ian Russell is looking to salvage some pride in their final outing and is hoping to use their win over LAFC earlier this season as motivation.
"It's a tough test - LAFC are a good team," he said.
"We typically match up well against them, but we need to go down there, play good football, defend well, limit their chances and try to hurt them."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LAFC – Mateusz Bogusz
Mateusz Bogusz scored his 15th goal of the season in LAFC's win over Vancouver on Sunday.
Bogusz is the fifth different LAFC player to score 15 goals in a season while no other team has more than three different players with a 15-goal season since the club joined MLS in 2018.
San Jose Earthquakes – Daniel
San Jose have conceded 75 goals this season, tied with FC Cincinnati in 2019 for the most in a single season in MLS history.
Cincinnati had allowed 75 goals after 33 matches that season but kept a clean sheet against D.C. United in their final match and Daniel will be hoping to do the same, so the visitors can go out on a high.
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN
LAFC have won nine of their 11 all-time home matches against San Jose (D1 L1), including a 4-1 win in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 on August 13. LAFC have scored at least three goals in seven of the 11 meetings at BMO Stadium.
In fact, LAFC have lost only one of their last 11 games played in October, November and December dating back to last season (W9 D1), with the lone defeat coming in the MLS Cup Final at Columbus Crew last December.
Meanwhile, the Earthquakes enter the final match of the season with 24 losses, tied for the most outright defeats in a single season in MLS history (along with D.C. United in 2013, excluding breakaway shootout losses).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
LAFC – 73.9%
Draw – 15.2%
San Jose Earthquakes – 10.9%
No player more important than Milan for furious Fonseca
AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca has had two weeks to stew on his team's latest defeat, and he will never refrain from criticising a player due to their name or status.
Milan were beaten 2-1 by Fiorentina before the international break, a defeat that came on the back of losing 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
It was the manner of their defeat in Florence, where Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham were both denied by David de Gea from the penalty spot, which left Fonseca furious.
Fonseca slated his players for disobeying orders after the game, pointing out that Christian Pulisic was the designated penalty taker, while he was also furious to see Hernandez sent off for dissent late on.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's meeting with Udinese, Fonseca told reporters: "I was so angry after Florence that it was good not to have seen anyone.
"We had few players in those training sessions, then all the internationals arrived yesterday. We talked about the match against Fiorentina and today we spoke about Udinese.
"I know that there has been a lot of talk about Florence, for me it was very important to talk about it."
Fonseca is already under pressure, with his side sixth in the Serie A table, five points off leaders Napoli. Milan have also lost both of their Champions League games, and their coach intends to tackle any issues head on.
"I don't close my eyes to problems. We have them, let's face them," Fonseca said.
"If we have any problems, I don't give a damn about the player's name. I talk to him. Frontally, directly, with the team or with the players.
"For me, no player is more important than the team. Those who make mistakes must take responsibility. If someone doesn't follow this team spirit, it's difficult for me."
Fonseca was then asked if he had already lost control of the dressing room, responding: "I don't have to demonstrate anything, I'm not an actor.
"In football today there is a great need to be seen, I'm not like that, since day one. Ask the players, if I have been this way from the start or not."
Houston Dynamo v LA Galaxy: Olsen relishing tough test in playoff preparation
Ben Olsen believes LA Galaxy are the perfect team for Houston Dynamo to face the week before the playoffs to get them into the right frame of mind.
Houston can finish as high as fifth in the Western Conference but have alternated between a win and a loss in their last four games, losing 3-0 to St. Louis City last time out.
Olsen is keen to quickly put that result behind them and get the win that would secure fifth place in the table.
"Our objective doesn't change - it's still about putting the best performance against LA Galaxy we can in preparation for what's going to be a very tough first-round match in the playoffs," he said.
"It'll be a tough test. But I like that we're playing arguably the best team in the league the week before the playoffs because that's the level we're going to see then."
Meanwhile, the Galaxy need at least a draw to ensure they finish top of the table above derby rivals Los Angeles FC.
LA Galaxy are on a three-match winning streak in MLS, edging past Austin FC 2-1 in their last outing, and head coach Greg Vanney is glad they are not just going through the motions as they see out the end of the regular season.
"It's a nice test for us, it's great that the game is meaningful at this time of year, and we're playing for something before we start really playing for something," Vanney said.
"I think that keeps the right intensity and the right tension in the group, and hopefully draw or win, it keeps the right tension going into the playoffs.
"We have to be efficient about how we defend, though we can't get pulled around by them."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Adalberto Carrasquilla
The Dynamo enter the final match of the season with 51 points, equalling their total from last season, while a win would set a new club record for points in a single season, surpassing the 52 they recorded in 2012.
Adalberto Carrasquilla set up both goals the last time Houston won, and another in this game would level him with Amine Bassi for the most assists this season (six).
LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec
Both Gabriel Pec and Riqui Puig enter the final match of the season with 29 goal contributions this season.
No team in MLS history has had two players record 30 goal contributions in a single season.
MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
Houston have lost only one of their last 11 regular-season home matches (W4 D6) including recording a 2-1 win in their last match at Shell Energy Stadium. The Dynamo's only set of consecutive home wins this season came in March with victories over Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes.
The Galaxy defeated the Dynamo 2-1 at home on May 25. LA have not defeated Houston twice in a single regular season since winning all three meetings during the 2016 campaign.
A win on the final day of the season would give the Galaxy 67 points on the year, equalling the second-most in club history. Only two teams in MLS history have totalled 67 or more points in a regular season and not won the Supporters' Shield: Atlanta United in 2018 and Philadelphia Union in 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 47.2%
Draw – 26.3%
LA Galaxy – 26.5%
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