NYCFC vs ATLAS FC, Cushing: “We Have To Be The Best Version Of Ourselves"

New York City Interim Head Coach Nick Cushing says his squad will have to produce their best level of performance to lift the Campeones Cup.

The Boys in Blue host Atlas F.C. on Wednesday night, as the MLS Cup and Liga MX Champions lock horns at Yankee Stadium.

“We’re excited for this game,” he told the press on Monday at a community event celebrating literacy in the Bronx. “It’s a great opportunity for us, being back at Yankee Stadium, in front of our home fans.

“We’ve planned for a difficult game but it’s a really exciting game for us because of the nature of what the game is: two teams who are the Champions of their respective leagues going head-to-head for a trophy.

“We know it’s going to be a really difficult game with really good opposition – irrelative of form, we’re up against a good side and have to be the best version of ourselves to win.

“My own personal experience, being here for one year, is that playing Liga MX teams are incredibly difficult games – the level across in Mexico is very high.

“We know it will be incredibly difficult – Atlas are a good team. People may perceive they’re not in form because of their results but it’s a one-off game so both teams will be motivated to take a trophy.

“We have a motivation ourselves to make sure we get back to winning football games. There’s also an element that we have a huge desire to put things right with our run of form".