Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield Efforts Are Intricately Linked, and Performance in One Can Help Fuel Performance in the Other

July 28, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release

The 2023 Leagues Cup saw FC Cincinnati bow out earlier than they hoped, but they were not overly devastated by the result of the tournament. A defeat in PK’s to Nashville SC left FCC sour, but with a packed calendar still ahead including the US Open Cup, the rest of the regular season and then MLS Cup playoffs still to follow, there was plenty to turn focus to and think about.

There’s still lots to build towards, that’s for sure, even with the US Open Cup not in play for The Orange and Blue, but the idea that an early exit from the 2024 Leagues Cup this season would be a good or welcome thing is certainly not the attitude heading into this year’s edition.

Pat Noonan, speaking to gathered media at an open practice at TQL Stadium for Season Ticket Members on Sunday, highlighted how important a strong performance in Leagues Cup is to the rest of the season. It is of his opinion that this break from regular season action not only provides an opportunity to sort things out with the performance, but playing more games cuts down on the break in the action and keeps the squad fresher, longer.

“We’re approaching this competition to win,” Noonan said Sunday, plainly laying out the goals for the next month. “We have a break in league play and maybe that’s a chance to say it’s a little bit of a reset, new energy, new life or a new challenge. But you still got to go and compete against good teams and win games. So we have to continue to try and find solutions to change our form, because the last two weeks, three weeks weren’t good.”

“So, whether we were playing a Leagues Cup game or a league game, we need to be better and hopefully starting Thursday, we see better performances.”

Success in the MLS regular season is, in Noonan’s mind, intricately linked to success in Leagues Cup. FC Cincinnati ultimately earned its Supporters’ Shield crown in 2023, but saw a drop off in performance in the return to action after bowing out of Leagues Cup in the first knockout round. A 3-0 defeat to Columbus Crew in the first game back from the break followed but a heartbreaking defeat in the US Open Cup semifinals damped the mood in the middle of the summer and proved the challenge that is taking multiple weeks off then launching back into the season at the same level you were at entering the break.

So, does success or lack thereof in the Leagues Cup define the entirety of 2024? No, certainly not. But a strong performance…