NEW YORK — New York City FC head coach Dome Torrent has joined the extended list of Major League Soccer managers past and present who are confounded by the schedule in America’s top-tier professional outlet.
Here is a portion of his introduction into MLS through seven matches: NYCFC played three matches in seven days – all victorious clean sheets — followed by a 12-day respite and then two matches in less than 72 hours across three time zones, a 2-0 win at Orlando City on Thursday and a 3-1 loss in Seattle Sunday afternoon.
Despite the loss at CenturyLink Field, Torrent gave praise to his group while questioning the merits of the MLS schedule.
“I’m very proud of my players because it’s not easy,” Torrent said. “I don’t have to make an excuse – it’s a fact. We have a big problem in MLS if you want to play with balance. It’s not fair to play in three days, two games. And at 2 p.m., when it was very, very hot after this long trip for six hours, three hours of jet lag. But OK, this is MLS.”
Torrent, who owns a 5-2 record, said the team’s execution in Seattle was better than in Orlando.
“I think the difference between this game and last game is we played much better – but we lose the game,” Torrent said. “We were able to create three or four chances in the first half, but the football is when you are more clinical than the opponent – that is football.”
Torrent congratulated Seattle but departed the Pacific Northwest a bit disgruntled. He is hesitant to criticize his new league, instead looking for solutions.
“I don’t want to speak more about MLS or the long trip,” Torrent said. “I accept, I am new here. It’s not MLS coming to Manchester and Spain; I come to the USA, and I’m very happy to be part of MLS, but sometimes I ask, ‘What is the reason. Why?'”
Torrent is not alone.