CHESTER, Pa. — Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin doesn’t need to be reminded about his team’s recent history.
He knows perfectly well that the Union have not made the MLS Cup playoffs since 2011 and that the seven-year-old franchise has still never won a playoff game. And some brutal October games, including back-to-back home collapses to the Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew SC that knocked them out of the 2014 playoff race, remain bitter memories.
But Curtin has a message for anyone that thinks history may be repeating itself as the Union enter the final two games of the 2016 season on a five-game winless streak with their playoff hopes suddenly in jeopardy:
This team is different.
“I think there’s a different mentality, I think there’s a different belief when we play at home,” Curtin said. “Yeah, those old memories are tough ones. There were mistakes and lessons learned for sure. … But I think we’re just different overall. We can possess the ball better, we can dictate the tempo of the game, we have the ability to score like we haven’t had as a team.
“So it’s in our own hands. We control our own destiny.”
While it’s certainly true the Union have a changed roster, upgrading several positions over the past couple years with additions like US national team starter Alejandro Bedoya, prized playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta and 2016 MLS All-Stars Keegan Rosenberry and Andre Blake, it’s understandable why some Union fans might be feeling a here-we-go-again vibe.
After being comfortably in playoff position throughout the season and even spending some time atop the Eastern Conference table, the Union have fallen to sixth place in the East with the New England Revolution only three points behind them for the final playoff spot.
But Curtin insisted the players aren’t feeling any nerves as they prepare to face already-eliminated Orlando City SC on Sunday at Talen Energy Stadium (3 pm ET; MLS LIVE) with a win all but guaranteeing them a playoff spot.
“The guys are confident,” Curtin said. “While we didn’t get as many points as we would’ve liked in the last five, there still have been decent performances from individuals. Training sessions have been sharp. The group is loose, excited for the opportunity.”
The good news for the Union is that they should be at mostly full strength with center back Joshua Yaro recovering from a concussion and Bedoya completely back from a rib injury that kept him out of the two recent US national team friendlies. Curtin also said that Ilsinho, who’s been dealing with plantar fasciitis, has looked “sharp in practice,” and captain Maurice Edu could finally make his season debut after several rehab stints with USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel FC.
But no matter who steps on the field for what’s probably the biggest game of the team’s season, Curtin is confident his players will snap out of their recent slide, pointing to the experience of veteran players like Bedoya, Barnetta, Brian Carroll and C.J. Sapong as well as the fearlessness of the younger ones like standout rookies Rosenberry and Fabian Herbers.
“I’m not too worried about them getting tense,” Curtin said. “We haven’t really used the words ‘must win’ or anything like that with the guys; it’s just about doing your job, executing and just sticking and getting back to the basics of what had made us a good team.”
And although just getting the playoffs remains the first priority, the Union have not ruled out winning their final two games — they host the Red Bulls on Decision Day — and possibly, with some help, hosting a first-round game.
More than anything, that would really prove that 2016 is not like past years.
“This group is different and we need to show that,” Curtin said. “We can talk about it all we want but the only way to do it is on the field. Do your talking on the field. That’s what this group has been very good with all year, and that’s what I expect on Sunday.”
