New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis is tasked with having to adjust his squad this weekend due to not only international call-ups, but also injuries.
Forwards Adam Nemec and Khiry Shelton are away on international duty. Kreis is also without midfielder Sebastian Velasquez (groin) and possibly defender Josh Williams (precautionary) for Saturdayâs match against 2013 MLS Cup Champion Sporting Kansas City.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Yankee Stadium (YES, 970AM, WADO).
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âIâve done a lot of preaching about how deep I think this team is, and Iâve said we have some really talented players who havenât quite gotten big opportunities yet,â Kreis said. âWith every injury or with every international call-up and every reason why thereâs going to be players missing comes opportunity. I see this as a big opportunity for some guys.
âWe have lots of quality players, especially midfielders, who havenât had an opportunity to show what theyâre about. Somebody will be getting a chance this weekend, for sure.â
Nemec, who has started all three games this season, will be representing the Slovak National Team for a Euro 2016 Qualifier against Luxembourg this afternoon. Shelton, who has come on as a sub in all three matches in 2015, was called up to the United States Under-23 side matches against Bosnia & Herzegovina (this morning) and Denmark (March 31).
New York City FC (1-0-2; 5 points) will also be without defender Shay Facey, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in last weekâs scoreless draw at Colorado.
âIt is what it is,â Kreis said. âThatâs the job you sign up for in this league â you have injuries, you have call-ups, you have things to deal with. Itâs why you try to build a team as deep as you possibly can. I think we certainly are sorry we will be missing a few players, but for me, it represents an opportunity for others to step forward. I think there are some players who deserve that opportunity.â
Forward Patrick Mullins should see an increased role with Nemec and Shelton unavailable. The two-time Hermann Trophy winner at the University of Maryland found the back of the net in New York City FCâs 2-0 victory over New England in the Historic Home Opener on March 15.
Despite the roster limitations this week and possibility of a larger role, Mullinsâ mentality and game plan remains constant.
âThe goal stays the same and thatâs contribute to the team in whichever way is possible that given day,â he said. âWhatever the lineup is on the day, then so be it.â
The mission is also to come away from Saturdayâs match against Sporting KC (0-1-2; 2 points) with a victory.
âObviously weâre looking to come back home and put another three points on the board,â goalie Josh Saunders said.
âWeâre hoping for a big crowd, and not just a big crowd in terms of numbers, but a supportive crowd in terms of how loud they are,â Kreis said. âI thought it was fantastic in the first game and hopefully we can continue that going forward so the atmosphere can be very, very daunting for any opponent to walk in here and think they can walk away with anything.â
Sporting KC played the Portland Timbers to a scoreless draw on March 21, while New York City FC comes into Saturdayâs match following consecutive shutouts.
To say theyâve been dominant defensive performances would be a bit of an exaggeration. The Revolution had 11 total shots (one on target), while Colorado had 21 chances (seven on target).
âWeâre always going to be after the perfect game,â Kreis said. âThe New England game lacked that perfect feel because there were at least 20 minutes in the first half after we scored the goal where they were all over us and frankly, deserved to score.
âItâs still a little bit of a work in progress. Weâve been giving up too many glaring goal-scoring chances for my liking, but at the end of the day, we managed to get shutouts along the way. Itâs glass half-full right now.â
