With Philadelphia Union preparing for a semifinal clash with the Portland Timbers at the MLS is Back Tournament, MLSSoccer.com contributor Charles Boehm took a closer look at how the Union were built from the ground up to reach this moment.
Before the Boys in Blue were tournament favorites, Boehm identifies four ways that made the Union who they are in 2020. From going all in with "Play Your Kids" with top talent from the Union Academy, to keeping the faith with Head Coach Jim Curtin, coupled with the improvements that two Sporting Directors and growing pains in knockout matches, the Union have come a long way over the last half decade.
"Like the best teams in their region’s sporting history, Philly play with a chip on their shoulder, a hunger and urgency that recalls the past without being burdened by it," Boehm writes. " They’re still looking for the big, definitive statement win, probably one that’s capped by a trophy hoist. Maybe then we’ll all be able to say that their journey has reached its destination, or at least its first stop.
