A sign hangs above the coach’s office on the hit series “Ted Lasso,” saying one word: believe. For New York City football Club the sign is almost a metaphor for the club’s existence under head coach, Ronny Delia. The club has had a team full of bigger names in the past but they have never been in a bigger game that they will play this Saturday for MLS Cup.
David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard, and Patrick Vieira are gone, replaced with lesser known commodities, but the team has a backbone and strength that has pushed them farther than any player’s name ever could. From the start Ronny Delia has talked about trusting the system and trusting themselves. Finally it is clicking and the team’s trust extends not only to the system but between the players themselves. . When James Sands was asked after the NYCFC win in Philadelphia last weekend what he thought people should know about his team his answer was simple. “Watch how we fight for each other.”
“We have to look at how together this team is, we don’t have the superstars we used to have…but we have more quality from the top to the bottom of the roster.”
Indeed they have. The team has found a way to win despite losing their top right back, Anton Tinnerholm, and a key cog in their midfield, Keaton Parks. Even in the Philadelphia game, without their star striker and Golden Boot winner, Taty Castellanos the the team found a way to come together and find a win. It was a group effort.
They have heard the excuses. The win in New England was because The Revolution had too much time off. The win in Philadelphia was because The Union had eleven players violate COVID protocols. They have heard their accomplishments diminished and they have brushed them aside. ” We believe we can beat anybody.” Deila said this week in the lead up to Saturday. They believe they can go to Portland and win despite Portland’s huge home field advantage.
“We know they have great fans, but we know we will have some on our side. We have great fans. At the end of the day it is eleven verses eleven.” said Maxi Morales when asked about playing in the environment in Portland.
Dec 5, 2021; Chester, PA, USA; New York City FC midfielder Maximiliano Moralez (10) celebrates with the trophy after beating the Philadelphia Union to win the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2021 MLS Playoffs at Subaru Park. New York City FC won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Ronny Deila expanded on his message to the team in the press conference after the game in Philadelphia.
“This Club has been successful coming to the playoffs six times in a row. We haven’t dealt with the pressure before and now we’re starting to do that. I think the learning for the whole Club to win football games and how to deal with that and how to win them when the pressure is on is something you have to learn over time and this Club has gone through a lot already at a young age and today we have for a third time had success and we bring for the first time a trophy to the Club and I’m sure it’s not going to be the last. As I said to the boys, enjoy it because it’s a big big thing, the whole Club has to enjoy it, the supporters everybody because here in the U.S. it’s hard to win. Everybody has the same opportunity and its 28 teams, it’s crazy, so what we have done so far has been just amazing, but the biggest one is coming Saturday. Portland is a tough place. They have been in a final before, we haven’t but we will do everything to get more energy into us before the game and get everything out because then we know we can beat anybody.”
Sean Johnson said in the press conference on Thursday, “I don’t think this team considers ourselves underdogs. I don’t think we ever have. “
Most of the pundits have NYCFC as underdogs this Saturday but not the NYCFC players and not the fans of the club. Many fans have booked flights to the rose city or are already there supporting their club in advance of the game. Portland in Portland is a formidable opponent indeed. As it stands right now both Portland and NYCFC have scored exactly 62 goals apiece this season. Portland has allowed more goals by far, however, and NYCFC will look to exploit their backline with a well rested Golden Boot winner back in the squad and looking to impress. For NYCFC players, coaches and fans. tap your hand on the sign on Saturday and believe.
