Seattle Sounders FC and Minnesota United FC add another chapter to their MLS Western Conference rivalry on Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle with a 10 p.m. ET kickoff in the 2024 Leagues Cup.
Facing off in the West 5 group, which also includes LIGA MX side Necaxa, the two teams prepare for a game that takes the shackles off because of the knockout format of the tournament.
“Ultimately, Leagues Cup is fun,” said Minnesota United FC defender Zarek Valentin. “As players, it juices us up a little bit. It kind of breaks up the monotony of the season.”
Valentin was part of the Loons’ squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2023 tournament, losing to runners-up Nashville SC. The team needed penalties to advance in both the Round of 32 and Round of 16, but the ecstasy of victory made it a thrilling experience.
“To go out there and be in multiple penalty kick shootouts, and come on the good end of those, and to play some teams we wouldn't normally have played in some of the Mexican opponents, and then teams in the other conference, I think for us was refreshing,” Valentin added.
For Minnesota United FC manager Eric Ramsay — in his first year with the club — the Leagues Cup provides the opportunity to experiment tactically.
“With key players missing, particularly for this game upcoming against Seattle, we will have an opportunity to see a couple of guys who perhaps we wouldn't normally,” said Ramsay. “It certainly won't be the case of the same old, same old. We want to make sure we're trying to evolve our way of playing.”
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer is also a fan of the competition. Coming off a 3-0 home loss to LAFC, it’s a chance to show the recent league defeat was more of an accident.
“The whole competition, the idea of League's Cup, I like,” said Schmetzer. “It's an opportunity for these guys to show that that was a one-off against LAFC. They're still playing extremely well at a high level. So, there's lots of good reasons why we're excited for this game.”
Of course, players always think of lifting silverware, and that objective is the same for Cristian Roldan.
“You win this first game, it sets you up,” Roldan told the media before Friday’s match. “It puts you in a good spot to move on to the knockout stages, and it gives you a better chance of getting a home game, right? And that's, kind of, what these knockout games are all about, right? You want the little advantages that you can get.”
