Nashville boss Callaghan demands focus during Supporters’ Shield chase

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Nashville SC head coach BJ Callaghan has urged his side to remain focused in their hunt for the Supporters’ Shield this weekend.

After a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes last time out, Nashville will clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield if they win or draw against CF Montreal on Saturday.

Nashville have already topped the Eastern Conference for the first time in their history, and they could set a new MLS single-season points record if they win eight points from their final four matches.

Despite Nashville being on course to record a historic MLS campaign, Callaghan wants focus from his players in Montreal.

“We don’t daydream. We don’t think about there; we know where we want to go,” said Callaghan.

“That’s the image of ourselves that we’re chasing. But how we go about it is by turning the page each day, and that’s where we remain focused on. 

“There’ll be plenty of time for other people to decide how chapter seven stacks up in the history books of Nashville, but that’s not for us.

“Our vision is to take steps each and every day to work, to compete and to execute at an elite standard on this vision of trying to become elite.”

Nashville midfielder Cristian Espinoza added: “We have the next opportunity in Montreal.

“Whether it’s at home or away, we go with a mindset to take the three points, and that’s what we are going to do in Montreal.”

It’s perfect  https://t.co/QY8xlMhGF3

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) October 22, 2026

Montreal are bottom of the East following a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders last time out, while they also lost the Canadian Championship final against Forge during the week.

To have any chance of pulling off a miraculous recovery and reach the postseason, Montreal must pick up three points against Nashville.

After missing Montreal’s draw with Seattle, Owusu will make a return to face conference leaders Nashville.

Owusu leads Montreal in goals (15) and assists (six) this season, and he will need to be at his best if they are to beat Nashville.

Mukhtar scored for Nashville in their draw with San Jose, netting his 16th league goal of the season, and his 10th since the World Cup break.

He has also netted in each of his last five MLS games (six goals), his joint-best scoring streak in the competition.

Nashville are unbeaten in their last six MLS matches (W4 L2) and have lost just twice in their last 24 league games (W16 D6).

Only Inter Miami (30) have won more points on the road this season than Nashville (24) among all teams in the East.

When Nashville hosted Montreal back in July, Sam Surridge’s penalty secured a 1-0 victory for the conference leaders.

Nashville are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Montreal (W3 D2), but have failed to win in their last three away trips (D2 L1).

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