For four more games in 2021, FC Cincinnati's players are being tasked with focusing on individual match-ups, scouting reports and the day-in, day-out work of professional soccer with no chance at the MLS Cup playoffs.
Making matters more difficult is that the current circumstances often lend themselves to players disproportionately weighing or prioritizing their respective futures – some of which on the current roster are uncertain.
More:FC Cincinnati stunned by late Chicago Fire FC win: 'It just hurts so bad.'
In the short term, Inter Miami CF awaits for FC Cincinnati on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It's a contest of great consequence for Miami, which is on a 10-15-5 record and barely hanging around in the playoff race at six points back of seventh-place D.C. United.
That's the immediate focus for FCC. Looming in the near future are decisions on contract extensions and roles in the club for the 2022 season.
You could forgive players for turning some of their attention to those matters at this point in the disappointing 2021 campaign.
In his post-Chicago Fire FC remarks Wednesday, Brandon Vazquez, following his second goal of 2021 and an assist, indicated individual performance had to be a factor given FCC's current situation.
"I've tried to keep that attitude all year, you know, that I've gotta taken every opportunity I get and make the most out of it," Vazquez said. "And, yeah, I have that in the back of my head – new staff coming in and all this stuff. I just gotta show everybody what I can bring to the table."
For the well-traveled, 36-year-old Haris Medunjanin, concerns beyond the 2021 season are more complicated than just extension, contracts, and possibly moving to a new club for what he anticipates could be the final year of his playing career in 2022.
More:Check out the Major League Soccer salary data for FC Cincinnati players
Medunjanin is separated from his family, which has taken a toll on MLS players throughout the pandemic and caused some to reassess their priorities.
"The new GM is watching too, so, it's a reason to show yourself in these games and hopefully for them, they can compete for the spot for next year," Medunjanin said in what seemed like a continuation of his passive language when speaking about the 2022 season for FC Cincinnati.
Asked whether he'd want to remain at FC Cincinnati given the opportunity by the club – Medunjanin will be out of contract at season's end – Medunjanin said:
"You never know with soccer, where it's going to bring you. It's also a little bit for me, my family thing. You're alone here and everything is like going through your head, you know, what are you going to do next year? I still want to play like one more year and I think I feel good. I don't need to play every game. If it just comes 20, 30 minutes in, and so for me, it's enough... If you need me 20 minutes, I'm there to help the team and to help the young guys."
The whole conversation goes back to the delicate job of interim head coach Tyrone Marshall and his staff have as they evaluate players that a reasonably looking out for their self-interest to a certain degree.
Speaking to media at TQL Stadium on Wednesday following the 4-3 loss to Chicago Fire FC, Marshall said all the players need to be ready in the event their number is called because new GM Chris Albright is watching.
So, too, are other clubs around the league, as well as FCC's die-hard fans seeking anything to feel good about over the remaining handful of matches.
"Again, you're still being evaluated," Marshall said. "That's one good thing about having a new GM here, is that you're being evaluated as well for next year. Show them that you want to be here. Show me as well. Show the group that you want to be here. Show the fans. It's important, right? So, that's what you're seeing from these games now. The guys that are passionate about it and the guys who want to be here moving forward."
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The Game
Kickoff: 8 p.m., DRVPNK Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Florida
TV/Radio/stream: Star64/Fox Sports AM 1360/fccincinnati.com.
Series info: Inter Miami leads the all-time series with a 3-0-0 record against FC Cincinnati.
Cincinnati.com prediction: Inter Miami 3, FC Cincinnati 0.
FC Cincinnati
Record: 4-18-8, 20 points; 14th in Eastern Conference
Goals for: 32
Goals against: 59
Coach: Tyrone Marshall - interim head coach (0-5-0).
Projected starting lineup:
Przemysław Tytoń (GK)
Ronald Matarrita, left back
Tyler Blackett, center back
Gustavo Vallecilla, center back (listed as questionable)
Zico Bailey, right back
Allan Cruz, midfielder
Luciano Acosta, midfielder
Yuya Kubo, midfielder
Alvaro Barreal, forward
Brenner Souza da Silva, forward
Inter Miami CF
Record: 10-15-5, 35 points; 11th place in Eastern Conference
Goals for: 31
Goals against: 48
Coach: Phil Neville - first year as head coach in Miami (10-15-5)
Projected starting lineup:
Nick Marsman, goalkeeper
Kelvin Leerdam, right back
Leandro González Pírez, center back
Christian Makoun, center back
Brek Shea, left back
Jay Chapman, midfielder
Gregore de Magalhães da Silva, midfielder
Indiana Vassilev, winger
Federico Higuaín, midfielder/forward
Lewis Morgan, winger
Gonzalo Higuaín, forward
Noteworthy: Nick Hagglund's season finished – FC Cincinnati's Nick Hagglund's 2021 season has come to an unceremonious end via surgery to repair a broken wrist he sustained during Thursday's training session at the Mercy Health Training Center.
Players to watch: Luciano Acosta and Brenner Souza da Silva – Luciano Acosta and Brenner Souza da SIlva are both on seven goals in 2021, which tied Allan Cruz's single-season club record from 2019.
It will be a race over the final four matches between Acosta and Brenner to see if either player can take a definitive lead in scoring, which would make the winner of that race the new single-season record holder for scoring.
Of FC Cincinnati's remaining opponents (Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Atlanta), Acosta's scored two combined goals against Nashville and Atlanta while Brenner scored against Nashville in the April 17 season opener.
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