September 20, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
It’s a short turnaround for FC Cincinnati as they returned home from an important win over Minnesota United FC and will depart for Nashville just one day later for an Eastern Conference showdown in the Volunteer State.
The matchup with Nashville SC will cap off an emotional eight-day stretch that included a triple-match week, Hell is Real and two road trips. Securing another three road points would also equalize the modern MLS record of 11 road victories and make this FCC one of the most prolific and accomplished road teams in MLS history.
“Every game now, when you look at the opponents and what we’re trying to achieve, there’s no easy games. Not that there ever really is, but everybody’s fighting for a spot,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of the match with Nashville SC on Friday. These games are all going to be very challenging, and our level of focus and intensity, as well as our performances, are going to have to be consistent.”
The matchup renews a regional competition that has added another wrinkle: BJ Callaghan was named Head Coach midseason as the club tries to rebuild from a bad start to the year. Callaghan has never been a Head Coach himself but was a trusted assistant for the US Men’s National Team. He also served as an assistant for the Philadelphia Union and was on the same staff FCC Head Coach Pat Noonan was on before coming to Cincinnati.
“(We have) A good relationship. We’re kind of in contact all throughout the year. Myself. B.J., Jim [Curtin], Chris [Albright], we’ve all worked together and have had good working relationships. So it’s nice to see the progress and the trajectory for B.J. You know, (he) worked really hard in his time in Philly,” Pat Noonan said of his now opposing manager. “I got to see that firsthand, and was a club guy and put in the work to help Jim and the team move forward.
“Now he’s the manager at Nashville, and certainly there were challenging times, I think, in the first couple weeks with taking on a new project and a new team. But you’ve seen the last couple games improve, and I’m happy for B.J. with his opportunity because I think he deserves it.”
Callaghan has brought his own sensibilities to Nashville SC during his time but has also installed a tactical style similar to the one seen in Philadelphia. Given the short turnaround, that familiarity may be helpful going into this match for FC Cincinnati.
“The structure in the last two games…
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