Cushing Reaction: “We Showed Togetherness.”

July 14, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – New York City FC News Release

New York City Football Club Interim Head Coach Nick Cushing has praised the togetherness shown by his players after their battling win against FC Dallas.

The Boys in Blue recorded a 1-0 success at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday thanks to a first-half goal from Brazilian forward Héber. A hot evening in Dallas forced both sides to use every ounce of energy, and after seeing his side emerge victorious Cushing was full of praise for their mental as well as physical performance.

“I think obviously you have to have tactics and fitness, but you also have to have a belief and you have to have a connection with the team and togetherness to get through a game like this,” he said. “The players have to understand that tactically part of the game plan is to suffer in moments because of the heat and because of the pressure. You have to have a real buy-in and a belief for the football club and for the badge to put your body on the line.

“You have to give a little bit extra here because it’s so hard to play. It’s so hard to see out the whole of the game when this team trains here, plays here, and has quality.”

The night also proved a memorable one for Homegrown midfielder Justin Haak as he made his first MLS start for NYCFC. A product of the Club’s academy, he was one of three academy graduates – alongside Tayvon Gray and Andres Jasson – to taste action against FC Dallas, with his performance leaving his coach pleased.

“I think it was a good performance,” he said. “I think when we put young players in our expectation has to be realistic. We know they’re going to make small mistakes. We know they’re going to have to be supported and have to be helped along the way because they have talent and they have potential but they have to go through these experiences. Justin knows that he played well today but he knows that there are certain areas and certain moments in the game that he has to learn from.

“For me it’s about attitude and it’s about behavior and he will want to learn, he will want to sit with the coaches and take this opportunity. This is an opportunity for him. We believe in him. I think the likes of Maxime Chanot, Alfredo Morales, Thiago Martins, and Sean Johnson, the experienced players showed him support today. I think that is a real strength to have when you put a young player in with potential and all of the experienced guys help him along because that goes a long way into making the next…