Nashville SC: Focus on the controllable

Nashville SC: Focus on the controllable

According to Soccernews.

Background

Shak Mohammed made an important contribution to Nashville SC's success with his second goal in the MLS. His performance will be appreciated by the fans and coaching staff as he thrives at a crucial stage of the season. Mohammed's development as a player could be very important for the MLS club's future.

Why this is important

Nashville SC not only solidified their position at the top of the MLS table with the win against Atlanta United, but also boosted the team's confidence. Shak Mohammed's decisive goal shows the team's ability to deliver in crucial moments, which could be very important for the rest of the season. Controlling your own performance will be crucial to keeping the competition in the Eastern Conference at bay.

Key findings

• Nashville SC: Focus on the controllable.
• Nashville SC remains at the top of the MLS and has a clear lead after a 1-0 win over Atlanta United.
• MLS leaders Nashville aim to control the controllables.

BJ Nashville SC coach Callaghan is urging his team to focus on what they can control as they look to extend their lead at the top of Major League Soccer (MLS). After last week's 1-0 win over Atlanta United, Nashville moved to a four-point lead at the top of the table. They lead the Eastern Conference by five points and are four points ahead of the leading Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference. Ahead of the upcoming clash against CF Montreal, Callaghan wants Nashville to focus on the factors they can control. "The foundation of what we always want to be is a team that competes with a really strong mentality and intensity," Callaghan said after the game against Atlanta. "Those are things we can control. I think you saw that tonight and I'm really proud of the group for how they handled different challenges." The game-winning goal against Atlanta was scored by Shak Mohammed, extending Nashesville's winning streak to four games. The team has also remained unbeaten for nine games. It was only Mohammed's second goal in MLS. "Every time you score a goal it's so emotional because it's so difficult - it's the most difficult task in football," Mohammed said. "It's different at home than away. I don't even remember exactly what happened - all the noise, I see Maxwell [Woledzi] tackling me, I see Hany [Mukhtar] running around, I see the whole team. God knows it's just chaos and I don't remember the moment. It's amazing and really a blessing." **Player in focus** **Nashville SC - Alex Muyl**: Muyl came off the bench to assist on the only goal in the win over Atlanta. He became the fifth Nashville player to record an assist as a substitute in MLS this season. Only the Philadelphia Union has more such players in MLS 2026, with six. **CF Montreal - Hennadii Synchuk**: Synchuk was the player with the most shots (six) and the most ball touches in the opponent's penalty area (11) against Toronto FC, but failed to find the target in a 0-0 draw. If he has his shooting boots on, the Ukrainian could be a decisive factor. **Game Prediction: Nashville Wins** Nashville has only lost one of the 11 duels against Montreal (W6 D4). In fact, they are unbeaten in six home games against Montreal, winning their last four games by a combined score of 11-2. Nashville is on its joint-longest winning streak in MLS (four games). The team's longest streak in all competitions is five games in the 2025 season. Montreal, on the other hand, is unbeaten in four games in all competitions (W2 D2). Under Philippe Eullaffroy they have lost just twice in 11 competitive games (W6 D3), having lost 27 of 47 games (W7 U13) since the start of 2025 before his signing. **OPTA probability of winning**: Nashville – 63.5% Montreal – 16.5% Draw – 20%

What happens next

With their upcoming game against CF Montreal, Nashville SC will look to continue their impressive streak. Coach B.J. Callaghan will continue to push for his team to focus on the controllable aspects to extend their lead in the MLS. Another win could not only consolidate the league lead, but also strengthen the momentum for the remaining games of the season.

Frequently asked questions

What did B.J. Callaghan demanded from his team?

B.J. Callaghan tells his team to focus on what they can control.

Who scored the decisive goal against Atlanta United?

The decisive goal against Atlanta United was scored by Shak Mohammed.

Why is the focus on controllable factors important now?

Focusing on controllable factors is important to expanding leadership at the top of Major League Soccer (MLS).

How does Nashville SC stand in the MLS table?

Nashville SC leads the Eastern Conference by five points and has a four-point lead over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference.

How long has Nashville SC been undefeated?

Nashville SC is now unbeaten in nine games.

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