New York City Football Club Head Coach Ronny Deila believes Tuesday’s meeting with Santos de Guápiles represents a tough test for his team.
The Boys in Blue begin their Concacaf Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening in San Jose, Costa Rica where they will participate in the first leg of their tie against Santos de Guápiles.
The game represents NYCFC’s first competitive action since December’s historic MLS Cup win, and Deila is anticipating a stern test for his players.
“It's going to be a tough game,” Deila said at Monday’s press conference. “We were here [in Costa Rica] two years ago and we had a good result [against San Carlos]. This is a big game for Santos. They’ve come so far in the Champions League and New York City is coming to visit. We know they’re going to come with a lot of energy so we have to be ready for that - take the fight, win challenges, stay together and be very hard to play against. That was our strength last year.
“They are a direct team, good with crosses, good in winning second balls and then playing from that. We have to be disciplined, be up for the game and the fight and we have to play our style offensively. So we need to get them to move and create the chances we need to win the game.”
Deila also provided some important team news ahead of the game – confirming midfielder Alfredo Morales will miss the game due to COVID. Elsewhere there was more positive news as the group welcomed back Keaton Parks following the blood clot he suffered late last year.
“Alfredo is not among us because he got COVID in in Mexico,” Deila said. “He is not in this game, but will be ready for the next one. Keaton Parks is back in the squad and that's very happy for that. Anton [Tinnerholm] is of course, out until the summer. Outside that everybody is ready to go.”
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