Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay feels his staff are a match for anybody at Allianz Area, forward of welcoming St. Louis Metropolis to the venue for Saturday’s regular-season finale.
The Loons are assured a spot within the MLS Cup Playoffs, sitting seventh within the Jap Convention standings.
Ought to they beat St. Louis, they’ll keep away from a play-in fixture by stopping the eighth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps from leapfrogging them on the final alternative.
Talking forward of the sport, Ramsay mentioned he had loved the chance to work with a few of his gamers for an prolonged interval in the course of the worldwide break.
“We’ve wished to make it possible for we practice correctly and get some actual depth into the classes, I really feel such as you might be lulled right into a false sense of safety in two weeks,” he mentioned.
“Everybody is totally raring to go on Saturday, I believe we’ve achieved that. Hopefully the internationals come again with the bit between their tooth and able to add to that vitality.
“If I used to be an opposition coach analysing us, I’d be frightened within the sense that we will rating on the counterattack, we will rating from organised play, we’re a menace on set-pieces.
“We’ll come good in that sense. If we’re an excellent model of ourselves we’re greater than a match for anybody that comes right here.”
St. Louis are unable to make the postseason, sitting twelfth within the West and 9 factors adrift of the playoff image.
Requested what he wished to get out of the sport, interim head coach John Hackworth mentioned: “Only a good efficiency. We’ve got been in good type.
“One of many solely groups within the league that has been in higher type than us is Minnesota. Kudos to them, they’ve gone a implausible job.”
at the moment’s coaching in emojis: pic.twitter.com/f0VhzhXih5
— x – Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) October 17, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah
Yeboah has hit 17 pictures on course for Minnesota this season, with solely Bongokuhle Hlongwane (26) registering extra regardless of Yeboah not showing in his first match for the Loons till late August.
St. Louis Metropolis – Cedric Teuchert
Teuchert has recorded a team-high 9 aim contributions (5 targets, 4 assists) regardless of enjoying in simply 9 matches this season.
The fewest video games performed by a participant who led a staff in aim contributions for a season is 10 (Clint Mathis for the MetroStars in 2001 and Danny Koevermans for Toronto FC in 2011).
MATCH PREDICTION – MINNESOTA UNITED
The visiting aspect has gained all three conferences between Minnesota and St. Louis, together with a 3-1 win for the Loons on September 14. Nevertheless, a house victory may very well be within the offing this time.
St. Louis have solely gained one in every of their final 20 away matches in all competitions (eight attracts, 11 defeats), whereas Minnesota have gained three of their final 5 on house soil.
The Loons enter the ultimate match of the season with 49 factors and wish to cross the 50-point mark for the second time in membership historical past (53 in 2019). A victory could be their fifteenth for the season, equalling their membership file additionally set in 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Minnesota United – 48.8%
St. Louis Metropolis – 25.5%
Draw – 25.7%
