The update says Philadelphia may travel without both of their usual central defenders, with Olwethu Makhanya reportedly suspended and Japhet Sery Larsen still out. Reports also suggest Jesus Bueno and Stas Korzeniowski are unavailable, while Indiana Vassilev is being assessed after a training-ground blow to the head.
That leaves Carnell with little room to manoeuvre against a side built to punish hesitation.
For a team already searching for rhythm, defensive disruption is the last thing you want before facing Lionel Messi.
Miami appear to have found a clearer shape in recent weeks. Reports suggest results and performances have improved under the interim setup, and the attack looks deeper than a one-man show.
Of course, Messi remains the headline threat. He still changes matches with one pass, one free-kick, one burst into space. But what makes this Miami side more awkward is the support around him: runners ahead of the ball, more movement between the lines, and greater variety in the final third.
That is why Carnell’s second quote matters too: "We're going to have our hands full, for sure."
Carnell does not sound interested in surrendering the game before kick-off. He insisted his side would be brave and could still surprise opponents "when no one expects [anything] from us."
That is the challenge now: survive the pressure, stay compact, and hope belief lasts as long as the legs do. If the Union can get through Miami with a result, the mood changes quickly. If not, attention will turn to how soon bodies return and whether this patched-up defence can hold together in the next stretch.