Peter Vermes admitted that Sporting Kansas City is in a transitional period, but that he still looks at a place in the play -offs before being confronted with the earthquakes of San Jose.
Vermes watched while his side was beaten in their season opener by Austin FC, with Osman Bukari's 76th minute strike that sealed the victory for the hosts.
Kansas finished 13th in the Western Conference last year and was not eligible for the MLS play -offs, while he also ended the campaign with four straight defeats.
Although their losing run remained last time, Vermes looks at trophies with his players this season, which suggests that his team can still compete despite the fact that he needs a rebuilding.
“If I say we are in a rebuilding, we are in a rebuilding. Why should I lie about that?” Said Vermes. “But that doesn't mean you still don't have the desire to win or make the play -offs.
“It is not that you lose your competitiveness. It sometimes makes you more competitive.
“We want to try to make the play -offs. We want to go as deep as possible as we can. We want to try to win the MLS Cup. And that is not going to change.”
The wait is almost over, KC the home opener kicks tomorrow at 7:30 PM!
Be pic.twitter.com/wgeltyvucx
– Sporting Kansas City (@sportingkc) 28 February 2025
In the meantime, Bruce Arena enjoyed a dream debut that is responsible for the earthquakes of San Jose, which led them to a 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
Arena, who has won 19 great honor with three different teams during his management career in the MLS, replaced interim head coach Ian Russell in low season.
But despite a strong start of the campaign for the soil club of the Western Conference last year, the 73-year-old quickly was expectations.
“I think we need a few months to actually see what this team is about and what we should go,” said Arena.
“And our first victory of the season was great to get three points and having a good show, but we definitely have a way to go.
“I have not put anything in stone right now, and hopefully, while we go as a team, we now create a pretty consistent mentality and a playing style.”
Players to watch
Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic
Although Joveljic did not enjoy the Dream debut for his new team in the first league match of Kansas of the season, he will be sure that he is striving for one of his favorite opponents in the American top flight.
He scored six goals in nine games against earthquakes as a member of De La Galaxy, most of his team during his MLS career.
San Jose – Cristian Espinoza
Espinoza helped on Saturday two of San Jose's four goals in the victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday, his 11th career regular season match with several assists.
Only Carles Gil (14) has more multi-assist games than Espinoza since he came to MLS in 2019.
Match forecast: Kansas City Win
Kansas City has won 17 of their last 22 home games against San Jose in all competitions (D4 L1), including undefeated in 11 consecutive (W7 D4) from 2016. San Jose's only victory in Kansas City In the past 20 years, a 5-0 win in August 2015 was.
Kansas, however, has now lost eight consecutive games in all competitions in all competitions. Sporting had a 10-match loss line that included the 1998 and 1999 seasons, but that included two expansion of shoot-out defeats.
But San Jose comes into play with confidence. Last Saturday they recorded their biggest victory ever at the season opening, a 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake. It was the first victory of the earthquakes by a margin of four goals in the regular season game since a 4-0 win over Austin in October 2021.
Opta wins probability
Kansas City – 50.1%
Drawing – 25.2%
San Jose – 24.7%
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