Cucho Hernandez insisted that Columbus Crew's Leagues Cup triumph is now in the past as they return to MLS action to face Philadelphia Union in midweek.
Hernandez, who scored twice in their 3-1 win over LAFC in the final, was named the tournament's MVP for his impressive displays throughout the competition.
The Colombian registered seven goal involvements (four goals and three assists) during the Crew's run to the final, including a strike against the Union in the semi-finals.
But sitting third in the Eastern Conference table, five points behind Cincinnati with three games in hand, Hernandez said the mentality of the team has already switched.
“We are so proud of doing this,” Hernandez said on his sides Leagues Cup win. “We work every day to do this. It’s not lucky; it’s work.
"We are always thinking about what’s coming [next]. That’s the mentality of this team.
“Now, we enjoy ourselves. Of course, we deserve it. But tomorrow we have MLS, and that’s the mentality.”
Philadelphia, meanwhile, will be aiming to exact revenge on their Leagues Cup foes as they look to mount a push for the playoffs in the final stretch of fixtures.
The Union were beaten 3-1 by Columbus in the semi-finals of the tournament and lost on penalties to Colorado Rapids in the third-place match.
Ahead of the Leagues Cup, Jim Curtin's side had won consecutive MLS games, propelling them into the playoff picture and currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference table, a point behind Atlanta United with a game in hand.
And the Philadelphia head coach said his players acknowledged the task ahead of them, emphasising the importance of taking every opportunity coming their way.
"The players are looking forward to returning to league play," Curtin said. "We recognise now we are not where we want to be in the standings this year.
"We have an opportunity to maximise the amount of points we take down the stretch and make things right and find a way to get into the playoffs.
"It's a difficult test for sure, it's not a lot of rest, but we are on the same amount of rest as Columbus, so we have to have a good reaction in our building."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag
Daniel Gazdag scored a hat-trick in the Union’s last regular-season match, taking the Hungarian's tally to 14 goals in 21 MLS appearances.
It was Gazdag’s third career MLS treble, surpassing Julian Carranza (two) for the most in team's history.
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez will be hopeful of continuing his electric Leagues Cup form upon his return to league action. He has recorded 60 goal contributions (38 goals and 22 assists) in 61 career regular-season MLS matches.
Since the beginning of June, the Colombian has been involved in 16 goals (nine goals and seven assists) in nine league matches.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Columbus suffered a 2-1 defeat at Atlanta United in the club’s final regular-season match before the Leagues Cup break. The Crew haven’t lost consecutive regular-season matches in over a year, since defeats at Cincinnati and Nashville in May 2023.
Philadelphia have won their last two league matches before the Leagues Cup break after a run of 10 MLS games without a win (D4 L6). In fact, the Union had won just one of its previous 17 regular-season encounters (D5 L11) before winning the last two.
The Union are unbeaten in eight straight home fixtures against the Crew (W7 D1) including winning the last five in a row. Only one team in the last 20 years has won six straight regular-season home matches against Columbus – Orlando City (six) from 2018-23.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Philadelphia Union – 35.5%
Draw – 26.1%
Columbus Crew – 38.5%
Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Iniesta announces retirement
Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.
Iniesta, who also played for Japanese side Vissel Kobe, most recently played for UAE Pro League club Emirates and had the option to extend his contract until 2025, but has instead decided to hang up his boots.
The midfielder started his career at Barcelona, joining at the age of 12 before making his senior debut in 2002.
He went on to make 674 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, the fourth-most in the history of the club, behind Lionel Messi (778), Xavi (767) and Sergio Busquets (722).
"Please allow me to be a little emotional today..." a tearful Iniesta said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"I never thought this day would come. I never imagined it. Yes, all these tears we have shed these days are tears of emotion, of pride. They are not tears of sadness.
"They are tears of that boy from a small town like Fuentealbilla, who had the dream of being a footballer and we achieved it after a lot of hard work, sacrifice... of never giving up, essential values in my life. I feel very proud of this path, with all the people who have accompanied me."
Iniesta scored 35 goals in 442 LaLiga appearances, with Barcelona unbeaten in the 35 league games in which he scored (W33 D2). Only Angel Correa (58 games) has scored in more games without losing in the competition in the 21st century.
While at Barcelona, he won 29 major honours, including nine LaLiga titles, four Champions League, two UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups.
Iniesta also made 131 appearances for Spain, the fifth-most in the history of the male national team, and famously scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final as La Roja lifted the trophy for the first time.
His strike in the 116th minute against the Netherlands (115:54 exactly) is the latest winning goal in the showpiece match in the history of the tournament.
He was also a part of Spain's European Championship successes in 2008 and 2012, being named the Player of the Tournament at the latter edition.
Despite playing an integral role in those tournaments, Iniesta failed to score with any of the 34 shots he attempted in his three appearances at the Euros finals (2008, 2012, 2016), a record number of attempts without scoring by any player at the tournament since at least the 1980 edition.
Bonmati refuses to rule out WSL move but open to retiring at Barcelona
Aitana Bonmati has refused to rule out a move to the Women's Super League in the future, though she is also open to the prospect of ending her career at Barcelona.
Bonmati, who won the Ballon d'Or last year after helping Spain become world champions for the first time, recently put pen to paper on a new four-year contract with Barca.
She has been with the club since 2012, winning 23 trophies with the senior side to sit eighth in the all-time ranking for most titles with the Catalan giants.
Bonmati, who is Barcelona's all-time leading scorer, has won the Champions League on three occasions, netting in last season's final victory over Lyon.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Bonmati was asked if she could foresee a scenario in which she never leaves Barca, and she is open to the idea.
"Yes, that would be nice to be a one-club player," the creative midfielder said.
"For now, I've been playing for Barcelona since I was 13 years old. It would be nice if I could end my career like this… but you never know.
"I'd never close the door. You never know what might happen in the future. But for now, I'm here for four more years, so I want to enjoy."
If Bonmati were to leave Spain, a number of WSL clubs – including Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal – would likely be in the hunt for her signature.
Bonmati appreciates the growing strength of the WSL, saying the investment in women's football in England compares favourably with that seen in Spain.
"It's a league that is so nice because England are investing a lot in women's football since the Euros – I cannot say the same about here in Spain," she said.
"Of course, it's a league that we have to keep watching, to be like them for helping women's football grow."
Barcelona open their Women's Champions League campaign against City on Wednesday, having been drawn into Group D alongside Hammarby and St Polten.
Messi headlines 23-player MLS MVP shortlist
Lionel Messi is one of 23 players to be nominated for the 2024 MLS MVP award, being joined on the shortlist by Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez.
Messi is considered the leading candidate to win the league's top individual prize after scoring 17 goals and contributing 10 assists in just 18 regular-season matches this year.
The Argentina legend has missed large chunks of the campaign through injury, recently sitting out two months with an ankle problem he sustained while representing his country in the Copa America final.
Yet only four players – D.C. United's Christian Benteke (23), Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, the Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez (both 19) and Suarez (18) – have outscored him this term, and he also sits joint-eighth in the assist charts.
Suarez is the other Miami player to be nominated for the prize, having put himself in Golden Boot contention in his first season in the United States.
The Uruguayan's 18 league goals have come from chances with a total expected goals (xG) value of 12.04, giving him an overperformance of 5.96.
Only New York City's Alonso Martinez (6.13, 16 goals from 9.87 xG) and Messi (6.08, 17 from 10.92 xG) have overperformed their underlying figures by a greater margin.
Suarez is also up for the league's Newcomer of the Year award, alongside players including Hugo Lloris of LAFC and the Galaxy's leading scorer Gabriel Pec.
Last season's MVP, FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta, is in the running for the top prize once more after providing more direct goal involvements (30, 14 goals, 16 assists) than any other player in the league.
With Miami winning the Supporters' Shield and remaining on course to break the league's single-season points record (73 by the 2021 New England Revolution), head coach Gerardo Martino has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award.
The Colorado Rapids' Chris Armas, Greg Vanney of the LA Galaxy and the Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy are considered among the other leading contenders.
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