The disposition was quasi-triumphant inside the home locker room at Children’s Mercy Park. In the moments after Sporting Kansas City clinched its sixth straight postseason berth last month, a group of players seemed unsure exactly how to commemorate the accomplishment.
A few offered reactions that could be construed as a tad celebratory. Others followed the temperament of winger Graham Zusi.
“We’ve got to get back to making deep pushes into the playoffs,” Zusi said. “Just making it, that’s not what we’re about.”
And yet, a few weeks later, here they sit. Again.
For the third straight season, Sporting KC can refer to November as the opening month of its offseason — the reasons for its early playoff departures notwithstanding.