The second season of MLS Next Pro is almost upon us with NYCFC II ready to get things underway.
Last year provided a fantastic learning opportunity for the young team, alongside development opportunities for both the players and Head Coach, Matt Pilkington.
The team finished the campaign with a solid record, and after only narrowly missing out on a spot in the playoffs, Pilkington is keen to grow further in 2023.
We sat down with the Englishman to discuss his hopes for the season and reflect on his first season in charge.
The first week of training has been and gone, how did you feel it went?
Matt Pilkington: Yes, the first week has been good so far, we are just getting settled into to our schedule and focusing on development.
Looking back to last season for a moment, what were some high and low moments of last season?
MP: One of the high moments was creating a team that we put together and seeing that team grow. Early on, experiencing some of the victories as a new team, the first win that we had as a group was special. In some games, we had to come together as a team - one game that comes to mind was against Inter Miami when we scored a late winner. In that game, we had a number of injuries, we had a small group to go away with, and we performed well.
I'd say one of the lows was dealing with injuries during the middle parts of the season when our squad was quite depleted. To their credit, our players stuck through the process, and those injuries did not affect them mentally. Their mentality was strong, and it was unfortunate we did not qualify for playoffs after a strong start. The players were disappointed with that. Not finishing the season with a playoff run is something that was disappointing.
The new season is fast approaching, what are you looking forward to most?
MP: I am looking forward to getting the group back together. There are a quite few players coming back in and having any player on the First Team is fantastic, but it’ll be great to have those players involved. Right now, we are working together to build team chemistry, connecting with the new players that are here, and building a strong working environment.
What are some of your goals for yourself and the team?
MP: The team goals are simple, continue to develop players, get them to the next level of their playing careers, and progress through our system.
Hopefully, that sees them getting into the First Team. For those players that are not ready for the First Team, it’s about getting them to their next level. To be a part of NYCFC means to develop players accordingly, and that is where the focus is. For myself, I’m trying to develop as a coach, a leader, and a mentor in addition to growing my knowledge of the game. I’m learning more how to coach a team, how to work with people, and how to help people develop. This is not only on the field in a football sense but also what helps develop individuals in general.
With the new addition of seven MLS affiliate clubs, what is expected from the new competition? *
MP: With a wider range of talent from these seven teams plus the addition of the original 21 teams we will see a lot of unique styles of play. This will be a greater challenge for us as a team but I think it will be for all the teams as they look to win, compete and adapt.
It’s an exciting challenge for the players to test themselves and come up against different teams and even local rivalries with a more consistent approach to the game model.
Is there anyone you think could have a breakout year?
MP: It is hard to name one player specifically, but I do anticipate the younger players will have a strong year. I do anticipate some important minutes in their development. The key is to have players progressing through the Academy and giving them valuable minutes as it can have a substantial impact as they try to keep progressing through the system.
With one year under your belt as head coach, what have you learned about yourself? *
MP: The need to constantly adapt. I am between the First Team and Academy, so with the movement of players and staff, I was having to adapt, and be flexible. This was something I learned a lot about myself in the past year. This is not just coaching, but also managing; managing players of different ages and leading a team and staff.
I’ve coached for many years, so coaching is something I have always done and know quite well. It’s the adapting to the management side, the leadership side, dealing with people and managing players, staff expectations, and their daily roles and responsibilities. It has challenged me, but it has been a great challenge.
