Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union is set to face St. Louis City for the first time this Saturday. Ahead of the match, Head Coach Bradley Carnell discussed the challenges and opportunities with Digital Club Reporter Sage Hurley.

Carnell acknowledged the unique situation his team faces with seven players called up to their national teams, the second most in the league. Additionally, Olwethu Makhanya will be unavailable due to a red card received against Nashville. Despite these challenges, Carnell expressed confidence in his squad's depth and readiness.

"We pushed the guys as much as they could, knowing that they were going to be going away," Carnell stated. He emphasized that this scenario was anticipated and inevitable.

Carnell praised his team's performance so far this season, noting new debutants and early success stories. "I'm really happy about the environment of the team right now," he said, highlighting both training and learning environments.

The absence of key players opens doors for others who have not seen much playtime. "Right now, opportunities are presenting themselves," Carnell remarked. He encourages players to compete daily as if trying to take someone's job, emphasizing that hard work leads to opportunities.

During training sessions this week, Carnell and Assistant Coach Mitch Hildebrandt participated in drills due to fewer available players. They aimed to create familiar scenarios for the team despite being short on numbers at times.

In terms of strategy adjustments for Saturday's game, Carnell remains optimistic about his team's depth. "We might have a few surprises here or there," he hinted while expressing confidence in his players' ability to execute plans.

Looking ahead to facing St. Louis City, Carnell sees it as an opportunity without external expectations weighing on them. "To me, it's like an admission free," he explained. He encouraged his team to play freely and bravely without fear of making mistakes.

Overall, Carnell is eager to see how his team performs under these circumstances: "I'm excited to see that."