Seattle Sounders are used to playing under pressure, according to Brian Schmetzer, but they are paying little attention to suggestions they are now MLS Cup favorites ahead of the Western Conference Final against Minnesota United.
The Sounders host Minnesota on Monday after visitors the Loons dumped top seeds Sporting Kansas City out.
Seattle are playing Minnesota for the first time this season, which their coach says is "challenging", yet they are expected to advance to their fourth showpiece in five years.
Schmetzer is not getting carried away, though, explaining: "The expectations of this club and the bar that we set are very high.