The New York City Post
Market15 Jan 2035
New York City may not be able to give Luciano Ortega what he wants
It is the most legitimate ambition in the sport and the hardest for most clubs to satisfy. Luciano Ortega wants continental football; whether New York City can provide it is a question about the next two seasons, not about him.
Squad15 Jan 2035
Harvey Sarajian in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at New York City this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad15 Jan 2035
A row about effort at New York City
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Owen Pleijsier was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The dugout15 Jan 2035
César Martínez gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Market15 Jan 2035
New York City and Abraham Rodriguez are talking past each other
“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.
The dugout15 Jan 2035
When it matters, Abraham Rodriguez plays
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
The dugout15 Jan 2035
Marvin Dills knocks on the manager’s door
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Marvin Dills trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Squad15 Jan 2035
Riqui Puig remains an outsider
A year in and the city has not opened up, the language has not come, and lunch is eaten alone more often than anybody at New York City would admit. It shows on Saturdays.
The dugout15 Jan 2035
The manager makes Luciano Ortega a promise
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at New York City. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
In brief
- Market José Gallegos runs his contract down
- Squad Mark Moore finally belongs at New York City
- Match Nothing left to play for but pride at New York City