“I never want to feel like that again.”

Union coach Jim Curtin is understandably optimistic that his team can pull out a win in Saturday's regular-season finale against FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park (6 p.m., Apple TV).

But he is also willing to admit the truth: Even if the Union wins, it might not matter.

To secure one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spots, the team must pick up a win of their own and suffer a loss to DC United or CF Montréal in the final.

“I never want to feel like that again trying to get to No. 8 or No. 9,” said Curtin, one of the few coaches or players who were there when the Union last missed the playoffs seven years ago. “But it is our reality. It is done – it was done by us, and as a leader I take responsibility for it. But a million things have happened in the last 34 games to get us to this point, and now we have one more game left.”

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He acknowledged some details of his complicity, although most fans seem to agree that the players were more to blame this year.

“I’ve already thought hard about things I could have done differently as a leader,” Curtin said. “Mistakes I could have made, substitutions, additions to the team at the right moment, losing players due to injury, international call-ups, being a little better prepared for different things. “All these things go through your mind.”

However Saturday ends, Curtin knows how much work is needed this offseason. In his pre-match press conference on Friday, he came as close as ever to publicly admitting that a squad overhaul was imminent.

“Obviously the team, like every MLS team, will look different next year,” he said. “But with this group we have now, tomorrow we have the opportunity to extend our season (and) make one last run together because the locker room will look different. That’s the reality at the end of the year.”

Perhaps knowing how “this group” could be interpreted with his veteran squad, Curtin quickly added: “Whether that's in a good season, a mediocre season or a bad season, there are changes – we understand that.”

But the point has been made, and it will continue well into the winter.

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Saturday's most important games to watch

The Union coaching staff will be tracking four teams simultaneously on Saturday: DC and Montreal with 40 points each and Atlanta United and the Union with 37.

DC hosts Charlotte, Montreal hosts New York City FC and Atlanta visits Orlando, all teams that have secured spots but are fighting for places in the table. Every Eastern Conference game on Saturday starts at 6 p.m. and every Western Conference starts at 9 p.m. (the whip-around show “MLS 360,” one of the best aspects of Apple's streaming offering, will come in handy).

Although Cincinnati is firmly locked in third place in the East no matter what happens Saturday, it has something to offer – a spot in next year's Concacaf Champions Cup. . So there's no reason to believe that the Union graduates on the Cincinnati roster and front office will do their old friend Curtin a favor and take Saturday lightly.

The Union can only reach number 8 or 9 if they make the playoffs. These two teams meet on Tuesday in the one-game wild card round at the No. 8 seed, and the winner will face Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the first full playoff round. This best-of-three series begins October 25 in South Florida.

“We know the only thing we can control is the way we play, that we can get a result and that is our priority,” Curtin said. “We have to win the game or your season is 100% over.” … If we do our part, maybe one of the other matchups will fall our way and we can make the playoffs.”

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Union will add new premium seating next year

Next year there will be three new premium seats at Subaru Park, additions the Union desperately needs to make more money from a stadium that has far fewer bells and whistles than other venues in the league.

The tallest stadium, named 2010 North (in honor of the team's first season), will be built at pitch level of the stadium's north stand, where the video board is located. It will have a row of 76 seats, with a counter in front with refrigerators and television screens built into it.

Food and drink will be offered on an all-inclusive basis with seat service and these fans will have access to a new luxury bar being built in the nearby concourse.

Across the field, two rows of luxury seats will be erected in front of the stands at River End, home of the Union's Sons of Ben and Keystone State Ultras fan clubs. These fans will also receive all-inclusive food and drink with seat service and access to a new pub-like space called The Commodore, which will also be built in the concourse

Finally, the Seaport Terrace Suites will be a structure built in the upper hall in one of the corners, divided into two closed interior spaces with a shaded balcony above. Each suite can accommodate up to 30 fans, and the Union plans to market them to groups and fans who gather for special occasions.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets to the new space can register their interest at philadelphiaunion.com/tickets/premium/coming-soon.

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Union reserve team in the playoffs

While Curtin is hoping things go well for his team, Union reserves coach Marlon LeBlanc has no such worries. Union II finished second in the Eastern Conference this year and hosts the reserve team of host New York City FC on Sunday (5 p.m., Apple TV).

It is the first time the Union's reserve team has won a home playoff game, not only in their current era in MLS Next Pro, but also in their previous years as the Bethlehem Steel in the USL Championship. Tickets are $16 for general admission and are available at philadelphiaunion.com/unionii.

You'll likely see many of the team's best young talents in action, including forward Eddy Davis, midfielders Cavan Sullivan, CJ Olney and David Vazquez, and defenders Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield.

“We have these brave, young players that I have to be brave enough to play against,” LeBlanc said. “I think where we are right now and where we are headed mentally heading into the postseason has a lot to do with (their) courage being rewarded. These guys have developed well and put themselves in a position to play for the cup.”

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