For fans, players and coaches alike, nothing about the 2020 MLS regular season has been easy. Due to the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sporting Kansas City has started and stopped no less than three times over the course of an unprecedented campaign that was both extended in terms of calendar length and shortened in terms of total matches played.
Through all of the uncertainty and adversity, however, Sporting Kansas City emerged atop the Western Conference regular season standings thanks to a red-hot finish that has seen the club go 6-1-1 since the start of October. This strong run of form has resulted in a No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, which will begin next weekend.
Speaking about the accomplishment during his customary appearance on Sports Radio 810 WHB on Wednesday morning, Besler said that the 2020 campaign will have "a good asterisk" next to it in years to come.
"I think a lot of people would probably say that there's an asterisk next to this year, and yes, that's the case," he said. "But I don't think it's a bad asterisk at all. There's a good asterisk next to this year because we were the team that was able to handle things in the best way. In the end, we were the team that was able to come together and compete and get the result we needed to finish in first place. No one else can say that. We were the team that ended up on top in the Western Conference, so in many ways there's a good asterisk next to this year."
Besler and Sporting will begin their pursuit of the 2020 MLS Cup next Sunday, Nov. 22, hosting the San Jose Earthquakes in a Round One showdown at Children's Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT with a limited number of tickets available at SeatGeek.com and live coverage on FS1, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app.
