Nico Estevez is grateful to have been given a second chance to coach in MLS with Austin FC, and he believes his team are raring to go ahead of Saturday's clash with Sporting Kansas City.

Estevez was named as Josh Wolff's replacement after Austin missed the playoffs in 2024, finishing 10th in the Western Conference, five points adrift of the Portland Timbers.

The Spaniard initially performed well with FC Dallas before enduring a miserable start to last season, which saw him relieved of his duties last June.

Reflecting on his last spell in the dugout, Estevez said: "It's hard because you want to give the club that gave you the opportunity to be the head coach the best of you. 

"You feel like you haven't achieved what was asked. Sports are difficult. We achieved a lot of things in two years, but in half of last season we weren't as good. 

"In general, after analysing with more time and talking with other people that you know in the league, you feel better about it."

Having returned to Texas, Estevez takes charge of a team expected to improve after a busy offseason saw Myrto Uzuni, Brandon Vazquez and Osman Bukari arrive. 

"I think the roster has been strengthened," he said. "I would like to have a mix between a control-based game and one that is vertical and fun to watch."

Sporting KC, meanwhile, stuck with Peter Vermes despite finishing 13th in the West last year, and sporting director Mike Burns is not looking to talk down their expectations. 

"If our goal every single year is not to win MLS Cup — I don't say this sarcastically — what are we doing this for?" Burns said.

"We're trying to construct a roster that is capable of first making the playoffs, competing for a championship and then win a championship. That'll never change from year to year."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Brandon Vazquez

Vazquez joined Austin from Liga MX side Monterrey for a reported fee of up to $10million, having previously shone in MLS for Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati.

He scored 34 goals during his stint with the Orange and Blue, netting 18 times in 2022 and eight times in 2023.

Sporting Kansas City – Daniel Salloi 

Salloi enters the 2024 season with 48 career goals for Sporting Kansas City. He is just two away from becoming the fourth player in club history to score 50 times for the club in regular-season play (after Preki, Johnny Russell, Dom Dwyer).

MATCH PREDICTION – AUSTIN FC WIN

Austin have lost their season opener in three of their first four MLS seasons, including each of the last two. 

Their only season-opening win came in 2022, their only previous playoff season, with a 5-0 victory over Cincinnati.

However, they have won all four of their home matches against Kansas City, with a total of 19 goals scored over the four games (12-7 in favour of Austin). 

Given Sporting's dismal returns in 2024, Austin are favourites. Kansas City's 31 points in 2024 were the second fewest in club history (20 points in 1999). Sporting lost 12 of their final 14 away matches last year (W1 D1).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 49.3%

Sporting Kansas City – 25.2%

Draw – 25.5%