New York City FC are back in MLS action on Saturday night as they welcome Inter Miami CF.
For this edition of ‘The Away End’ presented by Berkeley College & Rennert International, we spoke to former Canadian international and Inter Miami sideline reporter Kaylyn Kyle.
Hi Kaylyn, thanks so much for speaking with us. What’s been your favorite moment covering Inter Miami?
My favorite moment covering Inter Miami has got to be the fans and being pitchside after going through a year of no fans in the stands. It’s been electric and brings me back to my playing days and that’s the one thing I really miss the most.
Looking at the 2021 season, the team has a new coach in Phil Neville. How do you think the former Manchester United defender has adjusted to life in MLS?
I think Phil Neville’s done a fantastic job coming into MLS. Obviously there’s an adjustment period and I think he’s adjusted brilliantly and you can take these last four games where he’s managed the team to perfection.
The team enjoyed a fantastic win last time out - do you feel like that could be a turning point for the campaign?
I think it’s 100% a turning point for the team, you can see the camaraderie on the field, you can see the partnerships starting to grow, you can see the new players that have been brought in mid-season players like Gregore, Marsman, Gibbs, Vassilev really step up and take those key roles. I think they’ve been fantastic acquisitions that they brought in and they fit into the team's philosophy and Phil’s philosophy so that’s only going to continue to grow the team not only on the pitch but off the pitch.
From a tactical standpoint, what strengths should Ronny Deila and his team be wary of heading into the game?
If you look at the team tactically in the last four matches you can see an identity starting to take form with Inter Miami which we hadn’t seen in the past and I think that’s a great thing moving forward. Players finally knowing their roles within the club, players knowing their roles coming off the bench and I think a big part of that is Phil Neville implementing a structure and sticking to that structure through good, bad, and ugly.
Are there any weaknesses you think NYCFC can exploit?
Weakness? Are you guys trying to get me fired from my job? I like my job way too much to give you guys our weaknesses but I wish you the best of luck on the weekend trying to figure those out.
If you were to identify Inter Miami’s danger-man, who would that be?
I think we have a couple of danger men within the squad, I don’t think you can place that on any individual, obviously Gonzalo Higuaín is a proven goalscorer and he’s shown that in MLS. And I think big players that have stepped up like Gregore in the midfield have been brilliant, Matuidi is starting to find his feet in MLS with great recent performances. Again, I think in MLS it takes time for players to find their feet and I think players are just starting to find that which I think is a great thing moving forward with only eight points off being out of a playoff spot in two games at hand.”
And finally, for any fans thinking of making the trip to Miami in the future, are there any particular attractions you’d suggest checking out?
I think we have the best franchise and the best city so I think if anyone is coming to watch their team play Inter Miami, just consider yourself lucky you get to travel to a tropical destination, there’s so many sights and sounds, the nightlife, the restaurants, the food, the culture so I think for anyone coming to South Florida is a great thing and you're definitely not going to have a bad vacation.”
