PURCHASE, N.Y. – New York City FC is enjoying their finest run of form in their two years of existence and there’s a healthy competition for spots. Not just in the starting XI, but also to make the 18-man roster.
It’s a spot that Mix Diskerud hasn’t been able to make during this four-game winning streak. The 25-year-old midfielder hasn’t stepped on the field since a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake on June 2.
“I think everybody is raising their game, and Mix has to raise his game if he wants to get a spot in our squad,” said NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira. “When you look at the players in training, they are really challenging each other, and I want more from Mix because he’s an international player and he has to deliver. If not, it will be difficult for him to get in the squad.”
Vieira said he and NYCFC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna are still mulling over their activity in this transfer window. The club received a significant influx of money with the Kwadwo Poku transfer to Miami FC in the NASL, but Vieira said any player joining his team has to be the right fit – on and off the field.
“Sometimes it's better not to take anybody than just take a player for the sake of taking a player. We don’t want to take a player just to fill the numbers,” he said. “We want to take a player that will challenge the other ones, somebody who can bring something to the team, and of course we want to bring someone who can fit in our dressing room as well.”
While the search continues, Vieira said he’s also fine with keeping his squad intact.
“We’re looking for quality players, somebody who can take the level of the team to a different level,” he said. “If we’re not going to do that, we’re not going to bring anybody.”
