by Anthony J. Merced
New York City FC head coach Nick Cushing spoke ahead of the game against Chicago on the weekend and stressed his team's reflection on what went wrong in Nashville. The team opened the season with a 2-0 loss but were focused heavily on their style of play and execution mostly.
"We've had a chance to reflect on the game," said Cushing. "We've been in the video room, we've looked at where we feel we can be so much better, but also where there was some really good positives in the game, and the players are really hungry to go out and play again."
One of those players is the returning James Sands. The 22 year-old spent the last year on loan with Rangers in Scotland but returns to NYCFC looking to have more of a long term role with the club.
"We're trying to embed an identity," said Cushing on Sands. "To have a guy that has been developed within our system, that is homegrown, that has been a part of the successful years previously, that has also gone away and been in an environment where it's only going to benefit him, playing in the Europa League finals, playing in Champions League games: Ajax and Liverpool... We've got a guy that is not only a really good football player but now has a new, incredibly improved mentality though, being in that environment."
With the Fire on the horizon, Cushing pointed out the key players that will be difficult to plan for on the field. Players like Kei Kamara and Kacper Przybytko will put City's defense under pressure and cause headaches with their eye for goal-scoring.
"In our league we come up against these guys regularly. Really physical number nines that can attack crosses, that like direct balls, that if they get balls in the box, there are chances they can score."
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