“Im finding it really difficult”, lamented Nick Cushing after another frustrating result, this time coming from a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to New England Revolution.
The question that garnered Nick’s response was regarding how NYCFC’s current run of form has impacted him on a personal level.
The Pigeons’ last victory came on April 22nd, and this draw marks the eighth straight match without a victory for City. As a result, the #cushingout movement has been in full swing of late online and in the stands.
“I’m not blind, I see the crowd”, Cushing remarked, coming in response to the numerous signs and banners held by supporters calling for the coach’s dismissal.
“The supporters and this football team mean everything to me. I’ve been in this organization for 17 seasons now – whether it was Manchester City’s academy, the (Manchester City) women’s first team, or New York City. Whether I was an assistant or a head coach – it means everything to me to win for those guys”
He continued, “Football is us. It is in my blood. It is inside me. [Even] if I wanted to leave, I couldn’t. I can’t leave football because I love it so much – I’m obsessed with it.”
He rounded out his open-ended response on a more positive note, concluding, “I take real comfort and confidence when I go in the dressing room that I see a group of guys that believe in each other, trust in each other, and believe in what we’re doing.”
There’s a lot to unpack here, of course, but what sticks out the most to me in Nick’s answer was his declaration of love towards this club, and football in general.
While Cushing has always been quick to thank fans for their support, this response felt different. Rather than praising fans for their support, this felt more like pleading with them for their acceptance.
And, as someone who’s been lucky enough to work with Nick in the media, I have to say I’m really rooting for the guy. I’m sure these weeks have been harder for him than they have been for any individual fan, and I think that the human side of football can be lost at times among supporters, even if they ultimately have the club’s best interests in mind.
What compounds my sympathy for Cushing is that I think he’s simultaneously dealing with a deeply incomplete squad and a fanbase with title aspirations. The gap between what fans have come to expect from this team and the caliber of players at Cushing’s disposal is significant.
But at the end of the day, Cushing knows as well as you and I that results are what drives this business. Love, loyalty, and passion can only take you so far. The hot seat will only get hotter with each passing match if balls don’t find the back of the net, and three points aren’t deposited in the bank soon.
So, for the sake of Nick, our fans, and NYCFC’s place in the table, I’m really hoping for some magic against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
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