We always want to face the best opponents, and a D.C. United with Tai Baribo is certainly a force to be reckoned with. We are preparing and planning accordingly, but we cannot control what we cannot control.
I think the effort tonight was great. The performance certainly was not perfect, but good teams win these kinds of games because they know how to grind it out on a night when you know we're not moving the ball particularly well. We played together as a team for 90 plus minutes, and to leave Philadelphia with three points is huge.
Werner is in no man's land of situations. RB Leipzig has moved on from him, he is still young enough to contribute, and became such a meme that no big club appears to want to take the chance to help him revive his career. It's going to happen isn't it? Union sporting director Ernst Tanner has a background in working with the Red Bull organization after all.
According to a recent report by The Guardian, Tanner made racist comments about Black players, coaches and referees, while also making use of sexist and anti-gay language in the workplace. The report revealed the allegations were made in an MLS Player's Association complaint to the league. MLS previously completed an investigation into the allegations, but closed the case after failing to verify the claims.
Why they'll win it: A cohesive vision. No matter how the regular season finishes, the Union's managerial gamble for 2025 paid off. By firing Jim Curtin and hiring Bradley Carnell in his place, sporting director Ernst Tanner fully leaned into his plan for the club and his vision has been realised by a team that favours direct, vertical attacks and a high-tempo style. They boast a go-to striker in Tai Baribo, whose 16 league goals go a long way to explaining Philadelphia's Shield standing.
