ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - It was all smiles for St. Louis City SC Head Coach Bradley Carnell after the team clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs Sunday against rival Sporting KC.
But he couldn't get away from talking about the CITYPark atmosphere.
"If we thought it could get any better, I think this last matchday was the best I ever experienced at CITYPark," said Carnell when he made his weekly appearance on Total Information A.M.
Carnell says the support of fans is one of the biggest reasons why the team has been able to have a successful debut season, which include the club setting the record for most wins by a MLS expansion team.
"We just find new ways to up our standards from a fan culture perspective, from the noise, from the support, it energizes the players on the field," said Carnell, "The fans are a huge part of what we do around here."
The clinching of the top seed in the Western Conference will allow St. Louis City SC and CITYPark to host playoff games until the MLS Cup Final. The clinch will help give the club some flexibility to let players get plenty of rest Carnell told Total Information A.M.
"It's easy to say 'we're going to tighten the screws and keep going, but at some point, the players do need a little rest to reset," said Carnell.
Carnell says that since the team have a two week break between their next match between the Vancouver Whitecaps on Oct. 3 and their last match against Seattle Supersonics on Oct. 21, the squad can give players a similar schedule as to when the team exited the League Cup back in August.
"We'll give the players three days off, similar to our League's Cup exit," said Carnell, "We'll come back in and train for that week, then do a scrimmage of some sort on Oct. 14, give the players a day to rest, then come back for that final four day bill up for Seattle."
