From Ronny Delia To Nick Cushing – NYCFC Players On Mid-Season Change

After their 1-1 draw with Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium, New York City FC players discussed the transition from Ronny Deila, who left to coach Standard Liège, to his interim replacement Nick Cushing.

Tales Magno

“There hasn’t been that many changes throughout the week. We have a very similar style of play that we played under Ronny. The same kind of attacking, the same defending, so there weren’t really that many changes.

“It made it kind of an easy transition for us and we’ll see what happens moving forward. We’re just happy with the effort everyone’s putting in, we’re all trying to learn what the coach wants from us but that’s just going to take a little time and we’ll take it game by game.”

“We’ll give it a couple more games and see what kind of alterations will be made, but as of right now, there hasn’t been too drastic of a change between the coaches.”

Alfredo Morales

“Nick is a great coach, he was very close to everybody, every player before and he is maybe even closer to us now.

“We are just having fun, it was a tough situation maybe but everything that we thought about was just sticking together, doing the job, preparing ourselves for the game and I think we did this and we can keep going and we will see what happens.

“I think everybody is very happy that Nick is taking over the whole thing and I am very happy for him personally, he really deserves the chance and like I said he’s a great coach and an even better person.”

Anton Tinnerholm

“It’s sad to see [Ronny Deila] leaving, especially mid-season. It’s a part of the business. I wish him all the best in Belgium.

“I know he is going to turn things around there. The same as he did here. He’s a great coach. He made the culture different here.

“We won it with him and now we are at the top of the East. He’s been a big part of the Club’s success. We wish him the best in Belgium.”

Gedion Zelalem

“I think we were all very surprised, but ultimately that’s what happens in soccer. We have full confidence in Nick and his ability to take us forward and get us to become a better team than we are now. We’re all confident.”

Thoughts on Nick’s comment on a recent interview that expectations haven’t changed and if the team feels that way…
“Yeah, for sure, expectations don’t change. We want to win every single game that we are playing in and if we end up winning four trophies that would be fantastic and that’s our aim and goal.”

Alexander Callens

“All I know is that it surprised us all. It surprised me because I wasn’t here, I was on International duty. I found out in the morning of the same day that I had my World Cup Qualification game.

“It was a surprise to me because I thought he was happy, that all was good here, that he felt happy here. He had been here for two and a half years and the truth is that I didn’t understand it but everything happens for a reason, and I’m sure he’ll have plenty of new opportunities and experiences. I wish him the best. He’s a great manager and a great friend.

“Now on to Nick. Nick is familiar with us and we know how Nick works. The group will not change much.”

Cushing himself commented on trying to maintain momentum and continuing the work already done at the club.

“No not so different because, I think, two reasons: One we are mid-season and we don’t have a lot of time to start implementing new ways of playing and new ideas and also because what we have done has worked for us, we have a methodology in our group and we have worked towards that the last 18 months and it has helped us win MLS Cup and it has helped us with the league position that we have got.

“It was about making sure the player understands that for us consistency is key, in all of the areas, that in the way that we play and in approaching games.

“My job this week was preparing the team for this game and like I said all the players were exceptional this week in their application.”