What was normal for Heath and Minnesota United in those first two seasons was learning to lose. “You have to get used to losing when you’re in that position because it’s going to happen,” said Heath, who had a 20-year playing career in England’s top flight during the 1980s and 90s, winning a pair of league titles and a Cup Winners Cup in 1985. “You have a roster and you try to be competitive, but it’s difficult. You have a two-year plan and a three-year plan. And people can say whatever they want, but we’ve got better every year and we’re very close to having a team that can compete with anybody on a regular basis, which we haven’t up to now.”
Heath is selling it short here. From two consecutive seasons playing in a half-empty football stadium, finishing third from bottom in the West and failing to reach the playoffs, the Loons are now flying second-place in the Conference and facing a first-ever Open Cup Final (or a final of any kind) against Atlanta United on Tuesday, August 27. Driven on by six sumptuous strikes from the outstanding Darwin Quintero, Minnesota United have scored an astonishing 15 goals in four 2019 Cup games (three of them played at their brand-new, always sold-out Allianz Field in Saint Paul).
Things are happening in the North Country – big things that no one saw coming. Fans on the Wonderwall are singing their hearts out and the team down on the pitch is playing some of the most expansive soccer in MLS. So, what is Heath doing differently? “Nothing,” he said in that matter-of-fact way of his, noting an influx of players that have transformed the side from one seemingly afraid of its own shadow to title contenders on two fronts. “It’s just a different team with different players. It’s the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve been a comparable level to a lot of the teams we play.”
A New look for MNUFC
Those new additions are hard to miss. They’re big-time. Ike Opara was a 2017 Open Cup winner with Sporting Kansas City and that same season’s MLS Defender of the Year. Midfielder scrapper Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Alonso won four Open Cups with Seattle and was arguably the Sounders’ best player in the most productive era in the Cascadia club’s history. Slovak international Jan Gregus adds elegance and vision in midfield and
Romain Métanire and goalkeeper Vito Mannone have loads of experience in France’s Lique 1 and England’s Premier League respectively. “Look at the roster now compared to the last two seasons and there’s your big secret,” added Heath, eager to tout the recent acquisition of young Designated Player Thomas Chacon from Uruguay and the improvements of young homegrown striker Mason Toye, who’s scored two game-winners in the 2019 Open Cup. “These guys are used to winning and being competitive. “It’s taken five transfer windows to get there, but now we’re where we can keep pushing on.”
