FC Dallas stamped their tickets to the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs in emphatic style with Sunday’s 6-0 thumping of Sporting Kansas City. Yet even as he praised the progress of his young squad, head coach Luchi Gonzalez urged them to think bigger and bolder as they forge into the postseason.
“I have to be so proud of these players, this staff. I’m really honored to work with them and we have the opportunity to fight for the jersey in another game,” said the first-year boss.
“This step feels good, but after tonight it's done,” he added. “And we can either be just content and happy to be in the playoffs or we can be hungry for more.”
As the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, FCD face a steep path of road games if they are to mount a run to the MLS Cup final, starting with a Round One visit to Seattle (Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3:30 pm ET on Fox Sports TBD, TSN, TVAS), where they are 1W-9L-2D all-time in regular-season action.
Having gone 3W-11L-3D away from home this season, FCD will be heavy underdogs against the Rave Green. They can at least hang their hats on the 0-0 draw they earned at CenturyLink Field last month, a result that snapped a string of eight league losses in Seattle.
“I know it’s away and it’s in a tough environment, Seattle, but we were just there and we’re not afraid. We’re not going to be afraid,” said Gonzalez. “We obviously know they have some great tools, they have a great environment, but we’re going to go there and try to change the history of this club over there.
“We talked about five steps to win an MLS Cup – five games, five steps. Now it’s four and we have an opportunity to make a decision to earn the third.”
