Cushing Reaction: “This Team Is Special.”

September 15, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – New York City FC News Release

New York City Interim Head Coach says the Club’s Campeones Cup win is nothing less than the squad deserve.

The Boys in Blue lifted their second piece of silverware, defeating Mexican side Atlas F.C. 2-0 at Yankee Stadium on another historic night, courtesy of goals from Alex Callens and Maxi Moralez.

For Cushing, the triumph marked his ninth trophy with the City Football Group and first in full charge of NYCFC.

Naturally, the Head Coach was delighted with the achievement and asserts the victory is just reward for his players for their efforts during what had been a challenging time for the team.

“I’m so happy for the guys because of the work they have put in, and the way they have responded week in, week out,” he stated.

“I know this team is special. I know every coach says that but when I see a team that goes through many wins in the early part of the season, and continues to work at the level we work at, and continues to be hungry to be better; then goes through a period of losing so many games with a coach who was an Assistant and became the Interim Head Coach – all of the things that have been thrown at this team: major injuries, suspensions, we lost our captain [Sean Johnson]…

“I never ever felt they were coming apart or that they were checking out a little bit – there was always belief. I could feel in the locker room before the game, I could feel a real desire and hunger.

“If you isolate the game, I really believed the team could win. I knew it would be a difficult game but I knew we could win, though of course, in the back of your mind you have the run we’ve been on and the results.

“It’s a big moment: another trophy for our Football Club. That feeling never ever gets old! It’s my ninth trophy with this organization: seven others as a Head Coach and one as an Assistant, and it never ever gets old.

“This is the reason we do the job. There’s a moment when the players lift the trophy – and we do this job to create winning teams – but when I look at the podium and I see a guy like Kevin O’Toole celebrating with our team, who made his professional debut and had an incredible game for a guy who had never played at this level, it reinforces why we do the job.

“Kevin has really pushed on this year. He’s got real technical quality, real physical endurance and we wanted to give him an opportunity over the last two, three, four games but it maybe just wasn’t the right time. It was…