New York City FC suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat on Wednesday night against Chicago Fire.
Here are Five Points from a tough night on the road.
Reality Check
No one will argue that New York City FC have played some of the most exciting and entertaining soccer at points during the 2021 campaign, but those past successes cannot be used to excuse last night.
Gudi Thórarinsson was brutally honest in his post-match press conference and acknowledged this was not the standard of performance the club expect to produce. The race of the playoffs is heating up, and while NYCFC are currently above the line, it is vital they redress this form and get back to playing level.
The game against Chicago was a frustrating evening for everyone connected to the club, and it's vital the club get back to the kind of performances that helped get them towards the top of the Eastern Conference
Thiago & Santi
When a coach decides to make substitutions it’s because they want to change something they’re seeing on the field.
In Santiago Rodríguez and Thiago Andrade Ronny Deila wanted a different option in attack, and he got just that. The pair added pace and energy in the final third, and while that didn’t produce a goal, Rodríguez will be disappointed his headed goal was called back by VAR.
The pairs’ willingness to show effort and energy spoke to the group’s togetherness in a subtle way, with everyone committed to improving the team’s situation right now. If Ronny Deila wants to change his frontline on Sunday he has that option, and with the team enduring difficult form, having those options is only ever a blessing.
Quick Thinking
As the half-time whistle sounded on Wednesday both teams had a case for why they should be a goal up.
The game was delicately poised, and that meant the first 15 minutes of the second period were always likely to be influential in deciding who would emerge victorious from proceedings. Unfortunately, Chicago were the side that snatched the advantage, and they did so with a quick freekick.
The set play caught NYCFC off guard, and Thórarinsson expressed his disappointment at how the team conceded those goals after the game. A disappointing way to go behind, neither goal will have pleased the team, and their desire to fix this will only serve as motivation on Sunday.
Get It Out Of Your System
No team is infallible.
Even the greatest sides go through testing periods, and in those moments is the opportunity to respond and show your true character both as an individual and a group.
As Thórarinsson argued, if this is NYCFC’s dip, better it occurs now, with time left in the season, and before the playoffs, so the team can get it out of their system and refocus for what remains of the campaign.
We’re Family
The 2021 season has had some undoubted highs and real development for the group both as individuals and as a team. Progress is never linear, and we still have some major moments to come in the regular season and hopefully the post-season.
While it might feel like rain clouds are above, blue skies will return, and the players are working as hard as possible to get back on track, meaning it’s important the whole NYCFC family come together as one and continue to march forward.
Onwards to success, now and forever.
