Nick Cushing maintains 'sky-high' levels of belief in his New York City squad as they look to bounce back from their Leagues Cup disappointment against the Chicago Fire.
NYCFC reached the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, only to suffer a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to the Columbus Crew last week.
They resume their MLS campaign in a strong position, though, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and holding an eight-point cushion to the play-in spots.
Cushing does not expect City's Leagues Cup exit to affect them in the run-in, saying: "I said at the start of the season, when we started slowly, that my confidence in the group is sky-high and always has been.
"We fell below our standards last season, but I said then that tough times make top teams.
"If you have guys with a work ethic as high as ours is, you'll learn from your experiences. I have sky-high belief in this group of guys.
"This team has the capability, but it's about how you move forward, it's about the character to take the knocks and move forward."
Chicago, on the other hand, resume their campaign in 14th place, though the congested nature of the Eastern standings means they are only three points off a play-in place.
Head coach Frank Klopas has been grateful for the chance to work with his players on the training ground, with their own Leagues Cup campaign ending in the group stage three weeks ago.
"Putting all pressure and expectations aside, I think we need to be prepared, which we are, and this break has given us an opportunity to really work on that and also the little details," Klopas said.
"I think we need to go and play the game, not to overthink things, and be focused and organised without the ball."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York City – Santiago Rodriguez
Thirteen (seven goals, six assists) of Rodriguez's 16 regular-season goal contributions for New York City in 2024 have come at home.
Rodriguez has been involved in seven goals in his last five home league matches (three goals, four assists).
Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuypers
Cuypers has recorded a team-high 11 goal contributions in regular-season play for the Fire this year (nine goals, two assists).
The only player since 2021 with more than 11 goal contributions in a season for Chicago was Xherdan Shaqiri (18) in 2022.
MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK CITY WIN
New York City have won eight straight regular-season matches against Chicago, tied for the second-longest active home winning streak by one team over another in MLS.
It is also NYCFC's longest home winning run against a particular team in MLS, though they have drawn six of their last eight games in all competitions (one win, one loss).
However, a Chicago team that has lost their last three games in all competitions should not present much of a threat. This is the Fire's 10th losing streak of three or more matches since the start of the 2020 season.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York City – 61%
Chicago Fire – 18.5%
Draw – 20.5%
Hurtig the hero after late goal sends Arsenal into Champions League quarters
Lina Hurtig's 89th minute winner ensured Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League after edging Juventus 1-0 on Thursday.
After being frustrated for large parts of the encounter, Hurtig bundled home from close range after Martina Lenzini's poor clearance to book the Gunners' place in the last eight.
Despite Arsenal dominating the early exchanges, it was Juventus who had the first sight of goal, though Eva Schatzer's effort was easy for Daphne van Domselaar to gather.
In a first half that saw just two shots on target, both coming from the visitors, Renee Slegers' substitutes proved to be the difference for Arsenal.
Slegers introduced Beth Mead, Stina Blackstenius and Hurtig late on, with the latter somehow putting Kim Little's cross over the bar from five yards out.
However, the Swede would atone for her earlier error, combining with fellow substitute Blackstenius to net against her former club and send them out of the competition with two group games remaining.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Barcelona edged closer to the quarter-finals of the competition with a convincing 4-1 victory over St. Polten at the Generali Arena.
The reigning champions are still three points behind Manchester City following their 2-1 win over Hammarby, and know a win against the Swedes next month will see them progress.
Kika Nazareth opened the scoring in the 20th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Kamila Dubcova, notching her second nine minutes later from close range.
Barca found themselves three goals up at the break when Vicky Lopez netted her first goal in the competition to put the result beyond doubt.
There was also a landmark moment for Alexia Putellas, who netted her 200th goal for the club with a well-taken effort into the far corner.
Valentina Madl took some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display from the visitors, who have now taken their tally to 20 goals from their four matches in the competition.
Guardiola agrees two-year contract extension with Man City
Pep Guardiola will be Manchester City manager for at least two more seasons after 2024-25, after he signed a two-year contract extension on Thursday.
The 53-year-old was coming to the end of his City deal, which was due to expire at the end of the current campaign, but he has opted to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
The deal itself will take Guardiola's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
There had been suggestions that he may leave at the end of the season following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain was on his way out.
Guardiola was strongly linked with the England job after Gareth Southgate resigned in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat, but the Football Association appointed Thomas Tuchel last month.
“Manchester City means so much to me," Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and, of course, the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
“Hopefully, now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
Having been appointed in 2016, Guardiola is by some distance Manchester City's most successful manager of all time, having won 18 major trophies during his time at the club.
That list includes their first-ever Champions League triumph in 2023 and six Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four on the spin.
He also boasts a 72.04% win percentage across all competitions, which is unsurprisingly the highest of any full-time City manager in history.
Shaw at the double as Man City progress in Champions League
Khadija Shaw scored twice as Manchester City beat Hammarby 2-1 to seal their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Gareth Taylor's team entered Thursday's game with a perfect record in Group D, and their fourth win in as many European matches ensured they finished in the top two.
Shaw—the leading scorer in the Women's Super League this season with eight goals—put them ahead in the 31st minute, driving into the area after taking in Yui Hasegawa's pass before seeing her shot deflect into the top corner.
Shaw was booked for celebrating in front of the home fans despite appearing to have objects thrown at her from the stands, and Hammarby should have levelled when Julia Blakstad fired wide 10 minutes later.
The hosts did draw level three minutes into the second half as Ellen Wangerheim tapped home while City's Laura Blindkilde Brown was down appealing for a free-kick.
That parity was short-lived, though, as Shaw blasted into the top corner from 25 yards out, taking her overall tally for this season to 12 goals in all competitions.
In Group C, meanwhile, Bayern Munich lost their perfect record as they played out a 1-1 draw with Valerenga, boosting Arsenal's hopes of topping the pile.
Jovana Damnjanovic came off the bench to put Bayern ahead 15 minutes from time in Norway, but Elise Thorsnes headed home following an 88th-minute corner to snatch a point for the hosts.
Arsenal could now move within a point of Bayern when they face Juventus in Group C's other match later on Thursday.
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