Bradley Carnell believes he has instilled a successful mentality into Philadelphia Union forward of his first MLS match in cost towards Orlando Metropolis.
The Union missed out on the playoffs final season, regardless of scoring 62 objectives (probably the most by any group to overlook out on the postseason) as they completed twelfth within the Japanese Convention with 37 factors.
Jim Curtin parted methods with the membership in November, with Carnell, who was dismissed by St. Louis Metropolis SC final July, changing him firstly of this yr.
“We play to win video games,” Carnell stated. “We wish to play with a sure power, and we wish to play to win whether or not we’re enjoying at house or away from house.
“So, we’re going to attempt to make the most of each benefit the opponent offers us. [Pre-season has] been pre-cursor for us, and we really feel fairly well-versed about who we’re going to face.
“We’re specializing in ourselves as a result of we’ve had a ton of labor to do to verify we’re prepared for what we wish to instil and implement.”
It’s (nearly) time. #DOOP pic.twitter.com/FdSYhX8nzJ
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) February 19, 2025
Orlando, in the meantime, are hoping to emulate final season’s success as they completed fourth within the East earlier than happening to succeed in the Convention Remaining, which they misplaced to the New York Purple Bulls.
They’ve overseen large probabilities within the offseason, most notably the departure of final season’s top-scorer Facundo Torres, however they’ve additionally welcomed new additions, together with Mario Pasalic, who is decided to hit the bottom operating.
“It’s the mentality that you must put within the exhausting work. Everybody in Germany is like this,” Pasalic informed the membership’s web site.
“It’s exhausting work, every single day. Focus, self-discipline. I’m hard-working. I do know that no one goes to present you a present, you already know? It’s as much as you. You must work exhausting to get success.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando Metropolis – Duncan McGuire
With Torres shifting on from Orlando, there’s a hole to be crammed, and Duncan McGuire might be hoping to fit into it, ought to he play, having had shoulder surgical procedure within the offseason.
He netted 10 objectives in MLS final season, simply 4 fewer than Torres, together with his final aim coming towards Philadelphia in October.
Working for the weekend pic.twitter.com/EH6JPB2DhS
— Orlando Metropolis SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 20, 2025
Philadelphia Union – Bruno Damiani
Bruno Damiani may make his debut for the Union on Saturday and can look to make an identical influence to the one he made on his first look for Nacional, netting in a 4-0 win in 2023.
Final season, he tallied 12 objectives and 5 assists whereas on mortgage at Boston River, ending the season because the league’s second-highest scorer.
MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN
Orlando Metropolis have received three of their final 4 regular-season matches towards the Union (D1) after successful solely 4 of their first 16 league conferences with Philadelphia (D5 L7).
Orlando have by no means misplaced their season-opening match (W3 D7), with all 10 earlier season-openers being performed at house. Orlando haven’t conceded of their first match of a season since 2019, protecting clear sheets of their final 5 curtain raisers.
The Union, in the meantime, received simply 9 matches within the 2024 common season, the primary time in membership historical past they did not win at the least 10 occasions in a 34-match season. Philadelphia’s 15 losses final season have been their most since shedding 17 video games within the 2015 marketing campaign.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Orlando Metropolis – 48.8%
Draw – 25.7%
Philadelphia Union – 25.5%