NYCFC can make a statement

This isn’t the same side we’ve been accustomed to seeing from NYCFC.

They no longer feature the likes of David Villa and other Designated Players of high pedigree, Patrick Vieira has departed, with Dome Torrent, his replacement, only making the playoffs last season because of the points buffer his predecessor had built up, and issues regarding the stadium and a dwindling fanbase still persist.

As a result, they aren’t selected as a favorite to go far in 2019. Even talk has surfaced about how they may miss the playoff places altogether

Sunday will offer an opportunity for NYCFC to show early on that they are still a contender in the Eastern Conference and possess the ability to compete with the top clubs in the league. A win would be a huge result following a poor second-half showing against Orlando City that resulted in a draw.