Nick Cushing has hailed the role New York City FC supporters play in energizing the team at home, as they prepare for Saturday’s Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Red Bulls.
City will face their Hudson River rivals under the lights in Queens this weekend, with a place in the Eastern Conference Final at stake. Citi Field has hosted some memorable moments for the Club, including several pivotal playoff matches – including the 3-1 victory over Cincinnati in the playoffs earlier this month.
A bumper crowd is expected for the historic showdown, which will mark the first playoff meeting between the two teams. Cushing is eager to experience another electric atmosphere in Queens.
“It's real special place under the lights,” Cushing said.
“We know that as a team we play a huge part in making that night special. If I recall the Miami playoff game, the Cincinnati game, and many other games that we've had there in front of our fans, there's going to be a packed crowd.
“We're really proud that we're going to have 24-25,000 of our people in there, but we have to play our part in getting the atmosphere [going] and delivering a performance - in playing our way.
“I think together, if our fans bring the passion and are right behind us from the off, and we play on the front foot, I think it will give us every chance of putting in a good performance.”
He later added: “I'm sure we're probably going to have 25,000 behind us.
“If we can get on the front foot, we can make that 25,000 sound like 45,000 because I've said before when we have our people behind us, it gives us such an energy and such a lift.
“If you can't get yourself up for a semi final against your rivals with a chance to progress. You playing the wrong sport.”
Cushing also refused to be distracted by what may come if City can win on Saturday.
Asked if potentially hosting an Eastern Conference Final was on his mind, Cushing redirected the focus to Saturday’s game and the challenge posed by the Red Bulls.
“I've learned over my tenure here as assistant coach and as head coach that the next game is the most important part,” he said.
“The whole focus is hosting a playoff semifinal at home. We're really proud that we've done everything to get to this opportunity, but there are many more challenges ahead, and the first one is Saturday.
“We cannot look further than the first 10 minutes of the game, because that is our main focus.
“And then through there, we have a game plan and half time. We’re working through this game, and that is our whole focus.”
City’s head coach was also able to provide an injury update ahead of Saturday’s game.
“Malachi [Jones] is in doing his rehab,” Cushing said.
“He's got football boots on now so that is really positive for him, but he's still doing rehab with the medical team.
“He is starting to be exposed to the football coaches – Leon [Hapgood] has been doing some work with him, which has been really good for him.
“Everybody else is fully fit. We went through a week during the first international week, of making sure that all the players got to a level where they were all at the same freshness and fitness.
“Now we've had a full week of training with everybody, so that’s really positive.”
