They say that second is the first loser. It is a ruthless sentiment, one that often misses the success that many teams achieve even when they do not attain the ultimate goal. But it does give a peek into the thinking of a true champion.
There is only one finishing position that matters: first. Ultimately, sport is about winning, and there can only be one winner. Anything short of that is not enough.
This almost inhuman streak is sometimes missing in Major League Soccer. Because many of these players are accepting that they cannot play at the highest level of the sport, sometimes, you encounter individuals who are that little more inclined to settle for what they have, rather than work for what can still be achieved — this is obviously not true for all players, but does apply to some.