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Alfredo Morales | "You Can Always Learn From Tough Moments." 

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Alfredo Morales believes the Club's difficult run of form has allowed the squad to learn more about themselves as individuals. 

The Boys in Blue are currently on the hunt for their first road win of the campaign and will hope to secure it on Saturday night against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park.

Asked about whether the team's current struggle is teaching him anything about himself, Morales confirmed that every period of difficulty grants you the chance to grow and learn.

"I think you can learn a lot of things about yourself in every tough moment," he said.

"It's about how you feel, how you respond, what are you willing to do. I've been through moments like this before. It's not the same, obviously, but every tough moment is different.

"I feel like it's a reminder that in the past I was able to overcome, or push through, this wall or whatever it is and I can do it again.

"Maybe I have to do different things. Maybe I have to take a different approach or whatever it is. The most important thing is that I did it already so I can do it again."

Alfredo

The Boys in Blue will face the Timbers just days after their meeting with Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. City were on course for a 2-1 victory thanks to a brace from Gabriel Pereira before an injury-time equalizer for Atlanta left both teams tied. A disappointing result in the circumstances, Morales hailed the squad's togetherness in the face of adversity.

"There's a lot of disappointment but the team is amazing honestly," he said.

"We get setbacks or punched in the face all the time with the results but we stay together. We have fun. We work hard on the training pitch and I feel that we are very close [to succeeding].

"We had a lot of good performances in which we get didn't get the results, but it's all about focus and staying together, and preparing together for the game.

"I feel like we're very close to finally getting the three points and finally getting better results because we deserve them."

A trip to Portland also allowed Morales to reminisce about his last visit to the Rose City with NYCFC during MLS Cup in 2021. The midfielder played the full 120 minutes that day as the Club lifted a first piece of silverware, and he revealed being back in Portland was an enjoyable experience. 

"If feels great, I mean there's a lot of good memories with the guys,"

"We went to train today and we left the hotel with the bus and there's a small plaza [in the city] where the day after MLS Cup we saw some fans there so we jumped out and celebrated with them with the cup and stuff.

"So there's a lot of good memories. We have to make sure it stays that way so we try to do everything possible tomorrow to win the game and to add another good memory.

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