Steve Cherundolo wary of “new threat” from Minnesota United

Steve Cherundolo is embarking on his third season in charge of LAFC and the 45-year-old has already enjoyed great success. He led them to an MLS Cup triumph in his first season and the team were just one game away from retaining the title in 2023.

Now Cherundolo is firmly established as one of the league’s top coaches and one of the contenders to lift MLS Cup again this season. On Saturday LAFC take on a Minnesota United team who will be led by new head coach Eric Ramsey for the very first time. Aged just 32 years old, Eric Ramsey is the youngest permanent head coach in MLS history.

Ahead of Saturday’s game, Cherundolo was asked what he expected from this new-look Minnesota team.

“It’s a new page for Minnesota and, from what we can tell so far this season, also some alternate formations. It’s a different look, a different strategy, and those are things we try to prepare for,” he revealed.

“They are full of confidence, a very energetic team and what that seems to be enjoying the new way of playing and the new leadership at their club. So we’ll have our hands full. It’s always difficult in Minnesota but I think especially so this time around.”

Ahead of this weekend’s fixtures Minnesota United sit second in the Eastern Conference, level on points with leaders Portland Timbers. In their first three games the Loons have beaten Orlando City and Austin FC, and secured an impressive 1-1 draw against reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

Eric Ramsey relishing MLS opportunity with Minnesota

The Englishman arrives in the Upper Midwestern for his first role as a head coach, but boasts considerable experience in Premier League clubs. He spent time with Swansea City before moving on to coach Chelsea’s Under-23s. From there he joined Manchester United to aid their player development strategy and was elevated to the position of assistant coach under Erik ten Hag.

In his first press conference in Minnesota he revealed that he had received a number of offers of head coach roles in England, but decided that Allianz Field was the best place for him to continue his journey.

“I just felt from day one that the combination of the club, the league and the general context in America was as good an opportunity as I think any first-time head coach is going to get,” the 32-year-old explained. “And I think from a head coach’s perspective you want that very stable environment to work in.”

“I look at the MLS in general – I think it’s cliché to say in England that it is moving in the right direction, that it’s getting better,” he continued. “But ever since I’ve started researching the league in much more detail, and I’ve been doing so for two months or so now, I can’t look past that statement. It is definitely moving forward, it has grown significantly. The level is really, really good.”

After weeks of watching from afar, awaiting the necessary paperwork, Ramsey will finally get the opportunity to test himself at this level this weekend. Taking on one of the league’s strongest teams, the 2023 MLS Cup runners-up, is not an easy start for his MLS career but this in-form Minnesota side will be relishing the challenge on Saturday.