New York City Interim Head Coach says the Club’s Campeones Cup win is nothing less than the squad deserve.
The Boys in Blue lifted their second piece of silverware, defeating Mexican side Atlas F.C. 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on another historic night, courtesy of goals from Alex Callens and Maxi Moralez.
For Cushing, the triumph marked his ninth trophy with the City Football Group and first in full charge of NYCFC.
Naturally, the Head Coach was delighted with the achievement and asserts the victory is just reward for his players for their efforts during what had been a challenging time for the team.
“I’m so happy for the guys because of the work they have put in, and the way they have responded week in, week out,” he stated.
“I know this team is special. I know every coach says that but when I see a team that goes through many wins in the early part of the season, and continues to work at the level we work at, and continues to be hungry to be better; then goes through a period of losing so many games with a coach who was an Assistant and became the Interim Head Coach – all of the things that have been thrown at this team: major injuries, suspensions, we lost our captain [Sean Johnson]…
“I never ever felt they were coming apart or that they were checking out a little bit – there was always belief. I could feel in the locker room before the game, I could feel a real desire and hunger.
“If you isolate the game, I really believed the team could win. I knew it would be a difficult game but I knew we could win, though of course, in the back of your mind you have the run we’ve been on and the results.
“It’s a big moment: another trophy for our Football Club. That feeling never ever gets old! It’s my ninth trophy with this organization: seven others as a Head Coach and one as an Assistant, and it never ever gets old.
“This is the reason we do the job. There’s a moment when the players lift the trophy – and we do this job to create winning teams – but when I look at the podium and I see a guy like Kevin O’Toole celebrating with our team, who made his professional debut and had an incredible game for a guy who had never played at this level, it reinforces why we do the job.
“Kevin has really pushed on this year. He’s got real technical quality, real physical endurance and we wanted to give him an opportunity over the last two, three, four games but it maybe just wasn’t the right time. It was a good opportunity to put him in and I was fully confident he would put the performance in that he did, although maybe not as good as he did because I thought he was excellent.”
City opened the scoring inside five minutes, courtesy of Callens’ close-range effort, handing the home side a welcome early advantage.
While Cushing hailed the dream start, he was also proud of the team’s ability to see the game out and the manner of which they secured the victory on home soil, particularly with a clean sheet, thanks to goalkeeper Luis Barraza’s impressive display.
“I’ve been here now for two-and-a-half years, and we always seem to get a little bit of magic in this building!” he smiled. “Early goals, moments where we’ve rolled teams over…
“Alex Callens in particular has been so good this year. Getting him back with his energy and the way he is – his presence in this team – it doesn’t surprise me that in a moment where we need him, he pops up. You saw that against Atlanta last year in the playoffs.
“There was relief but also at the same time as a coach, you have to focus on the game, every moment.Scoring early of course is a really positive moment, and it’s springboard, but at the same time, if you go 1-0 up early and lose, it’s 10 steps backwards.
“You have to think logically in the moment, stick to the gameplan, coach the game how you see it and think about substitutions – you can’t get carried away thinking that because you’ve scored so early, you think you’re going to win.
“Luis was in because he trained really well. He’s highly thought of in the Football Club. I had no problem putting Luis in. Sean would have played but he’s just feeling a slight uncomfortable graze on his leg – not so bad. Sean has played a lot of football this year and to keep rolling him out… There was an opportunity to put Luis in.
“Luis made two incredible saves, especially at 2-0. They were good saves but they’re really big moments because if a team like Atlas get to 2-1, it’s a really different game.
“We have to enjoy this because it’s a big moment for us. It’s an opportunity to be a springboard. But it’s one win. We have to also understand we have a huge game in two days [against Red Bulls].”
