Matchday

FC Cincinnati bullish on future despite playoff exit: "I believe in this team"

Luciano Acosta - FC Cincinnati

Barely three days removed from their stunning Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs elimination, the wounds are still fresh for FC Cincinnati.

ā€œIā€™m having trouble sleeping, Iā€™m having trouble waking up,ā€ playmaker and captain Luciano Acosta admitted to reporters Tuesday during the Orange & Blueā€™s end-of-season media availability. ā€œAnd I think about the game and what I couldā€™ve done, but whatā€™s done is done. Nothing can change the result and what happened.ā€

What exactly happened Saturday night at TQL Stadium in the Eastern Conference Final remains a delicate subject for Cincinnati. Minutes away from hosting MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 9, the Supportersā€™ Shield winners blew a late, two-goal lead before Christian RamĆ­rez completed the 3-2 Columbus Crew comeback victory in extra time.

Despite its heartbreaking end, Acosta declared 2023 a banner year for a club that completed the transformation from perennial Wooden Spoon contender into MLS powerhouse in just two seasons.

ā€œI believe in this team,ā€ the Argentine No. 10, named Landon Donovan 2023 MLS MVP last week, stated. ā€œIā€™m proud of everything we did this year.

ā€œObviously weā€™re going to lose some important pieces and new players will arrive,ā€ Acosta added. ā€œTheyā€™re going to have to learn to adapt to what it means to play for Cincinnati and this club.ā€

Potential departures

Brandon Vazquez, rumored to be among the possible departing pieces, also labeled the year a success on a personal level despite seeing his offensive production slip from 18g/8a in 2022 to 8g/4a this season.

ā€œSometimes I did feel a little underwhelmed with the goals that I was able to provide, but at the same time we were still winning all these games,ā€ Vazquez said. ā€œSometimes I had to do the dirty work in the defensive side of things that sometimes put me in situations where I wasnā€™t scoring, but at the end of the day, if weā€™re winning, thatā€™s all that makes me happy.ā€

As for making a hypothetical move to Europe during the offseason, the 25-year-old striker declared himself ready to take on the next career challenge.

ā€œMy personal goals, my objectives, my dreams have always been to play in Europe. And right now Iā€™m thinking I gotta fight for a spot on the US national team roster for the [2026] World Cup coming up,ā€ Vazquez said. ā€œSo I think the best way to achieve that would be playing overseas, in Europe. Try to grow to take my game to the next level.ā€

In addition to Vazquez, there is reportedly growing interest across the Atlantic for Ɓlvaro Barreal, the clubā€™s rising 23-year-old wingback who contributed 5g/9a for the second-straight season.

Also, Yerson Mosqueraā€™s loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers concludes at yearā€™s end and doesnā€™t include a buy option. The Colombian center back anchored Cincinnatiā€™s defense in their last two playoff games after Matt Miazga was suspended by the MLS Disciplinary Committee following their Round One, Best-of-3 clincher over the New York Red Bulls.

ā€œI want to take responsibility obviously for what has happened,ā€ the 2023 MLS Defender of the Year said. ā€œ ā€¦ My intentions didnā€™t really play out to what has actually happened and I take full responsibility.ā€

While Cincinnati fell short of the Supportersā€™ Shield-MLS Cup double, Miazga is taking consolation in the fact that they were the best overall team of 2023.

ā€œThe reality is we had an incredible season,ā€ Miazga said. ā€œWe won the league and we won it pretty comfortably. You know, we made the playoffs I think in August, we won the league at the end of September. So, thatā€™s an incredible achievement in of itself.ā€