After their first win of the season, Nashville SC head north to take on Philadelphia Union. The Union have started the 2025 season off in perfect form, winning each of their first three matches. For the latest on the red-hot side, we spoke with Matt Ralph, managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now.
Ben Wright (SixOneFive Soccer): Firing Jim Curtin was a huge story last season, and Bradley Carnell is clearly a very different stylistic fit. What were your initial thoughts on the move, and has your opinion changed at all in retrospect?
Matt Ralph (Philadelphia Soccer Now): I was surprised and a little annoyed with the firing because it didn't feel warranted or fair. The Union missed the playoffs after their two best players (Jose Martínez and Julian Carranza) were sold in the summer, in a season where they were already taxed playing in Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and Open Cup on top of MLS play. So it didn't then and still doesn't sit well that they fired their long-time coach and then spent more money than ever before acquiring three players for a team they blamed the previous coach (who you are also still paying) for not making the playoffs with.
