New York City FC Club captain Sean Johnson does not believe the team is going into Saturday’s MLS Cup Final as underdogs.
The Boys in Blue are at the final hurdle of a historic first run to MLS Cup Final that has seen them overcome Atlanta United, New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union on the way to winning the Club’s first ever Eastern Conference Championship.
Awaiting them on Saturday is a Portland Timbers team that secured the Western Conference Championship after overcoming Real Salt Lake last weekend. Asked about whether he saw his side as underdogs given the Timbers are at home on Saturday, Johnson replied, “I don’t think this team considers ourselves underdogs – I don’t think we ever have.
“I think we’re a team that’s been confident in our abilities. We’ve approached every game the past month or two as cup finals, but we’ve approached it in a way that we’ve gone with an even keel understanding that if we stick to the things that have got us success that we know we can achieve that we were confident as a group going into the game.
“We enjoy playing in good atmospheres. We’ve done that at home at Yankee Stadium for season after season now. This is going to be a great atmosphere on Saturday, but I think a big thing for our group is that we’ve embraced all these moments along the way, we don’t look at it as a negative, but more so that we’ve worked hard and we deserve to be here and we’ll enjoy every second of this week and going to Saturday we’ll look to do the same.”
The game also represents an important milestone for Johnson as one of the Club’s longest-serving players. The goalkeeper arrived in New York in 2017 via a trade with Chicago Fire, and recently celebrated his 100thappearance for City in all competitions. Reflecting on his time at the club, the shot-stopper revealed he feels he has become a better player, in large part due to the club’s commitment to excellence.
“For me, personally being at this club for five years, understanding the standards this club has and how much it means to put ourselves in the position to win MLS Cup means everything,” he said. “Just understanding the passion the fans have had over the years and the support we’ve had from the organization and everybody involved - it’s a special moment for us and one we’re definitely wanting to take advantage of.
“I think in this team we consider ourselves a family and when you look at past years this year more than any we’ve shown a togetherness, a willingness to do anything and everything for each other. We've been playing with a purpose and that purpose has been very united and very similar for each and every one of us – not only players but staff across the organization."
He went onto add: “This run has been symbolic of the work ethic and commitment of the group to get it right and we want to put those eight games together and make it nine because now we understand the moment, and understand what we’ve been working so hard for. I think to everybody here it would be worth it Saturday to get that ultimate win.
“Since coming to the Club five years ago I think there’s been a commitment to excellence. For me, when I arrived the Club welcomed me with open arms. There’s a different style of play - there was a certain period of adaptation - that I think helped me grow as a player on and off the field.
“We’ve got such a diverse locker room, guys from different backgrounds, all over the world and really learning how to bring that all together to become a successful family was the most important thing and something I definitely am appreciative of. This Club’s given me everything, and more so the opportunity to step into a place that again has such high standards, and we’ve gotten to the point where we’re on the verge of achieving something we’ve all worked so hard for.”
