MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. ā New York City FC touted the respect and impressive playing career of new head coach Patrick Vieira in a press conference introducing him on Wednesday.
That respect was key for NYCFCās biggest stars, too.
The star trio of Frank Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo discussed the addition of the World Cup winner during separate roundtable discussions with reporters in California on Tuesday, and all three stressed the need for change in the teamās second season.
āWe have to be different [under Vieira],ā said Lampard. āI think the first thing is, regardless of Vieira, I think individually we all have to perform better this year. Thatās just a fact of football generally, you have to be at your best.ā
āI hope it goes well,ā Villa said through a translator. āObviously, when there are changes in the club itās to make the team better.
āI had a chance to meet with him last month and we went over his ideas and his objectives for the upcoming season and for the future and we hope it goes well this season.ā
Lampard, who witnessed Vieira working with Manchester Cityās Elite Development Squad program while he played for Man City in 2014-15, commended the former midfielderās willingness to get his hands dirty and work his way up the managerial ranks.
āI think everyone has to give Patrick Vieira respect, because he was an absolute world class player who has gone and done his real groundwork,ā he said. āIāve seen him in Manchester on a Sunday morning over in the back with the kids when itās freezing cold, trying to teach them to do this and that. He hasnāt wanted just to step in, so I think to give him credit to what heās doing in his own managerial career.ā
All in all, the three players, among the most decorated currently playing in MLS, praised the āforward-thinkingā Vieira as a coach, but reiterated the need for the players to do their part in taking NYCFC to the playoffs and beyond.
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āI think we have a long preseason, I think heāll try and get the team more together,ā said Lampard. āSometimes last year the team became broken very easily in games, we defended very deep, we couldnāt get up the pitch. I think itās very much a collective responsibility for all of us to be more together as a team.ā
Pirlo, who quipped that his memories of playing against Vieira were highlighted by beating him in the 2006 World Cup final, also added his support for the new coach.
āI really think that heās going to be as good as a coach as he was as a player. And we are all ready to help him do his job in the best possible way so that we can have a great adventure together,ā he said via translator.