New York City FC ended the MLS regular season with a loss to CF Montreal but overall the club has taken a major step forward following their inability to make the playoffs in 2023. Head coach Nick Cushing started the year with an underwhelming run that many thought would cost him his position. However, the team rebounded, found their star striker and threatened for a home playoff game all the way to the final game. All in all, City finished the year with far more positives than negatives.
“It’s all about taking the positives,” said Cushing after the loss on Saturday. “We’ve always faced up to the areas we need to improve on, whether that’s individually or collectively as a team. We’ve always fronted the disappointment. I say again, I take responsibility for every result we get as a football team.”
That responsibility has rubbed off on the team as the narrative of 2024 has constantly been about owning the moment. Alonso Martinez becoming the team’s leading striker, Justin Haak pushing his way into a starting role on defense and Santiago Rodriguez learning to co-exist on the field with a club legend like Maxi Moralez. The team has followed in Cushing’s motto of owning the situation and now they have a chance to take that into the playoffs against FC Cincinnati.
The disappointment comes in what could have been. A win would have given City the ability to host the first game of the three-game round one series. The opponents would have been a tough Orlando City SC team but the bright side sees FC Cincinnati facing NYC. This year Cushing’s men have performed well against the third seed in the Eastern Conference, with a dominating win coming just weeks ago.
“We’ve had some top games against them,” said Cushing on the opposition. “We’re confident we can put performances in, and we’re pleased we’re in the post season. We’re motivated now for the end (of the season).”
City will travel to TQL Stadium next Monday to open the first round of the playoffs. Where they play their home game remains to be seen. However, the team did promise an announcement on the matter at some point on Monday.
photo by Jordan Bank