Hany Mukhtar targetting MLS Cup & MVP double with Nashville SC

It often takes a year or so to adjust to life in MLS; just ask Hany Mukhtar.

Signed to much fanfare, the former Germany youth international posted just four goals and three assists across 15 regular-season appearances in what turned out to be a heavily disrupted 2020 campaign.

But Mukhtar has been a different animal in 2021. Now fully acclimated to the league, the 26-year-old has 15 goals and 10 assists (according to WhoScored's count) to his name heading into Decision Day, firing Nashville to third in the East with an unbeaten home record.

Many now see him as Carles Gil's closest challenger for the MVP award and although Mukhtar's main focus is on taking Nashville to MLS Cup, he does admit he's got his eyes on the individual prize as well.

“It would be a great honor,” he told Broadway Sports. “I would lie if I said something else. Obviously, though, you can’t be the best player if your team is not winning and you have a bad season. First of all, I want to be successful, go as far as possible, and hopefully, win the cup. And then yeah, if I win the MVP I will be very happy and thankful.”

Given he's been the creative hub in a record-setting New England Revolution team, Gil remains the MVP favorite. But Nashville head coach Gary Smith believes Mukhtar is an "incredible candidate", highlighting just how "talismanic" he is to the rest of the group.

“If I’m not mistaken, the criteria for an MVP is somebody who not only scores goals, but can be maybe encapsulated as the talisman for their group, somebody that leads that group,” said Smith. “I think he’s shown as many qualities or more than anyone this year who’s in form. There are some guys that have not played the whole season but are in very, very good teams.

"But let’s just look at what he’s achieved in a second-year group. For me, that makes him an incredible candidate.”

Nashville's final task of the regular season is trying to secure second in the Eastern Conference. Smith's side are level on points with the Philadelphia Union heading into Decision Day, where they host the New York Red Bulls. The Union travel to NYCFC.