For New York City FC, the match against Club Necaxa from Liga MX on October 7 at Estadio Victoria comes at a perfect time.
“It’s really important to keep that momentum going,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said. “We were looking at different options and that game was the best option for us. We were looking for a good game of football and I’m pleased the club found that game.”
While some teams would welcome a weekend without a game during the international break, Vieira didn’t want his squad to break their routine.
That, he said, trumps any rest from a bye week so close to the playoffs.
“With the experience as a player, I know that when you have a rest it’s always difficult to get back,” Vieira said. “We are in a good period, we are in a good momentum at the moment and we don’t want to break that.”
That means, too, that it’s likely regular starters will see significant time against Necaxa, who are on a six-match unbeaten streak and are currently 12th in the Liga MX Apertura.
But Vieira is also cognizant of rewarding other players who have worked hard in training, but haven’t seen a lot of minutes in MLS play.
“There are some players who are doing really well and I don’t want to break that momentum where we play one game each week and we’re going to prepare the game as we did from the beginning of the season,” Vieira said. “Those players need games, they need to keep going and then we have players who didn’t play a lot who need games as well. I’m looking to satisfy the physical side of all the players.”
After the friendly, which will be broadcast live by the YES Network at 9:30 p.m., NYCFC has two games left in the regular season. They meet D.C. United October 16 at RFK Stadium before hosting the Columbus Crew SC at Yankee Stadium on October 23 at 4 p.m.
