Nico Estevez is grateful that he had a second chance to coach in MLS with Austin FC, and he believes that his team is concerned about the collision of Saturday with Sporting Kansas City.
Estevez was mentioned as the replacement of Josh Wolff after Austin missed the Play -Offs in 2024 and 10th ended in the Western Conference, five points on the drift of the Portland Timbers.
The Spaniard initially performed well with FC Dallas before he had a miserable start to start last season, so that he was unveiled from his duties last June.
Thinking about his last enchantment in the dugout, Estevez said: “It is difficult because you want to give the club that gave you the chance to be the best coach the best of you.
“You feel that you have not achieved what was asked. Exercising are difficult. We have achieved many things in two years, but in half of last season we were not so good.
“In general, after analyzing with more time and talking to other people you know in the competition, you feel better about it.”
After returning to Texas, Estevez takes the lead for a team that is expected to improve after a pressure outside the season Myrto Uzuni, Brandon Vazquez and Osman Bukari arrived.
“I think the schedule has been strengthened,” he said. “I would like to have a mix between a control -based game and one that is vertical and fun to watch.”
Full steam forward in MatchDay 1.#austinfc x @lexus
– Austin FC (@austinfc) February 21, 2025
Sporting KC, meanwhile, stayed with Peter Vermes, despite the end of the 13th in the West last year, and sports director Mike Burns does not want to talk to their expectations.
“If our goal is not every year to win MLS Cup – I don't say this sarcastically – what do we do this for?” Said Burns.
“We try to build a selection that is able to first make the play -offs, to compete for a championship and then win a championship. That will never change from year to year.”
Players to watch
Austin FC – Brandon Vazquez
Vazquez joined Austin from Liga MX Side Monterrey for a reported reimbursement of a maximum of $ 10 million, which previously seemed to be in MLS for Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati.
He scored 34 goals during his stint with the Oranje and Blauw, 18 times in 2022 and eight times in 2023.
Sporting Kansas City – Daniel Salloi
Salloi starts the 2024 season with 48 career goals for Sporting Kansas City. He is only two removed from becoming the fourth player in club history who scores 50 times for the club in playing the regular season (after Preki, Johnny Russell, Dom Dwyer).
Match forecast – Austin FC Win
Austin has lost their season opener in three of their first four MLS seasons, including each of the last two.
Their only seasonal victory came in 2022, their only earlier play-off season, with a 5-0 win over Cincinnati.
However, all four of their home games have won against Kansas City, with a total of 19 goals scored over the four games (12-7 for Austin).
Given the gloomy returns of Sporting in 2024, Austin are favorites. The 31 points of Kansas City in 2024 were the second least in club history (20 points in 1999). Sporting lost 12 of their last 14 road races last year (W1 D1).
Opta wins probability
Austin FC – 49.3%
Sporting Kansas City – 25.2%
Drawing – 25.5%
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