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NYCFC: For upcoming match vs Toronto, it is all about life after Patrick Vieria

By John Carroll Jr.

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 05: The starting lineup for New York City FC is seen during a MLS soccer match between New York City FC and Orlando City SC at the Orlando City Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 05: The starting lineup for New York City FC is seen during a MLS soccer match between New York City FC and Orlando City SC at the Orlando City Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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NYCFC has not played a match since June 9 when they hosted and tied with Atlanta United. However, since then a lot has happened within the confines of this football club.

NYCFC are having themselves a season. Despite the choke fest in the US Open Cup and some random losses in the regular season, they are a force to be reckoned with.

But now, as you might have heard, their old head coach Patrick Vieira is off to France to coach in his home country and there is a new man in charge.

His name is Domenec Torrent and he is good. Just to quickly recap who he is, he is basically the wingman for Pep Guardiola who is arguably the best soccer manager on the planet. Also, he comes from within the City family in Manchester.

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However, the long rest in between matches is a blessing for the Citizens. The coaching change in the middle of the season is not ideal but it does not matter right now.

Culture changes and even fundamental changes take time in soccer, especially in the MLS. The effect Patrick Vieira left won’t just go away because he is gone these are still his players and still the depth he built.

Of course, the new coach will do things his way and try to make a few changes in style. But, he knows he needs to ease into it. This is new for everyone and rushing into swooping changes will do nothing but waste what is a good season so far.

Although Vieira leaving likely costs NYCFC any true change to win the MLS Cup this, crazier things have happened. He was not that clutch in big games anyway but he did build a foundation.

The foundation he left will be hard to maintain for a long time after this. However, they still have a nice window for success this season. The Citizens have just MLS regular season games left on the schedule and are already really high in the standings.

On Sunday, they face their next test as they host reigning champs Toronto FC. This match is the club’s first without Vieira since 2016.

The club will not feel the effects of him being gone in this match, not quite yet. However, it is still imperative that they play well, get a result and start their next chapter on a high note.

Next: Vieira was good, really good

A win vs the reigning champs to ring in a new era of soccer in the City would turn a lot of heads and really prove a lot about the group of players NYCFC has right now.

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