NYCFC Post Game with Miami

By Anonymous (not verified), March 12, 2000

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New York City Football Club

 

New York City Football Club 1 - 0 Inter Miami CF

Saturday, March 11, 2023 | Kick-off Time: 7:39pm ET 

2023 MLS Regular Season - Matchday 3 

Yankee Stadium | The Bronx, New York 

Attendance: 24,489

KEY POINTS 

  • New York City Football Club earned their first three points of the 2023 MLS Regular Season after defeating Inter Miami CF 1-0 in The Bronx
  • The Empire State Building was lit up tonight in honor of NYCFC’s home opener of the 2023 MLS Season, see video and photos below
  • With today’s start, midfielder Santiago Rodríguez recorded his first start with NYCFC since returning to the Club as a Designated Player through 2027. Today, Rodríguez was crucial to the Boys in Blue’s attack throughout the match, recording 30 accurate passes (79%), two accurate long balls, and three total shots. 
  • The Boys in Blue have officially recorded a win in their last three home openers to the MLS Regular Season (2021, 2022, 2023). New York City now improves their home opener record to 6-0-2. 
  • With today’s clean sheet, goalkeeper Luis Barraza has recorded his first clean sheet in MLS this season and has recorded his first clean sheet since the 26th of July in the 2021 season, in which the Boys in Blue defeated Orlando City SC 5-0. 
  • With today’s 1-0 win, New York City Football Club improves their record to 8-1-2 in their last 11 appearances at Yankee Stadium, also improving their overall record at Yankee Stadium to 64-17-26.
  • Key Moment: In the 35th minute of the first half, the Boys in Blue received a free kick close to the touchline. New number 10 Santiago Rodriguez found himself whipping in a cross to the center of the penalty area, and though no New York City player found themselves on the end of it, Inter Miami defender Christopher McVey clearance out of the area but miss-hit the ball, which ended up in the back of Drake Callender’s net and gave the Cityzens a 1-0 lead in the later stretch of the first half. 
  • MOTM: - [10] Santiago Rodríguez
  • 90 Minutes; 79% Pass Accuracy Rate; 2 shots on target; 2 Successful Dribbles;  1 foul won; 4 passes into final third
  • Up Next: New York City Football Club will be hosting fellow Eastern Conference side D.C. United for their second home match of the season on Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 pm ET at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York.   

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS 

Full Match Highlights - Click Here 

Goal - NYC - 36’ - Own Goal MIA- [4] Christopher McVey - Click Here 

POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO 

Press conference transcript below 

SCORING SUMMARY  

  • 36’  - NYC - Own Goal MIA - Christopher McVey [4] 

Team 

First Half 

Second Half 

Full Time 

New York City Football Club 

1

1

Inter Miami CF

0

0

0

 

STATS  

Team 

New York City FC 

(1-1-1)  

Inter Miami CF

(2-1-0) 

Possession 

43.1

56.9 

Shots 

13

Shots on Goal 

Pass Accuracy % 

80.5 

78.8 

Fouls 

12 

15 

Corner Kicks 

Saves 

 

Full Match Statistics - Click Here 

 

LINEUPS  

New York City FC (4-2-3-1) 

Inter Miami CF (4-3-1-2) 

Head Coach: Nick Cushing 

[1] Luis Barraza 

[3] Braian Cufré 

[4] Maxime Chanot (C) 

[6] James Sands 

[13] Thiago Martins  

[35] Mitja Ilenic  (66’ -  Tayvon Gray [24])

[10] Santiago Rodriguez 

[11] Gabriel Pereira (77’ - Andres Jasson [21]) 

[17] Matías Pellegrini 

[55] Keaton Parks 

[43] Talles Magno (82’ - Alfredo Morales [7]) 

Head Coach: Phil Neville 

[1] Drake Callender

[2] Deandre Yedlin

[4] Christopher McVey

[27] Sergil Kryvtsov 

[33] Franco Negri

[7] Jean Mota

[20] Rodolfo Pizzaro

[26] Gregore Silva (C) (73’ - Ariel Lassiter [11])

[14] Jean Corentin (56’ - Bryce Duke [8])

[17] Josef Martinez

[22] Nicolas Stefanelli (68’ - Robert Taylor [16])

Subs Unused 

[8] Thiago

[12] Malte Amundsen

[19] Gabe Segal 

[22] Kevin O’Toole

[49] Matt Freese 

[93] Tony Alfaro 

Subs Unused 

[6] Aime Mabika 

[13] Victor Ulloa

[15] Ryan Sailor

[18] Harvey Neville 

[21] Nick Marsman

[30] Benjamin Cremaschi

 

UNAVAILABLE PLAYERS  

New York City Football Club 

Inter Miami CF 

Midfielder - [80] Justin Haak (Upper Body)

 

Defender - [32] Noah Allen (Knee) 

Defender - [24] Ian Fray (Knee) 

Midfielder - [28] Edison Azcona (Hamstring)

Forward - [49] Shanyder Borgelin (Ankle)

 Forward - [9] Leonardo Campana (Calf)

Forward - [19] Robbie Robinson (Calf)

 

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY  

NYC 

Fouls (12)  

  • 11’ - James Sands [6], 26’ - Santiago Rodriguez [10], 27’ - Mitja Illenic [35], 30’ - James Sands [6], 32’ - Braian Cufré [3], 39’ - Maxime Chanot [4], 53’ - Mitja Ilenic [35], 56’ Santiago Rodriguez [10], 61’ - Keaton Parks [55], 70’ - Matias Pellegrini [17], 77’ Tayvon Gray [24] 

Yellow Cards (4)   

  • 32’ - Braian Cufré [3], 53’ - Mitja Ilenic [35], 70’ - Matias Pellegrini [17], 77’ - Tayvon Gray [24]

Red Cards (0) 

 

MIA 

Fouls (15) 

  • 6’ - Franco Negri [33], 8’ - DeAndre Yedlin [2], 8’ - Gregore [26], 15’ DeAndre Yedlin [2], 34’ - Gregore [26], 46’ - Sergil Kryvstov [27], 47’ - Jean Mota [7], 51’ - DeAndre Yedlin [2], 57’ - Christopher McVey, 58’ - Sergil Kryvstov [27], 68’ - Gregore Silva [26], 78’ - Robert Taylor [16], 84’ - Robert Taylor [16], 85’ - Sergil Kryvstov [27], 90 +2’ - Jean Mota [7]

Yellow Cards (3)  

  • 6’ - Franco Negri [33], 47’ - Jean Mota [7], 58’ - Sergil Kryvstov [27]

Red Cards (0) 

 OFFICIALS 

  • Referee: Lukas Szpaa
  • Ast. Referee 1: Jose Da Silva
  • Ast. Referee 2: Ian McKay
  • Fourth official: Pierre Luc-Lauziere
  • VAR: Daniel Radford
  • Ast. VAR: Mike Kampmeinert

 UPCOMING MATCH 

Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:30 p.m. ET - MLS Regular Season Matchday 4 v. D.C. United | Yankee Stadium; The Bronx, New York | Broadcast: Apple TV | Radio: nycfc.com/radio  

MATCH RECAP 

Quick Read

New York City Football Club claimed a first victory of the 2023 MLS season with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph against Inter Miami CF. Christopher McVey's first-half own-goal separated the sides in the Club's Home Opener at Yankee Stadium, setting the City Boys off and running on Matchday Three of the new campaign.

 Match Recap

Stepping out onto home turf for the first time this year, having last graced New York soil in October, City were eager to kickstart the new term, and claim a sixth Home Opener victory in the Bronx, while Miami were looking to extend their 100% record with three from three in 2023. 

Phil Neville’s side had been NYCFC’s most recent visitors almost five months ago, as the two sides met in Round One of the playoffs. Triumphing 3-0 that night, Nick Cushing’s side and were eager to continue their impressive record against the Herons, having won six of seven encounters in all competitions, including all three previous home fixtures without conceding.  

Head Coach Cushing made one change to the side that drew away at Chicago Fire on Matchday Two, as Santiago Rodríguez replaced Andres Jasson for his first start since returning to the Club as a Designated Player. The Uruguayan occupied the #10 role in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Alfredo Morales and Tayvon Gray were also named on the bench, having missed the trip to Illinois through injury.  

The early exchanges bore little in terms of goalmouth action, with the game sparking into life on the quarter-hour mark. 

In search of his second goal in as many games, Gabriel Pereira curled straight at Drake Callender, and spurned a golden chance moments later, misjudging Keaton Parks’ delivery at the backpost as the ball rolled agonizingly across goal. 

Miami had the ball in the net on 20 minutes when Josef Martínez thought he had opened his goalscoring account for his new side, but the offside flag was raised to correctly rule out the strike. 

Luis Barraza was then called into action to claim a looping header from the Venezuelan striker, before City then saw a goal disallowed when Matías Pellegrini was denied a birthday strike against his former Club, smashing home a superb volley on the rebound from a Parks’ piledriver - but also from an offside position. 

Franco Negri and Martínez then blazed over for the visitors, before the deadlock was broken through a stroke of good fortune ten minutes before the break. Awarded a free-kick on the left-flank, City were handed a gift as McVey inadvertently sliced into his own net from Rodríguez's teasing delivery for our first home goal of the year. 

Though Martínez continued to threaten at the other end, forcing Barraza into another smart stop, the hosts headed into the break with a slender advantage. 

Another Rodríguez set-piece shortly after the restart yielded the first chance of the second half, as Parks nodded the delivery just wide, and the same combination perhaps should have made it 2-0 on 55' - only for Parks' close-range attempt to bounce wide of the nearpost. 

The second period proved a stop-start affair with limited chances for either side. Rodríguez was denied a goal on his first start back, looking to bend into the far corner but thwarted by the outstretched arm of the impressive Callender. 

As Miami chased a late leveler, the game opened up, and the hosts looked to threaten on the counter-attack. Barraza batted away Negri's powerful effort, while a Braian Cufré strike suffered the same fate at the other end, after a neat City move across the box. 

The Boys in Blue sought to effectively kill the contest late on - Rodríguez firing over, and drawing another great save from Callender, while substitute Andres Jasson saw a penalty shout waved away under pressure from Jean Mota - but one goal would prove enough. 

Despite six minutes of injury time, the City Boys saw the game out for a first victory and first clean sheet of 2023, celebrating our Homecoming in style and continuing our excellent Home Opener run in the Bronx.QUOTES  

NYCFC HEAD COACH NICK CUSHING 

Own goal impact on the dynamic and squad…

“I think we wanted to start with energy, and we wanted to start aggressively. I thought we did that, probably more so in the second half than the first, but I thought in the first half, we did that. We scored the goal, which was offsides. We started to get into good moments, and I think we were pushing at that moment. The game was swinging either way, but the goal just gives you that foothold in the game and that sort of platform to then go in and push. There were some small tactical things we can improve on, which can give us more control in the game for longer moments. I was most pleased with how aggressively we came out in the second half. That is how we want to start our games, especially here in front of our home fans.”

On the impact of the stadium announcement…

“It is incredibly exciting for everybody involved with the football club. That is further down the line, in the sense of it happening, but it’s in everybody’s mind. It’s giving us that real urge to continue to be successful. We love playing in front of our home fans, and we’ve had some great nights here [at Yankee Stadium] and at Citi Field. I said to the team beforehand: ‘We know that the fans feel our energy and our intensity, and then we get it back times 10. And then together, we connect.’ We were under pressure in the last 10 minutes of the game, and the fans gave us that life and energy. For me, I’m focusing on this season, but of course looking ahead to that is incredibly exciting.” 

 On [Matias] Pellegrini’s performance…

“It was a complete performance. Of course, we know that there are going to be ups and downs in the game, but we want to maintain possession, so we want to be smart with the ball, we need to make good decisions, and we need an incredible work rate off the sides. This team is trying to expose us down the sides of the pitch because they know we are so strong centrally, and I knew with Matias [Pellegrini] today that he was going to have that real desire to put a performance in. He has not really started many games here in Yankee Stadium, if any actually, it is his birthday as well, and of course, it’s his own team, so I thought he had an excellent game today. His work rate was incredible and our fans feed off of our intensity. I thought he was one of our best players today.”

On the team’s offense against opposition…

“We have to be ruthless in front of goal. If we’re going to be a top, top team, we have to score the goals. We have to kill the games. We had a preseason game against Portland [Timbers] in California where we carried 75% of the ball, and we lose one-nil on a setplay because we don’t score the goal. In Nashville, we were one-nil then they go two-nil. And one-nil at Chicago, we should go and get the second goal and win the game. It could have been the same today, but we defended the game incredibly well. The second goal completely kills the game. You’ve seen games here at Yankee Stadium where we get the second goal, and then we end up getting a third and a fourth, and it’s one of those real enjoyable games for the crowd. It’s early in the season, so maybe we’re not in our rhythm. But, if we’re going to be a top team we have to go and kill teams off.” 

On what the win means for the team…

“I think if you look at last year we didn’t start the season so well on the road. It’s pretty similar to this year, and then we go and win the home opener and it just gives you that life. We have another home game next week, and we’ll go into this training week with the mindset of wanting to improve and of a mindset of ‘we need to fix those small details to make us a better team.’ But, with confidence and knowing that we’ve put three points on the board, we’ve got our first foot forward and truly a difficult game against D.C. [United]. If we work hard this week, we could put another performance in.” 

On Keaton Parks’ role in the game…

“I think he has the versatility to be in an advanced role because he’s technically good and he can create moments. If you look at our offensive setup, the problem I have is if I’m putting Keaton Parks in an advanced role I have to sit some of our real quality on the bench. It’s a good thing to have as Head Coach. I thought we were under pressure, I thought that a huge positive for us as a football club was that our subs made us better tonight. And that’s where we have to be as a team. We have to be tuned in as a bench and ready to go and make us better, whether it’s chasing the game, holding the game, more running, quality.. Whatever it is, we have a good squad, and we’re only going to make our squad better. And if we’re going to win football games consistently, our bench has to be ready to make us better. I think everyone that came on today, and the way that we shifted it, made us better.” 

On winning this game compared to winning others…

“The only personal significance is I know it is going to be a really difficult game. Phil [Neville] is a really top coach, and I think he is a really good manager. When he took this team, I knew exactly the direction that the team was going. I know that the team he inherited wouldn’t be the team that he would end up creating because his mindset is incredible, and his team will have an incredible work rate and togetherness, but they also added real quality, so every year that we play [Inter] Miami, we play against a better team. The significance of this game was it was our home opener in front of our fans. Whoever we would have played, I would’ve had a huge desire in, and a home game is good to win because I want to win in front of our fans.”

On things feeling new in the locker room or business as usual…

“I think people will see it as a new era, because we’ve had some really really important players and when I say important they've been here a long time and they've been involved in all our really important moments whether it was finishing top of the eastern conference in 2019 or 2021 MLS Cup or whether it was last year. I don't see it as a new era, my expectation and the identity of our football club to me still remain the same. I constantly fight to try to get home playoff games here and I’ll say again, we’ve had nine playoff games and seven of them away. You can’t consistently challenge for MLS Cup if you play seven out of nine games away. We have to fight to get as many playoff games here in front of our fans.”    

On Phil Neville’s assessment that the teams were equal compared to the last time they met…

“I think I 100% agree that his team is a much better team. They work a lot harder, they’re more together, and they’ve added some real quality so they’ll be a really dangerous team this season. I know Phil [Neville] well, and I know the team and the direction that he will take his football club in. I’m certain of that. For us, I think we are in a process. We’ve got some guys like Santi [Rodríguez] that hasn’t had a preseason with us, Braian Cufré hasn’t had a preseason with us, and Gabriel Pereira came late. We need to be patient with trying to get our rhythm and our real level, and that’s why I say there are some small things we need to improve on. I think our desire, hunger, and passion are exactly the same. We’re only going to get better as a team, I’m certain of that, and we’re only going to get stronger as a squad as we add more.” 

On getting back out in front of the fans tonight…

“It’s incredible. When we play our football, get the ball down, and start to play attacking football with high intensity I think we can inspire our fans and then we rely on our fans to pull us over the line in those difficult moments. Our league is improving all the time, teams that finished out of the playoffs this year have a huge desire to finish in the playoffs. Everybody is improving so we’re going to have some really difficult moments here and in those real difficult moments we need our fans to pull us over the line. And when I look over at the crowd singing and I see the passion of the fans at the end when they celebrate with our team it makes me really proud. We have a huge desire, and I said this to the team at the start of the game, we create exactly what we want our home fortress to be like. And we do that with our style and our fans will feed off that.”

On Santíago Rodriguez’s performance and what to expect this season…

“I think Santí was good today. I think there were moments you can see where he’s not really in his rhythm yet. He’s played one game for Montevideo and then he’s just trained. He’s only been here one week with the team. It’s a long offseason where he hasn’t been with the team so building those relationships and that natural synergy is not really there yet. You can still see the quality that the guy has. For us it’s really simple, we need him to be the guy that really pushes us this year. He was that last year and he has a huge hunger to do that and if we can get guys, not just Santí, Talles [Magno], Gabriel [Pereira], Matias Pellegrini, Thiago Andrade, these real offensive guys, Andres Jasson, if we can get them high up in the numbers like we’ve seen with the Driussis, the Mukhtars, the Gazdags, then our team will be up there in those positions. That’s the way our league works, and it’s my job to push them hard and to have the expectations high.

 

NYCFC MIDFIELDER ALFREDO MORALES

On depth of the team…

“We needed players because we lost a couple pieces but everybody is happy that we have James [Sands] and Santi [Rodríguez] back with us. We want to win and we need the best players (to do so).”

On the new leadership role of the team…

“This has been my day-to-day job since I arrived in New York. I was always one of the older guys and I think I am one of the most experienced on the roster because of the level that I have played at. It’s what I love to do. I am really close with all the young guys. I try to give them as much support and help them with their confidence. I try to help the young guys with clarity on some questions that they may have. I try to be there for everybody to share my ideas, and thoughts.”

On the first win of the 2023 MLS season…

“First game of the year here in The Bronx was very special and important for us. The other games were important too but this is a very good start for the season.”

NYCFC FORWARD TALLES MAGNO

Sobre la actuación del equipo…

“Hoy jugamos bien. Tuvimos muchas oportunidades de marcar (gol). Creamos muchas oportunidades. Jugamos contra un equipo muy bueno, pero tenemos que mejorar. De los tres primeros partidos, este partido fue nuestro mejor. Ahora hay que continuar trabajando.”

On the team’s performance…

“We played well today. We had a lot of opportunities (to score). We also created a lot of opportunities. We played against a very good team but we need to get better. Out of the first three matches that we have played, this one was our best. Now, we have to continue working.”

Sobre que hay que mejorar…

“Hay que mejorar nuestras oportunidades para marcar (gol). Tuvimos como cinco oportunidades para marcar (gol). En los partidos anteriores, intentamos mucho. Tenemos que marcar más goles. Tenemos que mejorar en todo.”

On improvements to make…

“We have to get better at finishing our chances to score. We had about five opportunities to score. In the prior matches, we tried a lot. We have to score more goals. We have to get better in every aspect.”

NYCFC DEFENDER BRAIAN CUFRÉ

Sobre la actuación del equipo…

“Hicimos un gran partido. Hicimos un partido muy correcto y muy trabajado. Arrancamos de la mejor manera. Tal vez nos faltó terminar un contragolpe y las situaciones pero todavía estamos conforme con el resultado.”

On the team’s performance…

“We had a great game. We played a solid game and we worked really hard. We started the game off on the right foot. We could have possibly finished one of our counterattacks and the situations that we had, but we are still very content with the result.”

Sobre la diferencia entre La Liga Española y la MLS…

“La Liga de España es más trabajada en lo táctico. Esta liga es muy competitiva. Todos los equipos son muy parejos y cada jugador es muy bueno. Son partidos muy ida y vuelta.”

On the difference between La Liga and the MLS… 

“La Liga matches are played more tactically. This league is very competitive. All the teams are very even and each player is really good. These matches are very back and forth.”

NYCFC MIDFIELDER SANTIAGO RODRÍGUEZ

Sobre las expectativas para el partido contra D.C. United… 

“Vamos a estar enfocados y concentrados en lo que tenemos que hacer. Creo que vamos a dar un espectáculo para los aficionados que vienen al estadio para pasarla bien y que se vayan muy contentos con nuestra actuación.”

On expectations for the match against D.C. United…

“We are going to be focused and concentrated on what we have to get done. I think we are going to give a spectacular performance for the fans who come to have a good time and so that they go home happy with our performance.”

Sobre adaptarse al equipo de nuevo y sobre la actuación del equipo…

“Hice mi pretemporada en Uruguay con Montevideo City Torque. Los primeros días de vuelta, me costaron los entrenamientos. Es más intenso acá pero me siento muy bien. Solo sobre el final de este partido, me canse un poco. Teníamos que ganar hoy porque en las primeras dos fechas, no podíamos hacerlo. Creo que este resultado nos va servir para movernos hacia adelante.”

On adapting to the team again and tonight’s performance…

“I did my preseason training in Uruguay with Montevideo City Torque. The first couple of days, I struggled with the training sessions. It is much more intense here but now I feel good. I just felt a little tired towards the end of tonight’s match. We had to win tonight because we couldn’t in the first two matchdays. I think this result will help us look forward to what's to come.”

Sobre jugar con el número 10… 

“Siempre ha sido un sueño mío. Antes lo usaba Maxi [Moralez], quien es una leyenda. Sinceramente, me siento muy contento y es un honor poder ser su reemplazante de su camisa número 10.”

On sporting the number 10…

“It has always been a dream of mine. Maxi [Moralez] used it before and he is a legend of the Club. Honestly, I feel so happy and it is an honor to be the replacement of his number 10 jersey.”

NYCFC MIDFIELDER ANDRES JASSON 

On if the team can use this win for the upcoming match against D.C. United…

“It gives us belief, momentum. Once we start getting momentum at home, at Yankee Stadium, it’s definitely tough to play here and compete with us. I think when we’re playing like that at home it’s tough to come here and get a result.” 

On receiving consistent minutes…

“For a guy like me I always wanna play more. I think I’ve matured this year from last year, and I think I’ve shown that in training. I think I can add something to the group, hopefully I can keep getting consistent minutes and playing well.” 

On the push for the first-ever goal from an NYCFC homegrown player…

“We’ve all been close, especially me recently. We’re there and ready to break through. I think in the coming weeks you can expect a first homegrown goal, and then a second and third will come. Personally, I back myself but James [Sands] could have shot it today and he didn’t, so maybe he could’ve scored today.” 

NYCFC GOALKEEPER LUIS BARRAZA

On feelings after the home opener…

“I think obviously going away and playing the first two games away, it was always going to be tough and we knew that. Obviously we were upset even though we were on the road. We were upset that we weren't  able to really bring back home the points. So I think now showing out in front of our fans in front of our people, I think it was important for us to put on a solid complete performance and I think we did that today. I think the guys that started the game and the guys that came in helped out the group alot and I couldn't be happier and I’m also proud of the effort tonight.”  

On the fans' support tonight…

“You almost don't think about the cold when you have 20 thousand plus people yelling and cheering for you. I knew it was going to be a good atmosphere and good energy and I was actually excited and looking forward to the game. Like I said it was important for us to get the three points but also a clean sheet, it's going to help the guys build some confidence and now head into D.C with good confidence.” 

On how it feels to beat a team coming off two wins and moving forward this season…

“Yea I think it's easy to get caught up there, maybe they got two wins they were also at home. We don't really like to focus on what's going on outside, we focus on what we have to do and how we have to play and I think today was a testament to that. We wanted to play our style at home and I think we did a really good job of playing when we had to play and going along when we had to go along and that's a sign of a young team that's maturing. Again this is one win out of 30 plus games and we have to continue with the quality.” 

NYCFC MIDFIELDER JAMES SANDS

On his journey thus far…

“No complaints really. There have been a lot of ups and downs since we last spoke. I think specifically the experience for me in Scotland has been amazing and was just what I needed to get out of my comfort zone a little bit and now I’m back looking to take the next step with this team and adjusting to a new role. I’m very excited about the future.”

On the system the team is playing in and how it fared tonight…

“I think it worked well tonight. Obviously this is a new group of players so it will look a little disjointed at times. I think we had moments of good play tonight but I think we are looking forward to it getting much better as the games come. But I think, as opposed to past years where we had a set team with more older and experienced guys, I think we have much younger talent now and I think that means everyone is a little more adaptable to what Nick [Cushing] is trying to tell us as a coach and I think the ceiling might be higher for this team than in past years.”

On how it felt to be back at Yankee Stadium in front of the home fans…

“I loved it. The fans have always been great for the team and for myself. When they announced my name at the beginning of the game and I got that reception from the fans, that’s something special and something I definitely missed.”

NYCFC DEFENDER TAYVON GRAY

On being back out on the field and the recovery from injury…

“Happy to be out there again and as for the game, three points so I’m happy. We took a look at the scan and it wasn’t bad so I knew I would be ok. We did the proper recovery and now I’m happy to be here.”

On his change of hairstyle…

“It’s a new season so I thought I’d switch it up.”

NYCFC MIDFIELDER MATIAS PELLEGRINI

Sobre la victoria del equipo…

“Muy contento por los tres puntos, por la victoria del equipo, la verdad que la necesitábamos. Este año ya estoy mejor, estoy más adaptado, y el club me ha ayudado mucho.” 

On the team's first win of the season…

“Very happy for the three points, the victory of the team, and honestly we needed this win. This year I feel better, I'm more adapted, and the club has helped me alot.” 

Sobre el sentimiento de jugar contra su antiguo equipo…

“Se siente raro porque conozco a toda la gente que trabaja ahí, al cuerpo técnico y a muchos compañeros. Pero estoy a gusto en Nueva York y muy contento por la victoria.” 

On playing against your former team…

“It feels weird because I know everyone who works there, the coaching staff and a lot of my former teammates. But I’m happy in New York and really happy for the victory.”

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Twitter: @NYCFC @NYCFCEspanol 

Instagram: @NYCFC 

Facebook: @NewYorkCityFC

ABOUT NEW YORK CITY FCNew York City Football Club (NYCFC) is an American professional soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Eastern Conference of the League. It was announced as the League's 20th franchise on May 21, 2013 and is the first and only MLS Club located within the five boroughs of New York City. NYCFC kicked off its inaugural MLS season in March 2015 and is majority owned by City Football Group (CFG). Since its inaugural season, the Club has qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs the last seven consecutive seasons, the second-longest active playoff streak. In 2021, NYCFC won MLS Cup in the Club's first ever appearance, becoming the first professional sports franchise based in New York to win a championship in a decade. In 2022, NYCFC added to its trophy cabinet by winning Campeones Cup, the annual clash between the champions of MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.  NYCFC’s affiliate team, NYCFC II, plays in MLS NEXT Pro, a professional soccer league that completes the pro player pathway from MLS NEXT, the youth academies associated with MLS, through to MLS, the top U.S. domestic league. NYCFC II plays their home matches in Belson Stadium at St. John’s University in Queens, NY.  NYCFC’s Academy currently features teams from the U-12 to U-18 age groups and became the first Academy in the country to win back-to-back national titles at the U-19 level. NYCFC proudly supports City in the Community (CITC) foundation to use the power of soccer to uplift communities. One of the programs, New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI), is a first-of-its-kind public-private community partnership to open 50 mini-soccer pitches in NYC neighborhoods in five years. In 2021, NYCSI opened its 50th pitch and committed to install 26 more mini-pitches across NYC in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ which will be hosted across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. 

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