Parks: I’m really excited for the first game. My goal is to win MLS Cup

Keaton Parks believes New York City FC are in good shape two weeks out from the opening weekend of the Major League Soccer season.

The on-loan midfielder has impressed NYCFC fans in his two preseason outings vs. FC Copenhagen and AIK and is eager to build more chemistry in upcoming tests at the Orlando City Invitational.

Parks told NYCFC.com: “Preseason has been good so far. I feel good. I’m getting adjusted well with the team and building chemistry already. With traveling and staying together all the time, it’s been easy to build friendships and get to know each other.

“The scrimmages in Abu Dhabi were a good start. We only had four training sessions before the first game, so it was difficult but that’s normal. We focused a lot on defensively, so our attacking struggled but it’s just the start of preseason. I think we showed well in the first two games and it’s a good start to what’s to come.” 

Parks has been capped at senior level with the U.S. National Team and has been part of the youth setup, despite being stationed abroad with his parent club, Benfica.

Whether the faces have been familiar or not, Keaton has found a friendly locker room which is helping him to acclimatize to life at his new Club.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time with JP (Torres), Luis (Barraza), and Abdi (Mohammed),” Keaton said.

“Jonathan is my roommate so I’m getting to know him really well. I’ve gotten to know everybody well, everyone has been really friendly. We move seats around at the meals and talk a lot, so it’s been good.

“I’ve seen the talent of all these guys, having so many talented guys on the same team will help us all grow individually.

“It’ll push us to work harder every day, as a team and as individuals we’ll grow a lot. If I don’t earn my spot, that’s okay because that means someone else worked harder and earned it over me.”

City will return to Orlando for the opening game of the season vs. our Expansion cousins to the south.

 For Parks, that’s the goal in all of these preseason outings, ensuring that a talented squad comes correct on the opening day.

He added: “I’m really excited for the first game. NYCFC is such a big, well-known club that has become one of the best in MLS so I’m very excited to get started and be able to wear the jersey.

“[My goal is] to win MLS Cup, simple as that. I want to play as much as I can but in the end, it comes down to the team and getting wins.

“Whether I’m playing or not, I want to help the team get wins.”