Minnesota United takes undefeated record to Philadelphia after brief pause

Best in MLS in points per game, Minnesota United faces this question after a week’s break: Can the Loons keep it going?

They’re 3-0-1 with two road victories under two different coaches, interim Cam Knowles and new head coach Eric Ramsay.

First in the Western Conference as well, they resume play Saturday afternoon at Philadelphia, an MLS Cup finalist in 2022.

Minnesota’s break, which coincided with a FIFA international-play window, allowed time off and allowed Ramsay time to work more with much of his team in training sessions. He and new assistants Knowles and Dennis Lawrence also watched their players gone on national team duty — including Finland’s Teemu Pukki and Robin Lod, New Zealand’s Michael Boxall and Honduras’ Joseph Rosales — from afar.

“Where I am at my stage here, I had a couple extra days with some of the guys I hadn’t seen up close,” Ramsay said. “It’s all come together quite nicely.”

But it also potentially could be a momentum stopper for a team that adapted so well to change — and a new style of defensive play, pressing the opponent higher up field when possible.

“I think it’s easier to keep the engine running,” defender DJ Taylor said. “Guys enjoyed the rest because after this, I don’t see where the next break is for a long time.”

The Loons average 2.5 points per game so far in a season start that has included defending MLS champion Columbus, mighty Los Angeles FC and Orlando City. Cincinnati is next in points per game with 2.2 and a 3-0-2 record.

The week’s break gave star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso time to pursue his U.S. green card. He returned home to Argentina for that and was still gone Friday, so he won’t play Saturday.

Reynoso’s preseason training was already interrupted by a week’s absence and then an injury and re-injury.

“It’s just a shame — more disruption to his momentum and his rhythm,” Ramsay said. “That was probably the last thing he needed, to have a week or 10 days away from training.”

Reynoso’s only appearance so far this season was 30 minutes as a second-half sub in a 2-0 home victory over LAFC just before the international break.

“It’s a nice puzzle to have, for all of us to have a good think and a good conversation,” Ramsay said. “Ultimately, he’s a player who can really contribute to any team in this league.

“It’s for us to make sure we find a way to get the best of his attributes out. It’s also for him to represent the direction the team is moving in terms of possession and energy and aggression, the front foot defending.

“I think it’s a little bit for us and a little bit for him to find a happy medium.”

Boxall was in transit Thursday, Rosales was ill, defender Micky Tapias was 50-50 depending on how he came through Friday training, and midfielder Kevin Arriaga and veteran Zarek Valentin are out.

The Loons welcomed back Pukki and Lod, whose Finland team lost 4-1 last week to Ramsay’s native Wales in a UEFA Euros qualifier. Pukki scored his team’s only goal. Wales lost a playoff final qualifier on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw at home to Poland on Tuesday.