The New York Red Bulls are above the line heading into Decision Day, needing either a win or a draw to find themselves in their 12th postseason in a row, the most among any New York area sports teams.
The whole club knows the task will not be easy against a very good and well-organized Nashville SC team.
"We have a lot of respect for Nashville," Captain Sean Davis said. "We know that they are a strong team, you just have to look at the table to figure that out, very tough team to beat, well-organized."
Head Coach Gerhard Struber knows that as long as RBNY take care of their business, Decision Day will go their way.
"We always think a little bit what is going on with the opponent, but my bigger power is in our team," Struber said. "We have big respect, but we also big quality and our quality is not easy to handle right now. We will fly to Nashville for points and not for friendly situations with [Gary] Smith and his boys. We have a big goal on Sunday, we know what we have to do, and I trust, and I believe in my boys and we can win in this stadium in Nashville."
New York handed Nashville one of their four losses on the year with a 2-0 victory at Red Bull Arena earlier in the year. Nashville has not lost at home all season.
"We just need to know that it is going to be a dog fight," Andrew Gutman said. "They do not give up a lot of goals and we do not give up a lot of goals, so it is going to be a battle for who wants it that little bit more. I have total belief in our team and what we have been doing these last couple months. We just have to show it one more time and go into Nashville getting a result and then we go into playoffs, and anything can happen."
New York has battled back from looking up at teams in the postseason to being above the line and controlling their destiny on the final day of the regular season.
"It has taken a total group effort to get where we are now and it is important to understand that the job is not done and we have to take care of business on Sunday, but I am really proud of how everyone in this organization has grown throughout the year," Davis said. "We have all been challenged in different ways -- from the staff to the players -- and I am just really proud to be a part of this group, and this run we have been able to go on. I think it has been a source of pride, for not only us, but also our fans, and that is really important for them for sticking with us through thick and thin. I think we are all really appreciative of that and there were so many different obstacles, different issues that were thrown at us, but just really proud of the staff and players for how we have come together, how in the toughest moments when we had our backs up against the wall that we were able to stick together and get the results. So, it has given us a great opportunity on Sunday to get into the playoffs and ultimately, go for MLS Cup, and that is the goal."
But New York can't get complacent, as they will be without their top goal scorer, Patryk Klimala, who will be serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation.
"On Sunday, it is important that we bring all our power on the field with our typical style of play and also, that we always create in transitions and good build up moments chances," Struber said. "I have the trust we can realize the chances in goals. I have the trust and the belief in my boys that we can score away against Nashville."
New York and Nashville could also see themselves matched up in the first round of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, but that won't stop either team from going at Sunday's match with everything they have.
"We have to be ready for their best and we have to be ready from the opening whistle," Davis said. "That has been the message over the last few weeks, we know how important these games are, especially this one. I think the team is ready to go, I think they are excited, and it is a big opportunity for us. It is not going to be easy, but it is a great challenge, and this is why we play the game."
It all comes down to Sunday -- and after that, anything can happen in the playoffs.
"Our team is in a really good spot, as long as we stay focused, stay hungry, and stay humble in what we are doing and execute Gerhard’s game plan," Gutman said.
