NYCFC Post-Match Analysis: Keaton Parks & Maxime Chanot Midfield Performance

Hey, Keaton, tough loss tonight

I just wanted to ask about Maxi Morales. I mean, obviously you've played with him for a long time

Definitely see a difference in the team when he leaves the pitch. What is, like, the biggest difference for you as someone that plays, you know

adjacent to him throughout the game? Yeah. I mean, as you can see, I think he controls the game very well

He controls the tempo on and off the ball. He gets the press going when we need it

He slows it down when we need to. So, and, yeah, I think you can see as soon as he came off

we do lose a little bit of that control, a little bit of that control of the tempo in the game

And, yeah, I mean, that's his big thing. He's a very experienced player

He has a lot of minutes, and he knows how to control games. And so, yeah, it's an adaptation that we need to get used to

and we need to adjust mid-game to control these games to finish them out

Anthony? Hey Keaton So the first half in particular really seemed like a stalemate in the midfield What were some of the things you saw whether they be frustrations or openings that maybe you thought the team could learn from and take advantage of going into the home opener next week

Yeah, I thought we were progressing the ball well. I thought we were breaking them down in the midfield

and I think we had an overload, and we were finding Maxi in behind the lines and sometimes Alonzo

And as long as we moved the ball from side to side, They had a lot of space on the outside

So I thought we were progressing the ball well. And then I just thought we weren't very dangerous in the final third

I think we needed to be better on the ball, pay attention to the details

and finish things off, create chances. But I don't think we were very dangerous tonight

Michael? Hey, Caden, it's Mike Andrew from Blue City Radio. Thanks for the time

Last year you had said when the midfield was yourself, James Sands, and Andres Perea that

it was tough for you guys to play because none of the three of you were really true number tens Tonight after Maxi came off Pascal tried you Justin and Andres or Pepe in that midfield and it seemed to not work again

Do you think you guys have changed? Has one of you learned to play that role as a 10

or is it more of the same from last year? I think there's still a learning curve there

I think, like you said, I think we did lose a little bit of the control of the game in those final minutes when Maxie came off

And, yeah, it's just something that we need to be more confident in. I think we possess the skills to play the same way

to play the number 10 position. And we just need to be more confident

and adapt to being in that position. So when Pepe came on, I think he just needs to be confident

in finding himself in the pockets and turning on the ball. But, yeah, I just think it's like a learning curve

again it's it's a new trio of midfielders Justin stepping in for James Sands and then obviously

Pepe coming in late in the game is it a different vibe than like we playing together and training all week and then starting the game together So yes there definitely a learning curve there It different without Maxie on the

field, but it's just something that we have to learn to do because it's – he can't – he's not

going to play every minute this year, and we need to control the midfield. Final one, Scott

Hey, Keaton. How are you? Scott Schertz with StreamPunk Soccer. Looking ahead a little bit

last year you had two matches on the road and then a home match. This year, two matches on the road

and now a home match. Talk a little bit about what you've got upcoming with Orlando

and how much you're looking forward to playing in front of the home fans this time around. Thanks

Yeah, very excited to get back home, play in front of our fans again

It's been a long time. And obviously the last time we were playing in front of them

it didn't go our way. So very excited to get back to New York

and obviously just be home with my family too. But, yeah, it's time for a win as well

I think if we were to get the point tonight, which I think we should have

we should have closed the game out, it would have been a good two points to start the season

But we'll learn from this, we'll move forward, and we'll bring a strong performance home for you guys

Thank you, everybody