New York City FC goes into Year Four stronger than ever before, according to Head Coach Patrick Vieira.
Speaking from Jacksonville, where the squad is stationed for the first leg of preseason, Vieira gave an update on all manner of subjects to reporters on a conference call.
Hereâs some of the best bits of what was saidâĤ
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Any bids for Jack Harrison?
âItâs a question for Claudio. Since we are here, all my focus and concentration is on training the team. To try to improve every aspect of their game, so we can be ready to play against Kansas. Thatâs my only concentration. Jack is here and working as hard as everyone else.â
On First DaysâĤ
âItâs been good â of course, the new players coming from Europe, they need time to adjust to the way we want to play, the way we want to defend. The first week is always difficult physically, especially when you stop for 10-12 weeks but when youâre a new player in a new team, you try to find new space and learn about your teammates. Thereâs a lot of connection needed between the players. Theyâre doing well, Iâm really happy with the first few days of training and Iâm sure the new players will give a lot of the team.â
On David Villaâs ConditionâĤ
âHis performance will dictate how many games he will play. David is a professional who knows himself and if he can play all the games the way he did last year, Iâll take it every day. Then, we have to see â heâs been really good in preseason, he still loves playing football. I donât go into the season telling myself we have to protect him, no. He wants to be on the field every day and that is his strength.â
On Having Four GoalkeepersâĤ
âWe were looking at the players weâd brought in during the window and we looked at our roster. We always wanted to have four goalkeepers, even for me to help organize the training sessions. We wanted a young goalkeeper we could train and develop for the future of the football club.
âThis is the world weâre living in â itâs all about competition. Of course it will make our jobs more difficult but they have to compete and then that they deserve to play. Of course itâs difficult but I think to have four goalkeepers gives me a better organization in training. Now itâs hard for me to please everyone but Iâm not here to please people, Iâm here to coach the football team.â
On Brad Stuver RumorsâĤ
âThis is just a rumor on Twitter? (Yes) No no, Brad is going nowhere. We took him, heâs going to stay with us â heâs not going anywhere.â
On Academy Players Training with the First-TeamâĤ
âWhat was important for me and Claudio and the football club was to give the Academy players experience with the first-team. After preseason, weâll have a really clear idea on their best options. Itâs all about the experience and how theyâll develop with the physical and mental demands. Itâs going to be tough for them, a good test to see where they are at the moment.â
On Gio ReynaâĤ
âFor a kid of 15, 16, heâs got a physical presence. His game understanding is really good â he can score goals, he understands the demands of the game tactically â heâs a really smart kid. Heâs shown some really good stuff.â
On James Sandsâ Best PositionâĤ
âJames is still really young and we have to keep developing him in both positions. Itâs still too early to say where his best position is. Weâll work on him in central defense and central midfield. In a few years weâll see where his best position is â right now, weâll make him play in both.
âOur plan is not to sign young players just to sign them. Itâs important for us to create a pathway. If we sign them, itâs because we strongly believe they can play in the first-team. Thereâs no point signing them otherwise.â
On 2017 vs 2018âĤ
âWe were more solid as a team in 2017. We looked less vulnerable on transitions and we were stronger on defensive set pieces.
âIn 2018, I want to see the team becoming even stronger. One of our objectives is to try to make less mistakes in our last 30 yards and I would want to see the team conceding less goals.
âWhen you look at the players we bought, weâre closer to Toronto this year. I think we can challenge them. At the same time, you look at Atlanta and the majority of the teams in the East, theyâve improved a lot. Thereâs a few teams who are strong enough to challenge Toronto and I think we are one of them.
âUnquestionably, I think the league will be stronger this year when you look at the players coming into the league.â
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