New York City FC return to the field this Saturday after the international break to take on a DC United team that has pushed their way into the playoff picture. Head coach Troy Lesesne, and Golden Boot leader Christian Benteke, are quickly becoming a formidable foe down the stretch and could do damage to City’s hopes of hosting a playoff game in 2024.
“The way that Troy is coaching them has improved the team and really embedded the style that he believes in,” said head coach Nick Cushing during media availability this week. “For us, it’s going to be a very difficult game.”
City are not going into this game with much momentum. The club has dropped points of late and are winless in their last six in league play. In spite of this form, Alonso Martinez has emerged as the team’s main attacking threat. His 11 goals for the club are the best on the team but even with such numbers, the team has suffered with consistency through a full 90 minutes.
This weekend at Audi Field will be important towards regaining that confidence. Since their 2-0 win over Montreal back on July 3rd, the team has only had one clean sheet, a goalless draw against Chicago. Now, with playoff implications at their height, Cushing and City will need to focus on getting a result given the congested schedule approaching.
“Alonso has been incredibly clinical,” said Cushing on his star forward. “He’s been scoring braces and individual goals. Now, I think what has really pleased me is his work out of possession, his pressing intensity, the effort that he puts into the other side of the game really helps the team and that takes its toll on everybody.”
A win for City will help them keep pace with the New York Red Bulls for the final home playoff spot in fourth. It will also keep a surging Charlotte FC at bay who are just one point back in sixth place. All of this only adds to the importance of Saturday’s game, where a win could trigger the right trend as the team heads into a week against Philadelphia and Supporters Shield leaders Inter Miami.