NYCFC MLS Playoffs: Conference Semifinal Post-Game Analysis

Coach, just what's been the last week or so been like for you in preparing the team

and how has the international break impacted the preparation there with having to wait a little bit for this match to finally get here

Yeah, it's not been ideal to come off the back of a high against Cincinnati

and have to have a break, but it is what it is. Every team has to have the break

So for us, it's been a good opportunity, actually, to get some rest and recovery into some guys that, you know

you go through a three-game series against a really tough team. Been a good opportunity to rest them

We went through the first week, making sure that we had everyone healthy. And then this week, we got a conference semifinal at home, right

So it's been a really exciting week. And we named our stadium as well. So, you know, Etihad Park, really exciting week

get the name on the stadium, and then a full training week with an exciting game ahead

A couple of questions. One, how does it affect, if it does in any way

the fact that you've beaten them twice so far this season, especially once that you beat them at Citi Field

and was it Yankee Stadium in this game, was being played at Citi Field? And two, does it affect at all the fact that you had 10 days off

for two weeks off, but they actually have to go through three weeks off because they eliminated Columbus in two games as opposed to three

For us, it doesn't affect the game in any way. The regular season is the regular season, right

And we've had many, many good results, and we've had many, many results that we want to improve next year

But as soon as the regular season is over and you go into the postseason, it's almost a new season

so really difficult three-game series against a top team really proud the guys got through it

and we got through it as a team now on to a really difficult semi-final and

I'm sure it will give more motivation to Red Bull because maybe they lost twice

it would if we were them so yeah you know the break is the break I suppose whatever the break

is you have to find a solution for it. How the two weeks or three weeks has affected each team

will tell in the first half of the game, right? For us, it's about just concentrating on what we believe

are the attributes and the assets that we have to put in a good performance

and making sure that we implement them right from the off. Christian

City field coach Saturday night under the lights That has to be exciting given some of the experiences you had there with this team Yeah it a real special place under the lights We know that we play as a team

We play a huge part in making that night special. If I recall the Miami playoff game, the Cincinnati game two

and many other games that we've had there in front of our fans. It's going to be a packed crowd

We're really proud that we're going to have 22, 24, 25,000 of our people in there

But we have to play our part in getting the atmosphere, in delivering the performance, in playing our way

And I think, you know, 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

Any more in the room? On to the Zoom. Michael? Hey Nick, Mike Ander from Blue City Radio

you've spoken earlier in the year about how hosting an Eastern Conference Final is something that's a goal for yourself

obviously you're one game away from doing that if things happen correctly on the other side of the bracket

is that a distraction at all? No because I think I've learnt over my tenure here as assistant coach

and as head coach that the next game is the most important part

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's 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, and we're working through this game, and that is our whole focus

Chris? Hey, Coach. Chris Cameron from the outfield. Can you give us an update on the injury status for this game

Specifically, when you mentioned Max Morales, who's kind of held his last penalty taker to do an injury

and then Malachi Jones? Malachi is doing his rehab. He's got cleats and his football boots on now

so it's really positive for him. But he's still in that rehab with the medical team

And although he is starting to be exposed a little bit to the football coaches, Leon's been doing some work with him

which has been really good for him. Everybody else is fully fit

We went through a week of the first international week of just 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 really positive. Joel? Hey, Coach. Joel Lefebvre from Sports Mall. When you win in a penalty shootout like you guys did in the previous match there comes a lot of heightened emotions from that I wondering from that perspective it sometimes comes with a letdown in the next game when your emotions are so high

So from that perspective, does a lengthier layoff between matches give you guys more of a benefit to sort of refocus on what's ahead

Just wondering your thoughts. Thanks. Yeah, maybe, maybe. I think, you know, I understand that

And we've seen many of those situations where you almost play your final, right

and then you roll on to the next game. That could be said about both teams because both teams came through incredible challenges

in the two and three seed. The other side is I've been through many, many runs

where you play every three days and the games are what you want. So I always think you just have to focus on the next game

and be aware of what can happen and be aware of what could happen

But actually, just concentrate on the next game, work through what you believe are the important parts

and the assets that you have to putting in a good performance. The only thing we can focus on now is putting in a performance

And then when game day comes, you have to be prepared to deal with whatever situation and every moment that you're involved in

John? Nick, just talk about the two matches you had against the Red Bulls this year

You scored seven goals against them. So what do you think will be some of the keys in order to be able to continue that

And also, how have you managed this time off from the emotion of winning in penalties in Cincinnati

trying to keep that momentum up going into such a big match like this

Yeah, both regular season games were incredibly difficult. The second game is not a 5-1 game

It's a tight game. It's very, very similar. Both games very similar

We know Red Bull are going to be aggressive with the pressing. We know they're going to be direct in the moments

where they're trying to pick up second balls and trying to attack off those transition moments

So we're prepared for another very, very difficult game. We are off the back of an incredibly difficult three-game series

For us, it's not about fearing the outcome. It's about attacking the opportunity

And the opportunity is in a playoff semifinal, a chance to advance. For us, we've had a break

the breakers gave us an opportunity to get everybody fresh and fit and let everybody refocus

and concentrate, we've had time to get the work in, whatever it would have looked like we would have found a solution

to it, if it was three days or it was 14 days

for us you can't control those gaps so you've just got to find out, I have an incredible

support staff here that whatever time frame we have we're going to find a solution to make sure the guys

are ready Chris you have another one Hey Coach Chris Cannon from the outfield I think I asked a similar question a couple games ago How are you looking to approach two positions where you had some rotation

the last several matches in left-center back and then right back? Michele Lennon said after scoring against Cincinnati during the regular season

that he plays well against Cincinnati, and then he has the game-winning penalty kick. Red Bulls, Tavon got his first goal

He assisted a couple as well. how do you look to manage both current form against opponents

as well as what the game plan brings in those line of decisions

Yeah, I'm proud of the guys throughout the season. We've had rotation

We've had guys almost in form in the moments when we've needed them

whether it's Meechie Tavon. We went to Red Bull Arena with Andres Perea

because Santi Rodriguez was suspended. and then Santi comes in and has an incredible game

over the three-game series with Cincinnati. There's a lot of moving parts in selecting

We went with Burke in Game 1 and Justin. For me, it's about making sure that every guy is ready

I've said all year that to be a winning team, to be a team that can get in position to win

it takes everybody. You've got to have everybody ready, whether you're in the team, out the team

whether you're on for five minutes or 95 minutes. you've got to be ready to contribute for the team

And that's about culture and that's about the environment that you create

I'm proud of where we are currently. But there's an incredible task ahead in front of us

So for me, it's about picking a team that we believe can put in a performance from the start

and having a bench that can improve us in whatever moment we need within the game

And we've got so much depth in our squad that it's about picking the right team

Final one, Jonathan. Hey, Nick, hope you're doing all right. Jonathan McAman, New York

This is the first playoff Hudson River Derby. Has there been any extra emphasis on this in the training pitch

in terms of dealing with the crowd and the emotions and kind of what it means to you and the team

I'm not so sure we have to deal with the crowd. I'm sure we're probably going to have 25,000 behind us

that hopefully 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've got our people behind us, it gives us such an energy and such a lift

So we're aware it's a Hudson River Derby in the playoffs. Ultimately, for both teams and both sets

we've got professional players here. If you can't get yourself up for a semi-final

against your rivals with a chance to progress, you're playing the wrong sport