After a disappointing 2024 season, the Philadelphia Union have seen their redemptive journey since the start of the season culminate in Supporters’ Shield glory.
With 66 points in 33 games, Bradley Carnell and his men were crowned Supporters’ Shield winners in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer on Saturday. The win against New York City put them far beyond the reach of second-placed Cincinnati, and confirmed their status as the Supporters’ Shield winners. In his post-match conference, head coach Bradley Carnell summarized the Union’s season, showered praise on the team, and emphasized that the MLS Cup remains the new target.
Carnell's Union win's first piece of Silverware in 2025
Summing up a season that was more of a comeback for both him and the Union team, Carnell couldn’t hide his delight at the team's performance over the course of the season and the feeling of finally getting to hold the Supporters’ Shield.
“I had a moment in 2018, winning the Supporters’ Shield, I never got to hold it. And I regretted that moment all the time, and to get to hold it today was really special, to get the players to hold the real Shield from 2020, the makeshift Shield. This means something."
“It’s just an amazing evening. This was a microcosm of what the whole season was, where we had to dig deep and suffer in certain moments, and stick together, and that’s been a big theme… together from day one, created something special, lots of chemistry, lots of cohesions, lots of respect and just emptying the tank for each other every single day. I could say so much, with the ownership group and management, with the support that they've given us from day one. But I’m sure we have times and moments to speak about that, but right now, I just want the boys to enjoy, they deserve it. And hopefully, we’re not done yet.“
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD8w0MuPujo
Carnell was also questioned about the Union’s consecutive 1-0 victories in recent weeks and what that says about the team’s mentality.
“I think the deeper you go in a competition, the tighter the games are. And I think that's what we’ve seen...
...It just shows the desire to win something with this group. They had a bit of a snoove earlier on, that there’s something here growing and brewing, and I think that the commitment they gave us, not just tonight, but through the whole season so far is a great testament to their character, to their professionalism, to how they treat their bodies, to show that they can do it and bounce back again.”
Combined with their intensity in training, Bradley and the Union desired to prove a point to the rest of the league. For him, there was the desire to bounce back after St. Louis City SC fired him amid a disappointing season. And for the Union, the desire was to prove they were better than what last season’s 12th-place finish made them look like.
“There’s this hunger and the desire just to prove people wrong. Last year, whatever happened, and for me personally as well, whatever happened. So, it was this combination of I would say two failures, and then just to grow together, to build something together, for them to absorb information and then execute. It’s amazing.” - Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
The Union will be on the road this weekend, facing Charlotte in the last game of an amazing season.
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