Two World Cups, a European Championship, four Champions League trophies and countless domestic titles: New York City FC’s David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard have collected a lot of silverware over the years playing in Europe.
Now they are coming to Columbus with New York City FC in its pursuit of a playoff berth in Major League Soccer.
“It’s not too often that you have three Champions League winners on one team in MLS. So it’s pretty special what they have been able to acquire,” Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter says. “I expect New York City to get into the playoffs, I would guess. They are going to turn it on at the end of the year.”
If it’s up to Crew SC, however, the blue side of New York won’t turn it on at MAPFRE Stadium on Wednesday night. As the playoff race in the Eastern Conference is heating up, the Black & Gold (3rd, 34 points) have the opportunity to further distance themselves from a direct competitor (8th, 27 points) with a win.
To accomplish that, Columbus will have to win the midfield battle with NYCFC.
“When you talk about matchups, that’s going to be an important one, a key to this game,” Berhalter says. “It’s about how we accept that battle, how we can get them moving and, defensively, how we can stay organized.”
With players like Pirlo and Lampard pulling the strings for NYCFC, Berhalter says the task won’t be an easy one.
“You know there’s going to be moments when they make passes we don’t expect. That’s the type of quality they have,” he says.
Crew SC’s central midfielders will have their hands full limiting those moments.
“When you have Pirlo on your team, who is a great passer and a great player, and Lampard also, they are going to try and play, because these guys want to move the ball,” Tony Tchani says. “We just need to put pressure on those guys and not let them play.”
The Crew SC midfielder says matchups with experienced players like Lampard and Pirlo are all about intelligence.
“You just have to be smart because those guys have played against great players. You just have to make sure that against Lampard, Pirlo and those guys you don’t go too hard because you might get into trouble.”
Staying out of trouble has been a little easier for Tchani with Wil Trapp on his side. Crew SC’s vice-captain had an outstanding performance most recently in the Black & Gold’s 2-1 away win over the Colorado Rapids.
The victory boosted the team’s confidence, something that is evident when you speak with Trapp.
“No doubt, they have a lot of quality, but they can be exploited,” Trapp says of NYCFC, adding that it will take a lot of discipline.
“The biggest thing is staying organized in our blocks of four, following runners when we have to, and communicating because there’s going to be a lot of movement,” he says. “They are smart players, some of them are world-class players. They are going to see passes before anyone shifts, so we have to be smart and diligent in our work.”
There’s a lot more to NYCFC than its European trio, of course, and the Black & Gold are well aware of that.
“With some of the younger players who have been at top clubs, some MLS veterans, they have a lot of good players,” Berhalter says. “It’s going to be difficult for us to contain them. We know they have talent but we are going to do our best to do so.”
Berhalter says one of the keys to Wednesday’s match is keeping the ball and keeping the opponent moving.
“We know we’re going to have to fight to do that, it’s not going to be easy and we’re going to be in uncomfortable positions, but that’s soccer,” he says. “That’s what we’re about and we’re certainly going to try the same against NYCFC.”
Crew SC vs. New York City FC kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Get your tickets here. Can’t make it to MAPFRE Stadium? Follow the action on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, CD 102.5 or La Mega 103.1.
