Ronny Deila: “The depth is what is not good enough to do something in the MLS. We need more quality players in.” (FrontRowSoccer.com Photo)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Say this about Ronny Deila: He isn’t afraid of confronting the truth.
At a time when many head coaches are talking up their teams with hopes of making the playoffs or even winning the MLS Cup, the New York City FC was blunt and honest about his side.
During a media Zoom press conference Wednesday, he lamented about his team’s depth.
“We have very young squad down here now,” he said from Orlando, Fla., where the team is training. “The depth is what is not good enough to do something in the MLS. We need more quality players in.”
Blunt, but honest words.
“But the players we have here is really good. We have players that have a lot of potential to develop even more. We have an opportunity to sign, good players to come in to make the team with more depth, a bit more quality.”
Deila said he wanted to add depth on the left side, adding a forward (“We only have one striker) and only one No. 10 in Maxi Moralez.
“We have positions that we need to do something with,” he said. “We are working hard to get this right.”
Deila said he hoped for the club to make more signings prior to the April 17 season opener at D.C. United, but he noted how difficult it is to bring new players in during the time of COVID-19.
“It’s been a very, very tough year when it comes to signings and getting things done” he said. “But we want to sign players, of course. We feel that we need to add more quality into the team, more depth as well. So, so we’re working really hard … to get that done. We have Malte [Amundsen] coming. But again, it’s very hard to get them into the country with getting visas and all these things. So, hopefully he will be arriving before the season starts but you never know with these things.
“Also because of the economy situation in the whole world right now, clubs doesn’t get players in. They don’t want to lose the players they have because they don’t know how they can get others to make the team the same as they have. But we are getting closer and closer. I think you’re going see some signings before the season starts. Also, I think there will be a couple in the summer, maybe. But we don’t know yet, but I hope that we get as many as possible now before the season starts.”
