There are a few ways to reflect on NYCFC's 2020 season.
The pessimistic view would point to the fact the club underachieved. NYCFC took a step back both in the standings (from first to fifth) and points per game (1.88 to 1.7) while falling short of their expectation of getting a home playoff game (at least) despite returning an overwhelming majority of their playing core from 2019, including all of their first-choice starting lineup. They lost their first two MLS regular season games and then their first two games at the MLS is Back Tournament, scoring exactly one goal in the process.
An optimistic look would focus on a team with another new head coach and the transition period that typically comes with that type of change, irrespective of how much continuity in the playing squad. Ronny Deila was hired days before preseason began and had to get his squad ready for competitive games by mid-February with the Concacaf Champions League. That transitional period happened before the COVID-19 pandemic, more key context to the season, to help explain the slow start. Since returning from the tournament, they have been among the best teams in MLS. They won 11 of their 18 games, second to only the Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia Union.
Along the way, the club endured season-ending injuries to last year's leading scorer Heber and key starter James Sands. Maxi Moralez missed half of the season and just when Alexandru Mitrita was finding his best form in New York, the Romanian winger left for Al-Ahli. They continued to improve, ending the season on a four-game winning streak, including nine goals scored in their final two games.
"There’s always an adjustment, that’s normal with a coaching change," sporting director David Lee told MLSsoccer.com last week. "The players have gotten used to Ronny and Ronny has gotten used to the players.”
NYCFC opted not to bring in reinforcements following Heber's injury (in late September) and Mitrita's transfer (in early October). It was a combination of belief in the squad as a whole, as Taty Castellanos and Gary Mackay-Steven have had an extended run in the starting XI, as well as there not being a deal that made sense for both now and the future.
Lee and the club are fully focused on the playoff run, but he and his staff have to keep both the short- and long-term view in mind. This offseason is shaping up for some big change. Mitrita's departure opens one Designated Player slot, while Jesus Medina's contract will see him vacate another spot.
The flexibility of adding DPs expands the player pool of potential additions, with collaboration from City Football Group.
“City Football Group are involved in all of our signings and involved in the process," Lee said. "All the players we look at are New York signings, but we are collaborative with scouts in the City Football Group. Having recommendations on players is always a good thing and they put some very interesting names on the table.”
It'll be an intriguing winter for NYCFC, but back to the present, this is the squad they will roll into the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs with, under less external expectation than in recent years when they were a higher seed. They kick things off with a road Round One match against Orlando City SC Saturday (12 pm ET | TV & streaming info), a team they lost to then drew with in 2020.
"We’re not new to this," Lee said. "Unfortunately we haven’t won as many playoff games as we would have hoped. We’re looking forward to a really difficult game against Orlando, they’re a difficult team. Luiz (Muzzi) and Oscar (Pareja) have done a great job.”
