'The expectations are to win.' FC Cincinnati previews 2023 MLS season

The sports spotlight in Greater Cincinnati is undoubtedly focused on the region's Major League Soccer club, or at least it was Thursday.

FC Cincinnati made its unofficial return to TQL Stadium Thursday for a practice session attended by almost 50 media members, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, and Co-Chief Executive Officer and Controlling Owner Carl H. Lindner III, and Co-Chief Executive Officer Jeff Berding.

The morning event, which included a food-tasting for new offerings this coming season at TQL Stadium and a team photo opportunity with the dignitaries in attendance, was a noticeable deviation from the club's normal practice routine at the Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

But that's life for a club of FC Cincinnati's caliber. The event also underscored interest in the club locally as it prepared to embark on the 2023 MLS season with a home match Saturday against Houston Dynamo FC (7:30 p.m.), a rebuilding team FCC will be expected to beat.

The backdrop for all of Thursday's activities was the looming season for which FC Cincinnati has been a trendy pick to finish high in the Eastern Conference standings and make noise in the postseason.

For subscribers:FC Cincinnati GM Chris Albright talks USMNT, Gio Reyna, playoff hopes

More:Here's how FC Cincinnati plans to make TQL Stadium a 'fortress' in 2023

The media presence Thursday combined with the on-field expectations for FC Cincinnati was a stark contrast to a year ago when the club started the 2022 season largely as an afterthought in MLS following three consecutive last place finishes.

"Yeah, no offense but our goal wasn't to be at the top of the power rankings," FCC head coach Pat Noonan said during remarks following Thursday's practice session. "But what I think (expectations do) is give us more confidence that we can be a good team. The goal from the beginning was to create a winning culture. We haven't won anything but the expectations are to win. I think that was always internal but now maybe it's external as well. The goal will be to improve on what we did last year and have another successful season."

FC Cincinnati returns the spine, or core group of players up and down the field, from the 2022 side that shattered numerous club records in finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference and winning the franchise's first-ever MLS Cup playoff match.

The now-concluded offseason was used to fortify the team, particularly on defense where new right back Santiago Arias, a veteran of two FIFA World Cups with Colombia, and on-loan center back Yerson Mosquera highlighted the new additions. Defensive midfielder Marco Angulo is also considered a prized, albeit young, acquisition at 20 years old.

There are few drawbacks and major upside to this FC Cincinnati team on paper, and FCC is bracing for challenges that arise under the weight of such lofty expectations.

"I think we're all in a position where we might have a target on our backs," FC Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga said. "Last year, there was a lot of talk that people didn't expect us to do as well as we did. Now, it's a different story and everyone knows what we're about. We were able to keep a lot of the core. A lot of players stayed for this upcoming season. I think everybody understands what we're about and we just have to show it now."

On-field updates

Obinna Nwobodo missed several weeks of preseason training and the club's last two preseason games due to concerns over a possible hamstring injury, but he rejoined the club for its TQL Stadium training session Thursday.

Nwobodo was last a full participant for FC Cincinnati during the club's Feb. 10 preseason match against Philadelphia Union in Clearwater, Florida. He had been doing individual work in order to build up to Thursday's training session, and it appears he'll be available for Saturday's match.

Goalkeeper Alec Kann's start to Thursday's training session in which he did individual work away from the club's three other first-team goalkeepers was another new development. It's unclear if he rejoined the players for the portion of Thursday's session that wasn't open to media, which makes his availability for Saturday's match a looming question.

More:FC Cincinnati supports new MLS Cup playoffs format

The development for Kann follows a preseason in which he competed hard to regain his starting position after losing it midseason last year due to injury and then the emergence of Roman Celentano.

Brenner Souza da Silva was also present for training Thursday, as he had been all week, following a nearly three-week-long absence from the team mostly due to a personal issue in his native Brazil. Asked about Brenner's availability for Saturday's game, Noonan said only that Brenner would be available.

Noonan indicated that Brenner was in good physical condition and remained one of the club's best players even after his weeks-long absence, but it would still be surprising to see him start versus Houston after such a long absence.

TQL Stadium introduces 'das boot' refillable, 22-ounce beer

Even with Pureval and club owners in attendance, the introduction of a new 22-ounce beer for the coming season at TQL Stadium seemed to steal the show on social media.

The club's fans appear to be excited for the "das boot," which costs $22 at any TQL Stadium location that serves draft beer. The boot, which will feature cleats like a soccer player would wear, can also be refilled for $10.

And yes, we said "das boot." Just like from the 2006 cult-classic movie, "Beerfest." Those will be available at TQL Stadium all season.

Seeing as beer can be an important part of the soccer experience for some fans, the new beverage option was already gaining traction and attention by midday Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 'The expectations are to win.' FC Cincinnati previews 2023 MLS season