Minnesota vs. Real Salt Lake: Pregame Notebook

Let's see how many people are interested in some pregame Loons content...

Image credit: Daniel Mick Photography

What the heck, let’s empty the notebook before the RSL game and see who reads it…

Minnesota United doesn’t really have a rivalry in MLS. Chicago’s closest, but in the wrong conference. Sporting KC is in the right conference, but has its own rival now, in St. Louis. Seattle is Minnesota’s nemesis, in the same way the Yankees are the Twins’s nemesis - which makes it not really a rivalry at all.

They say rivalries are made in the playoffs, and at least for Loons manager Eric Ramsay, that’s bearing itself out with Real Salt Lake.

“I think it’s probably the game, I would say,” said Ramsay. “You sort of talk about the Kansas rivalry in terms of proximity and some of the stuff that’s gone before. But I think this one is the game that has got that that real edge to it.”

Minnesota played RSL in the first game of their preseason preparations this year, a closed-doors scrimmage that wasn’t broadcast anywhere - but according to the coach, it was more contentious than would have been expected. “You guys wouldn’t have seen it, but the preseason game had that edge to it, for the first outing,” he said. “You could tell there was a spillover from last year for sure.”

Not only did the Loons play Real Salt Lake in the first round in the playoffs last year, but also in the third-to-last game before the end of the season - a 0-0 draw that was nevertheless memorable. RSL defender Brayan Vera was sent off for spitting at Loons captain Michael Boxall, a galvanizing moment that added plenty of bite to the first-round playoff matchup.

To be fair, Boxall said the opposite from Ramsay, though he also offered that it was part of trying to approach each game calmly. “I’m just trying to lay off the yellow cards,” he said. “Trying to just make sure I’m available more.”

RSL fans will probably remember Loons goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair’s antics during the penalty shootouts in the playoffs, including one of Minnesota’s most iconic moments in franchise history: St. Clair pulling out his best Vince Carter imitation after a shootout save, and motioning “It’s over” to the cameras.

“Our players thrive in those situations,” said Ramsay. “I’m sure they appreciate that type of that type of tone, intention to a game, because you don’t often get that in the MLS. It’s probably one of the things [that players miss] in comparison to leagues that have those really traditional long-standing rivalries that have been brought on by decades and decades of goings-on and geography and proximity and that sort of stuff. I think it’s it’s nice to have a game like that with that sort of feel for sure.”

Boxall might get a break?

The Loons captain played two games for New Zealand over the international break, helping his country to be among the first to officially qualify for the World Cup in summer 2026. It also meant, though, that he didn’t get back to training until Friday, after some flight delays caused him to miss Thursday’s session.

Much was still up in the air at the end of Friday’s session, but Ramsay sounded doubtful. “I don’t think he would be 100%,” he said. “There have been situations where we’ve rushed him back, but this this very likely won’t be one of those.”

Boxall’s delay in getting back wasn’t due to wild celebrations in New Zealand, though. “By the time you get out of the stadium and everything, it’s pretty late,” he said, sounding truly middle-aged. “I don’t know if you’ve been to New Zealand and tried to find somewhere to go out on a Monday night. It’s not a huge thing.”

Remember Kipp Keller?

Minnesota defender Kipp Keller hasn’t played for the Loons yet, thanks to a hamstring injury suffered in preseason. He was jogging during Friday’s training session, one of the first times he’s been seen running in weeks, even on the side.

According to Ramsay, it’s an injury that will linger longer than anyone would like, saying that Keller’s still a couple of months away from being fit. “Far more serious than anyone would have wanted,” said Ramsay. “He’s a guy that was chomping at the bit to get his opportunity, he’s a really enthusiastic guy.”

Minnesota selected Keller in last winter’s re-entry draft, hoping for him to provide some young, MLS-experienced depth on the back line. With the emergence of Morris Duggan and the arrival of Nicolás Romero, though, center back depth has become something of a strength for the team.