Manager Peter Vermes expects to learn a lot about his team on Saturday night when Sporting Kansas City visits the New York Red Bulls to open the 2021 MLS regular season.
After finishing atop the Western Conference last year, Sporting has returned a strong veteran core while also promoting a host of young Academy products and a few key acquisitions from abroad. With an MLS-leading 12 Homegrown Players on the roster and French Nicolas Isimat-Mirin and Remi Walter in the mix, Sporting has a similar yet different look than it did in 2020.
The first test for the revamped group comes against a Red Bulls side known for its suffocating high press and up-tempo style of play.