MLS: Five storylines from Matchday Eight
FotMob - April 8, 2024, 2:08 PM
Los Angeles FC claimed the bragging rights over the LA Galaxy in El Tráfico on Saturday while Lionel Messi made his long-awaited return for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids. Meanwhile, the New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps surged to the top of their respective conferences. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert
Los Angeles FC asserted themselves against in-form LA Galaxy
El Tráfico always delivers. The fixture has become MLS’s defining rivalry since Los Angeles FC’s entry into the league five years ago and Steve Cherundolo’s side asserted their dominance against an in-form LA Galaxy on Saturday, albeit by being the more conservative of the two teams in a 2-1 victory at BMO Stadium.


LAFC had just 32% of possession against their fiercest rivals. Cherundolo set up his team to stifle the Galaxy’s attack and largely succeeded – the visitors finished with an Expected Goals (xG) of just 1.13. This game plan was reflective of the evolution LAFC have made under the increasingly pragmatic Cherundolo with victory in El Tráfico a sign of how the Black and Gold could still grow into the 2024 campaign.

Lionel Messi made his return, but Inter Miami still have problems
After several matches on the sidelines, Messi made his return from a hamstring injury for Inter Miami in the second half of Saturday’s home game against the Colorado Rapids. The 36-year-old found the back of the net with a cultured finish off the inside of the post, but the Herons could only draw 2-2. They still have problems.


Inter Miami have shown themselves to be vulnerable in defensive transition over the first eight games of the season and Colorado exploited this in Cole Bassett’s late leveller when the hosts conceded possession and were countered. Tata Martino rested many of his best players ahead of this week’s CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Monterrey. A defeat in that game after a disappointing result against Colorado would change the narrative around Messi and co.

NY Red Bulls have taken a big step forward this season
Victory away to FC Cincinnati on Saturday saw the New York Red Bulls take an early lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings. While it might be far too early to start talking about silverware, this is reflective of the progress RBNY have made under new head coach Sandro Schwarz. Indeed, they look like a serious team that could stay near the top of the Eastern Conference.


Schwarz hasn’t reinvented the wheel. There are still recognisable elements of the RBNY’s game. They still play Red Bull football, as demonstrated by the way Cincy were forced into a turnover high up the pitch for Frankie Amaya’s opener. However, they are also capable of playing more pragmatically against the ball – and that’s new.

Aidan Morris saves Columbus after Cucho Hernández’s moment of madness
The Columbus Crew were already trailing to DC United when Cucho Hernández was shown a straight red card, making a difficult situation even trickier for the defending MLS Cup champions. Having missed the Crew’s last two matches due to “team policy,” as Wilfried Nancy put it, this was hardly the most dignified of returns for the Colombian, who was sent packing for kicking out at Christopher McVey.

When Columbus couldn’t break down the DC United low block, Aidan Morris (who was also sent off in the CONCACAF Champions Cup last week) stepped up to salvage his team a point with a stunning equaliser from distance three minutes from the end. The USA midfielder appears to have improved again this season and has made himself a leader for the Crew.

Vancouver’s hot start has made them the strongest team in Canada
Saturday’s all-Canadian clash between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC on Saturday resulted in an emphatic 4-0 victory for the hosts who asserted themselves as the best team in the Great White North this season. Vanni Sartini’s team were helped by some calamitous defending from TFC, but nonetheless – this was a statement result and performance by the Caps.

After slow starts in 2022 and 2023, Vancouver are setting the pace at the top of the Western Conference with four wins, one draw and one defeat from their opening six fixtures. “We’re doing two things much better than we were last year,” Sartini said. “First of all, we are better defensively. Then, the second thing is that last year, we needed 14 chances to score a goal, and this year we are much more (clinical).”


(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Manchester United
Kobbie Mainoo reacts to 'unbelievable' first Old Trafford goal
Kobbie Mainoo has shared his thoughts on scoring his first goal at Old Trafford
Mainoo said the team felt 'disappointed' to not secure a victory
A draw saw Liverpool remain in second place behind new league leaders Arsenal

By Katie Catherall
Apr 8, 2024
Mainoo's goal put United ahead
Mainoo's goal put United ahead / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Kobbie Mainoo has admitted he planned to catch Caoimhin Kelleher off-guard with the glorious goal that helped Manchester United secure a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Both sides were equal heading into the second half, but it was 18-year-old Mainoo who separated the pair and secured his first goal at the Theatre of Dreams in the 67th minute, finding some space and curling into the top corner in an eerily similar manner to a famous strike by another former wonderkid, Federico Macheda.

"Of course it's an unbelievable feeling, my first professional Old Trafford goal, and to do it in this fixture is amazing," Mainoo reflected after the game.

"When Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave me the ball, I thought the goalkeeper wouldn't think I would shoot, so I laid it off and it felt good. Luckily, it went in."

Kobbie Mainoo
United had to settle for a draw against Liverpool / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
Mohamed Salah's late penalty ultimately took the excitement out of Mainoo's moment and the youngster admitted the United dressing room were frustrated not to get all three points.

"It left us disappointed," he continued. "We worked hard to get into the game, after a tough first half.

"We have given it away. Ultimately, we wanted the three points and it is a big game for us coming to the end of the season. To not come away with three points is tough to take.

"Again penalties have cost us, but we have to keep on working ironing out these details that keep costing us and keep trying to get better."

Mainoo went on to accept some blame for Luis Diaz's opening goal.

"With that one, I was supposed to be double-teaming Virgil van Dijk with Rasmus Hojlund, and leaving Luis Diaz," he revealed. "We should clear it, it was a miscommunication, and details have cost us."

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Carlo Ancelotti ‘very nervous’ ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Manchester City

Veteran Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he is nervous ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The record 14-time winners host the current holders in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

It is the third season in succession the two clubs have met in the knockout stages, with Real claiming a remarkable comeback victory in the 2022 semi-finals but City avenging that loss in emphatic fashion 12 months later.

The game will be Ancelotti’s 200th as manager in a competition he has won a record four times, but he recognises it will not be straightforward.

The Italian, whose side are eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, said at a press conference: “Yes, very nervous. The hours before a match are a time when you have to suffer.

“I was thinking the other day that defeat is suffering and victory is happiness, but it’s not that way. Victory is relief.

“It’s happiness if you win trophies, but an isolated victory is a relief.

“You’re calmer and happier the days after, but suffering is part of your job. It’s what keeps you alive. It’s fuel for me.”

The 64-year-old comes up against the manager perceived as the best of his generation in Pep Guardiola who, after his two previous successes with Barcelona, now has three Champions League triumphs to his name.

Ancelotti insists he is not interested in comparisons.

He said: “Guardiola is a great coach, I don’t care much about what they think of me. I care what my club thinks.

“But Guardiola is a great coach and there’s no doubt about that.”

Madrid took the lead in the first leg of last year’s tie but City hit back to claim a draw before winning convincingly 4-0 in the return at the Etihad Stadium.

Ancelotti said: “We didn’t play with courage and personality, which are fundamental aspects in this kind of game. We lacked that in the second leg.

“They put a lot of pressure on us up front and we didn’t find alternative solutions. We want to avoid these things in this tie.

“I’m confident we’re going to give our best. We have the quality to compete.

“We expect to be superior in some aspects and they will be superior in others.”

Madrid are a different proposition this season following the signing of England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has made a stunning impact in the Spanish capital.

Ancelotti said: “He’s having a very good season in the penalty box.

“He’s physically very strong and he’s helping us a lot in the defensive aspects and up front, to create space and provide movement.

“He’s very mature. He’s only 20 years old but he’s very professional, very serious and humble.”