For New York City FC II Head Coach Matt Pilkington the threshold for success in 2024 is simple.
“The team's objective is to make playoffs and go on a run,” he stated. “Our ultimate goal is to aid the development of our players and prepare them for the next level. We believe that winning is a massive part of development and so we’re trying to connect the two.”
Pilkington and his staff have done a good job of connecting the two so far this season. Whether it was their U.S. Open Cup run – which saw them as the last MLS NEXT Pro team in the competition – or the several players that have made their debut in MLS or been part of a matchday squad, the team's development has run parallel to a strong league campaign that currently has them above the playoff line.
July saw City named MLS NEXT Pro team of the month, while Pilkington also collected the Coach of the Month award as City went unbeaten.
Pilkington is typically modest when asked about the achievement, shifting focus on the group over an individual accolade.
“I think it was good to get recognition for the team," he said. "It was more important to recognize what they're doing on the field.”
For Pilkington, there have been several high points during the campaign not least the U.S. Open Cup run, which included victory over Red Bulls II and several USL sides.
“The cup run was quite special,” he said. “Especially against Hartford Athletic – what drama – extra time, back and forth, up and down, it was quite big for the group. It was quite a special experience.
“I also think the Open Cup run added a different dimension to the team. I think it created a lot of positive energy around the group and put them in situations where they developed and learned quite a lot in a short space of time. I think that kind of experience has been really valuable in how we manage games.”
One of the players on show that night in Connecticut was defender Christian McFarlane. The teenager has progressed through the academy and New York City FC II and into the first team. Now holding his own at left-back – his development represents another major plus point for Pilkington and his staff.
“He’s come through the system and I've known him for a long time,” Pilkington said. “I remember when he was 14 years old playing under-19 games. Like with any top player, every time you tested him at a certain level, he would adapt. He’s on a great path and has to keep working and learning. It's been great to see his progression.”
The hard work must also continue for Pilkington and his players. Although they currently sit above the playoff line they are eager to finish as high as possible. Either way, a spot in the post-season would represent new ground for City in MLS NEXT Pro.
City’s squad underwent significant changes in the offseason, with many new players joining the squad – both via the academy and external sources.
“As young as possible,” Pilkington said when asked what strategy was applied to reshaping the squad.
“We recognize that it's very important that we put some experience with that young talent to compliment them and nurture them, but not to block them.”
Elsewhere, the establishment of a leadership council consisting of five players has – in Pilkington’s own words – given a sense of ‘autonomy’ to the group that is delivering positive results.
“It guides collective decisions for one another and the team in terms of how they work and what their team rules are,” he said. “We have a leadership group that we connect with daily and big part of what we do is player led in terms of the learning, the environment and the culture [we want to work in].”
Constructing that positive environment has been a cornerstone in the team’s progress and success, and for Pilkington, the next step on that pathway is clear.
“We just want them to be more consistent,” he said. “That's what we're striving towards – consistency with how we play, with our identity, our attacking, defending, being organized, and then our emotional control within that.”
And it is with those goals in mind that everyone connected with the team can start to attack the challenges that sit in front of them. A place in the post-season is on the table, and that will require work, but for so many attached to this team, the pursuit does not feel like a chore.
“One of the players said to me the other day, 'I just love coming to work every day'," Pilkington said proudly. “That’s a testament to the environment the players and staff have created.”
