It’s 1-0 at halftime. That’s the message Domènec Torrent has been transmitting to his players in the hours and days since the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals vs. Atlanta United.

NYCFC travel down south aiming to reach the Conference finals for the first time in club history but to do it, they’ll have to end Atlanta’s ten-game home unbeaten streak.

Any kind of a win will at least force extratime at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Anton Tinnerholm believes that City can approach the game with freedom as a result.

“This game is different and special because we’re going after this game and we’ve got nothing to lose,” Tinnerholm told MLSSoccer.com. “We know we are 1-0 down and they have to defend a 1-0 lead. I think we have to turn it around and go after and play like we have nothing to lose. If the score is going to be tied [1-1] at the end of the game, they’re going to be scared.”

It's a delicately-balanced tie, with both Head Coaches preparing their teams for very different missions.

For NYCFC, it’s a case of leaving this second leg with no regrets, with everything left on the field in pursuit of the goals which would take them through.

“I think we have to look at ourselves,” fullback Anton Tinnerholm said. “We, as a team, have to perform at 100 percent. Every player has to look at themselves and every player has to reach the top that we can do. … If every single player can reach the high level we can do, then we’re going to make it. It’s simple like that.”

Sezione: Focus / Data: Sat 10 November 2018 alle 20:00 / Source: NYCFC
Autore: Stefano Bentivogli
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