Jim Curtin hails Philadelphia Union ahead of CCL semifinal clash against LAFC

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin labeled Wednesday night's Concacaf Champions League semifinal first leg against LAFC as "very importalt" as the "two heavyweights" get together.

LAFC and Philadelphia Union will clash Wednesday night for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League semifinals, after the two defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps and Atlas, respectively, to reach this point. Now, the Union will want to have revenge of LAFC in a rematch of the 2022 MLS Cup.

"We tend to bring the best out of each other. I think we’ve had some special matches versus LAFC" Philadelphia head coach Jim Curtin said.

"Obviously a very important match. You have now over the last year, the last calendar year, you have the four best teams on the continent left. You have a great matchup of two MLS teams that played in last year’s MLS Cup, and you have Tigres and León, two incredible Liga MX teams."

However, the Union have not beaten LAFC in their five previous meetings with three draws and two losses. The most notable matchup in the series took place in the 2022 MLS Cup final where they fell just short of glory against the Black & Gold.

"You know, the word ‘revenge,' I wouldn’t use that one. It’s an opportunity for us to now try to beat a very good team and get into the final of a major competition in our continent" Curtin asserted. "… I think you go to the old boxing adage that styles make fights. It’s different styles, no question about it… It’s similar to two heavyweights getting together that have a different way of playing."

With the first leg taking place at Subaru Park in Philadelphia, the Union will look to earn a positive result before traveling to BMO Field for the second leg in Los Angeles next Tuesday.