Nick Cushing believes both New York City FC and D.C. United have evolved since their last meeting.
The two teams met in April at Citi Field with New York City FC running out 2-0 winners on the night. United enter Saturday’s rematch in good form and currently find themselves ninth in the Eastern Conference.
Asked how much he looks back to that game in April when preparing for D.C. United, Cushing stressed that while useful information, both teams had evolved since their last meeting.
“We look at the good parts and the areas we need to be better in from that game,” Cushing said of the meeting earlier this season.
“It’s a natural matchup - when we last played them - but both teams have evolved since then.
“We have, definitely, and D.C. are in form at the moment. They’re a really well-coached team.
“I think the way that Troy is coaching them has improved the team and has embedded the style that he believes in, and the style that has become effective for them, in the sense of, how they create chances, how they make the game difficult for the opposition, how they create chances for Christian Benteke, who is clinical.
“For us, it’s going to be a really difficult game. So, yeah, we used our game [from earlier in the season], but we've also used, Chicago, Montreal, Atlanta, and all of those games that they've paid lately that.”
Elsewhere, Cushing also discussed the team’s depth in the final third.
Costa Rican international Alonso Martínez currently the leading scorer for City in MLS this season with 11. With teammates Jovan Mijatović and Mounsef Bakrar eager to stake their own claim to lead the line, Cushing stressed the importance of depth at the top of the field, as they look to maintain freshness and a commitment to their high-pressing style.
“There is definitely competition in the number nine position,” he said.
“To have players like Jovan Mijatović and Mounsef Bakrar that can come off the bench, that are fresh, that can change the style and impact the style of the game based on their qualities, is definitely a huge benefit.
“Alonso [Martínez] has been incredibly clinical. His goals per 90 shows that. He's been scoring braces and individual goals.
“I think what has really pleased me is his work out of possession. His pressing intensity and the effort that he puts into the other side of the game. It really helps the team.
“That takes its toll on everybody. You look at the style, the intensity that we play, I think that’s really pleased me.
“For guys to do that over 95 or 96 minutes is difficult, so we use our bench, we use the quality that we have in the squad to change the team.
“That’s the reason why I think Mounsef came in during the Columbus game and showed that we can impact the game with a substitute.
“The goal he scores - we should get a point from the game. We don't, and we have to move on, and we have to develop from that.”
