New York City Football Club Head Coach Nick Cushing says he has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of this weekend’s MLS season opener.
The Boys in Blue travel to Tennessee to kick off the new campaign, facing Nashville SC in a 4:30pm kick-off at GEODIS Park, looking to start the new term on a positive note.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Cushing says he has no injury concerns from his side’s six-game preseason camp, adding he and the team are feeling ready and raring to go in 2023.
“The squad is fully healthy,” he said. “We picked up a few little knocks at the beginning of preseason but touch wood, everyone’s healthy. The training session today was really positive, and we have another day to prep tomorrow.
“I’m really excited. It's been a really positive preseason, getting the group together, adding individuals along the way.
“I know we’ll add further but the likes of Braian Cufré, Mitja Ilenic, Tony Alfaro, Matt Freese, they have been really positive additions to the squad, whilst pushing the likes of Keaton Parks, Matías Pellegrini, Thiago Andrade… those guys who want to play more minutes and stake a claim to be in the majority of the games this season.
“There are many elements to a preseason when we’re planning it. Initially, there was a huge physical focus to make sure we’re prepared for an MLS season that is going to be just as difficult than it's ever been - a lot of games, travel and incredibly competitive games.
“I was pleased with that. There was a tactical focus because when you're made the full time Head Coach, you get a preseason and an opportunity to give the team the direction you want the team to go in. I was pleased with performances against LAFC and LA Galaxy, and even in the last game - we carried the majority of the ball, we created chances we should have scored, we had some really good individual performances.
“Then there's the togetherness piece to make sure prepared for a home opener that is going to be hugely difficult, a really big crowd, a really good team. I was really enthused by end of preseason and especially this week, looking at team’s preparation and whether they are prepared for the game.
“If you reflect on last year, we played lot of games – I think the most ever as a team – and we had too many injuries. For us, the utilization of our squad, using those guys that haven't played a lot of minutes, using our MLS II team - we've carried a lot of MLS II and Academy players in preseason so they are able to get the work in, and are able to know and understand the expectation - we’ll have to use all of our squad for all of our games. We'll have to make sure we’re prepared to go into new playoff format with the best freshness we can have.
“The Philadelphia game [last year], the Conference Final, can’t be going into Conference Finals without Maxime Chanot, Talles Magno... We need to have our players fresh to be able to go to difficult places.
“I’m really excited to get going and the atmosphere and the feel of the group out there on the training pitch was really good.”
Following City’s signing of goalkeeper Matt Freese from Philadelphia Union, competition for the goalkeeping position will be fierce.
Cushing says the number one spot is up for grabs between the new recruit and Luis Barraza, predicting the pair will battle to don the gloves.
“For us, it’s about making sure we’re prepared going into the game,” he continued. “We've brought both of them through preseason. We have one more training day.
“I'm fully behind my goalkeeping coach Rob Vartughian – however he feels fit to pick the goalkeeper. Of course, I pick the team but I respect his opinion.
“If we go with Luis, we'll be fully behind him but I think it will be a straight shootout between Matt Freese and Luis Barraza in the first part of the season.”
The Head Coach was also full of praise for new defender Braian Cufre, who he believes will bolster his side’s mentality and attacking options, as well as defensive solidity.
“Firstly, he’s really impressed me,” Cushing hailed. “His mentality is top-level. When you bring a guy from La Liga, you expect that but his desire and hunger to train at a real high intensity, his hunger to perform well and to win, he’s really impressed me.
“He's really technical, he can defend but his offensive play - his crossing, his ability to get up into the offensive half to support attacks and give us width - has really impressed me. He will definitely increase the mentality, but his technical ability is really high level.”
City visit Nashville with the two sides having met only twice before – in the 2021 campaign.
The Tennessee outfit gained four points from the two fixtures, with last year’s Golden Boot winner Hany Mukhtar bagging a brace in a 3-1 win for Gary Smith's side.
Cushing warned his side will have to be aware of the threat the 2022 MVP poses, but insists the Boys in Blue will be up for the challenge.
“It’s going to be incredibly difficult,” he stated. “He was fully deserving of the MVP, he was really good player last year.
“It was really difficult when we played them in 2021 in our Conference. He scored against us, he’s a really good football player.
“If we allow his space and time, and we allow him to dictate the game with his technique and the vision he has, he will cause us huge problems.
“With our midfield, our back four and the way we’ve worked, we’re confident going into the game.”
NYCFC will kick off the 2023 MLS season on Feb. 25 when we visit Nashville SC at GEODIS Park (4:30 pm ET).
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