Wilfried Zaha urged his Charlotte FC team-mates to "do better" ahead of their return to MLS action after a disappointing run in the Leagues Cup.

Charlotte were eliminated from the first round of the competition after defeats to Juarez and Guadalajara, though they ended on a high with a 2-0 win over Monterrey.

Dean Smith's side take on FC Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium this weekend, aiming to build on their impressive run of league form throughout July.

The Crown sit seventh in the Eastern Conference and five points ahead of the New York Red Bulls, who are just outside the playoff places.

"I moan because I know the team has quality, and we can do better," Zaha said. "And everyone's talking about what Charlotte can do, whatever.

"So, we want the best and I want the best, so I try to produce the best. So me moaning at players is because I'm like, 'I know you can do better. Come on.'

"So, it's not, 'Oh yeah, Wilf's just got an attitude.' No, I can walk around like a bot and not care about football or care about the team, but I just care in general, and that's me.

"When I came here, people knew before that I was passionate. So do you want a passionate Wilfried Zaha, or do you want a Wilfried Zaha that walks around and doesn't care?

"So people have got to decide which one you want. I'm still going to be me. People can decide what they want."

Cincinnati were another team to fall at the first hurdle in the Leagues Cup after picking up just one win against Monterrey in their three fixtures in the first round of the competition. 

Pat Noonan's side were beaten 2-1 by Guadalajara in midweek, with Andres Davila's 67th-minute strike proving to be just a consolation for the MLS high-flyers. 

They return to home soil this weekend having gone unbeaten in their last three MLS games, sitting second in the Eastern Conference and just one point adrift of the summit. 

And while Noonan was disappointed to exit the Leagues Cup early, he said he was impressed by certain aspects of his team's display, most notably in defence. 

"I think collectively we lacked a little bit of creativity and movement off the ball," Noonan said. "I think it was too predictable when all the teams were pressing us. 

"As we progressed, I think we improved, but maybe that was down to personnel. Some of the movements were too slow to create more challenging situations. 

"Defensively, for the most part, it was really solid. There were parts, though, that we should have defended better. Outside of that there were some good stretches. 

"We got caught in transition in a couple of moments where some of the on-the-ball stuff went to them, and we'll look to improve that moving forward."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cincinnati – Evander

Evander has led from the front for Cincinnati this season, registering 22 league goal involvements (15 goals, seven assists) in 23 matches for the team.

He netted his fifth brace of the MLS campaign against Miami, tied for the most in a single season in the competition in club history. He is now one shy of tying the team record for regular-season doubles with Brenner (six).

Charlotte – Karol Swiderski

Swiderski has often relished fixtures against Cincinnati in recent years, scoring four of Charlotte's 10 goals against them in the MLS.

He is the only Charlotte player ever with five or more goals scored in league play against a single opponent (six against the Chicago Fire).

MATCH PREDICTION: CINCINNATI WIN

Cincinnati registered a third straight league shutout in their goalless draw against Miami, tied for their longest MLS such streak in club history, first set in 2020 and matched between March and April 2023.

And despite being the underdogs according to Opta's pre-match simulations, Charlotte will come into this clash with confidence.

Smith's side have won four consecutive MLS matches for the first time in club history. They have also scored multiple goals in six straight league matches, twice as long as their previous longest such streak in a single season.

Charlotte are also unbeaten in their last three meetings with Cincinnati (W2 D1), including recording consecutive wins. The Crown conceded only two goals in those three matches after allowing seven goals in the four previous all-time meetings, earning just one win (D1 L2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Cincinnati – 56.3%

Draw – 22.6%

Charlotte – 22.1%