Nashville SC Ready For Underdog Role

No one is giving Nashville SC a chance against Inter Miami CF and its world superstar Lionel Messi.

And that’s how they like it.

“Nothing changes. No one ever gives us a chance,” said Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith. “And I think that’s part of maybe the internal drive of the group. We always seem to be the ugly sister, as it were.”

While not one of the tournament favorites coming into Leagues Cup 2023, Nashville SC has had an impressive run in the tournament just to reach the finals. 

The club escaped the group stage despite a 4-3 loss to Toluca FC. Then they beat FC Cincinnati, the top club in Major League Soccer, in the round of 32. In the round of 16 they needed a final-shot-of-regulation equalizer to force penalties against LIGA MX giant Club América, thought they had lost the penalties, then got a chance at redemption and took it to get into the quarterfinals. 

They thrashed fellow MLS side Minnesota United FC 5-0 to reach the semis, where they had to beat another Mexican giant in CF Monterrey, which they did.

No one may give them a chance, but the club has taken every opportunity it’s been given to bullrush its way into the final.

“We should be full of confidence,” said Dax McCarty. “There’s no one in that locker room right now that is scared or afraid of the moment.”

He added: “We’ll be ready, and we’ll attack it with no fear. We’ll see where the chips fall when the final whistle blows.