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NYCFC Midfielder Keaton Parks discusses playing in Coachella, Pascal Jansen vs Nick Cushing, facing San Diego for the first time and more.
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0:00
Good evening, everybody. Welcome to today's press conference at the Coachella Valley Invitational
0:04
We have midfielder Keaton Parks. If you have any questions, please raise your hand
0:08
We'll get started with Scott. Hey, Keaton. Happy New Year. Thanks for taking the time today
0:15
Talk a little bit, obviously, with the changeover from Nick Cushing to Pascal Yenton
0:20
What has that been like for you as a player? And is this any different from the change from, say, Ronnie Dialett to Nick Cushing? Thanks
0:27
um yeah the different the biggest difference is that he is completely new to me uh obviously
0:34
nick was here under ronnie so i had gotten to know him over the couple years and then
0:38
he became our head coach so um that's quite different because i have to learn everything
0:44
about pascal and uh learn his style and and what he wants from us um what he wants from me
0:50
individually and so um it's been a a bit of a learning curve and and we're still working on it
0:55
everything of course but it's been a good time i mean uh he's very personable easy to talk to and
1:01
he's uh very clear in what he wants and um he's happy to have meetings happy to talk with you
1:06
one-on-one and um yeah it's been good so far alex hi keaton um this is alex from am new york um
1:16
the other day pascal talked about the importance of a bulletproof mindset how do you interpret that
1:20
as a player and what does it mean for how the team approaches tough moments throughout the season
1:25
And how has it reflected tactically for the team so far? Yeah, he's used that word over and over again, the bulletproof mindset
1:33
And, yeah, I mean, for me, like, it's just about going into every game, knowing what we're capable of and that we can win each game
1:40
no matter where we're playing in West Coast or Hudson River Derby
1:46
or any game at home, obviously. But, yeah, it's just about going in with confidence and not risking
1:53
but just playing our game and not holding back. And so, yeah, he's emphasized that a lot
1:58
And I think it's growing on us. I think everybody's growing into that mindset. And, yeah, I'm looking forward to how it plays out through the season
2:06
Michael? Hey, Caden, it's Mike Anderson from Blue City Radio. Thanks for the time
2:12
Normally when we ask you about an upcoming game, the response is, well, we always focus on the next game at hand
2:19
But now that you in the preseason and the next regular season game the first two regular season games are road games against tough opponents At what point in the preseason do you start to focus on
2:31
hey, we got to get ready for these road games and this regular season? Yeah, I mean, if you look at the whole of preseason
2:39
it is to prepare for these games just because they're our first games. But specifically, we don't really talk about them until the week of
2:46
I mean, we have the day in mind, February 22nd, is what we're aiming for, to be fully fit, fully prepared
2:55
But we're not going to break them down until the week before, you know, and play to their playing style because here in preseason we have our own games
3:03
We've got to prepare for these individual opponents. And it's just like that is also part of the preseason process
3:10
is working out our weekly preparation for each opponent. So, again, yeah, we won't actually look specifically at them until the week of, until the days leading up to the game
3:21
But, yeah, all of preseason is in preparation, of course, for the start of the season
3:27
Andrew? Hi, I'm Andrew Lee with Hudson River Blue. You've played many minutes over the season next to James Sands in the midfield
3:36
With Tim gone, how has it been this preseason sort of preparing without him
3:41
and playing alongside some of the other guys you've played with for a while, but with him not there, I guess what's been different among the midfielders
3:47
as you guys have prepared to have that big change, considering how much he played last year with you guys
3:54
Yeah, it's absolutely a learning curve. Just because him and I built such a strong chemistry over the years
3:59
we've been here. I mean, he's been here just as long as I have, or was here
4:05
But yeah, it's just about me and Justin or Johnny Shore or whoever's in the midfield with me
4:11
and just adapting and building that chemistry with each other. I wouldn't say I miss him
4:16
Obviously, he's a great player. I miss him as a person because we're close friends, but I'm always ready to adapt
4:22
I think it's great for him to move on to Europe and pursue that
4:28
Now we're working here, and all of our mindset, again, is on February 22nd and building these relationships
4:35
to where they're strong enough to fight for every win. Christian? I mean Keaton
4:41
you touched on it at the top that Pascal has come in and you trying to learn his way so to speak I curious how has Pascal challenged you in the first few weeks of this preseason I mean there one challenge clearly
4:55
of just learning his style, what he wants from us specifically, on and off the field
5:02
I mean, that's all a learning curve, all a challenge. But he's pushing us to our limits, for sure
5:07
We were doing two-a-days for most of the first camp, And I mean, he's really pushing us to find our limits and then push past them and then adapt as we can on the field and don't let the tired legs hold us back from performing our duties
5:23
So it's all been a challenge. I'm not going to lie. It has been tough. And he's an intense guy. He wants a lot from us, but it's good
5:31
And I mean, it's what we want from him, too. We want a lot from him. So it's been a good relationship so far and looking forward to more of it
5:41
And you're one of the more experienced players on the roster as well. What role do you see for yourself when a new manager comes in
5:47
in terms of easing that transition with the group and making it a nice start to begin with
5:53
Yeah, I mean, I like to be that middle man of, I like to talk with him one-on-one and get his perspectives
5:58
and then share that with the team and be that guy that can help lead
6:02
Also, I can help answer questions for him if he doesn't know about certain players or whatever
6:09
Like, again, I've been here a long time, and I know a lot of the players obviously very well
6:14
and what they like, how they play, how they act, and I think it goes both ways
6:21
I think I can show him a lot while he teaches me a lot, and we can learn from each other
6:29
Michael, you have another one? Yeah, Keaton, you mentioned Jonathan Shore. For Pascal's previous experience with AZ, he has a good history
6:39
That club has a great history of developing young players. Is it too soon for you to identify some things that he does differently
6:47
that shows that he responds so the young players respond to him differently
6:53
Yeah, I would say it's probably too soon. Just in general, it's been obviously a great response from the player pool
7:02
the young guys all the way up to Maxi Morales. And so the relationships have been strong already
7:09
I know it only been a few weeks but the response has been great Again he very personable He very easy to talk to on and off the field He always willing to listen but he is very clear in what he wants as well
7:21
So it's very easy to understand exactly what he wants and adapt and play his style
7:27
So overall, it's been not as challenging to build this relationship as it could have been
7:38
Andrew? Hey, Andrew Lee from Hudson River Blue again. You've alluded to it a couple times about your long tenure
7:45
You're entering season seven now. What makes you confident about this year's team's chances of reaching the heights
7:51
that you've experienced with some of your past teams that maybe finished in the top four and won trophies
7:56
What do you think stands out from this group that can get them to that level this year
8:02
Yeah, just specifically from this preseason, but also coming in from last year
8:07
because we have so many returning guys. I think the mindset is there. I think everybody is focused on what our goal is and giving everything
8:18
this preseason to fight for spots and fight for time on the field. And yeah, nobody's holding
8:24
back. And I think that's going to pay off throughout the season because, again, it's a long season
8:29
so everybody's going to get their chance. But everybody's fully committed. And it's exactly what
8:35
what Pascal wants from us is to fully commit if you're going to be in this locker room
8:40
Christian? Keaton, you're taking on San Diego. They've got a lot of players that are new to MLS
8:47
they've got some that are familiar. How does that impact your preparation when you can't scout the team
8:52
and maybe a lot of the players are coming into a new surrounding? Yeah, I mean, it's a big job for the coaching staff
8:59
They've got to find some video and show us in some meetings. And so, yeah, for us, obviously, like there are plenty of teams I have experience with
9:07
so I can kind of prepare outside of what the coaches are telling us. But, yeah, it's just they got to bring some video to us
9:15
And, yeah, we have to adapt inside the game as well. I think that will be a good challenge for us tomorrow because no matter even what their video says
9:23
like they could be still learning their style of play and it could change in the first half
9:29
So it's going to be a challenge. It'll be fun. it would be cool to have a game against this new organization
9:36
Great. Thank you, everybody. Thanks, guys
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