New York City Interim Head Coach Nick Cushing says Alfredo Morales will miss Monday’s night’s MLS Playoff clash with Inter Miami.
The Midfielder, who had returned to action from the bench in the Decision Day fixture at Atlanta United, was unfortunately forced off late on, suffering another setback.
Cushing admitted our first round match-up will come too soon for the 32-year-old, but shared better news that Talles Magno and Tayvon Gray are fighting for contention, having also suffered injuries last weekend.
“Tayon and Talles are working really hard to try and get back as soon as possible,” the Head Coach explained. “We haven’t ruled them out but it’s pain-dependent for them.
“They're’ a million times better than when they were two days ago so in two days’ time, hopefully they’ll be in a place where they’re comfortable.
“Alfredo has a calf injury so it’s going to be seven days. He’s working hard and he’s getting through it, but it's muscle injury so there's no way he’ll make this game. “
Should Gray feature at Citi Field, he will likely line up in defense against Argentine Forward Gonzalo Higuaín.
With the in-form frontman having bagged eight goals in his last eight games, he has been identified as the key dangerman and while Cushing noted the quality the striker possesses, the Head Coach asserts his squad are fully-drilled on the threat of our opponent.
“He’s always been really dangerous in the box,” he stated. “He's always been a guy that if you give him two, three chances, he's going to score two three goals.
“Once you start to give him chances and game after game, he starts to go on a run. Then he becomes really dangerous, and he's definitely on that run.
“I think the [Miami] team has been really well-coached – the team is in a place where they are creating him a lot of chances – [Ariel] Lassiter, [Alejando] Pozuelo, [Indiana] Vassilev, [Jean] Mota, Gregore....
“Phil [Neville]'s done a really good job of getting that team into a place where they are creating a lot of chances for a guy like Higuain, who is a killer in the box.
“For us, it’s about starting on the front foot, making sure we look at both past games of Miami. They’ve changed their system a few times... I expect them to start the game in a five, in a diamond because I think it’s been strong. We have to be really prepared for that.
“We have to deny, we have to make the game where they don't get three, four chances. If we can get the game in a place where we have in the past three, four weeks, it gives us the best chance to win the game.”
With the fixture set to take place at Citi Field, Cushing says he and the team are counting down the minutes to stepping out onto the field once more in front of a vocal and energetic City crowd, eager to make home advantage count.
“Playing in front of our home fans always excites me,” he added. “Yankee Stadium, Citi Field have been really kind to us in the way that [it helps] the atmosphere, the fans, the noise.
“I've had so many amazing occasions there this year – 5-4 against Toronto and all of these games, even the Cincinnati game. We were disappointed to draw in that game but the atmosphere, and the way that we played, and the way that we feed off the atmosphere to get the performance that we got…
“When you look at games around the league, and you look at our games when we've had a really good crowd with a really good atmosphere – and we're together, we're playing, we're feeding off the fans and the fans are feeding off our offensive football, we're getting it in the box and we're scoring goals early – those two things go together.
“When I look at all those games – all of those goals and games that we've scored in, and played at Citi Field – we're really excited. We just can't wait to get in front of our fans and I hope they push us on in the early parts of the game and get us fired up.
“All of our good performances start on the front foot, we start with intensity. We start by moving the ball quickly – we get the ball in the offensive half of the pitch.
“It's about intensity. I don't think it'll be about the start of the game – I think I'll know in the locker room. When you look at the guys, you can see how hungry and how much energy, and how much desire and determination the guys have, and I've seen that this week in the preparation.
“Our atmosphere, our fans and the noise, the feel that we get together as us and them… I'm excited for that. Then we'll play the football that will give them life, and then together we can put a really good performance in.”
NYCFC host sixth seed Inter Miami on Monday, October 17 at Citi Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm ET, with coverage on FS1 and Fox Deportes.
You can purchase tickets for the game here.
