ORANGEBURG, N.Y. – New York City FC coach Patrick Vieira insists it is business as usual despite continuing to be chased by reports of a possible move to OGC Nice.
“I don’t know what to say because I’m here, you’re seeing me every day, you come in here to watch me do the training,” Vieira said after the club trained Wednesday afternoon. “I’m committed to what I’m doing every single day and, like always, I can’t control what’s going in the papers. What I can control is what I’m telling you and I’m here.”
Eight days after Vieira denied a published report that said negotiations between Vieira and the Ligue 1 club were in the advanced stages, French newspaper L’Equipe claimed Nice executives were flying to New York to meet with Vieira and put the finishing touches on a deal.
Vieira smiled when asked about the new report, doubling down on his initial statement that he hasn’t had contact with anyone from Nice.
“I didn’t receive any calls. If I receive a call, I will definitely let you know,” he said before joking, “Do you have any places I can take him for dinner?”
Vieira, who is in the final year of a three-year contact said being part of City Football Group, first as a player for Manchester City, then as the Elite Development Squad and finally as NYCFC coach for two-and-a-half years, is special. The club is trying to extend Vieira's contract, per a source, but it's a long process.
“It’s exciting to be part of something new,” Vieira said. “Of course, I came in the second year, but there is a club to build, a legacy to build, a philosophy to build. I’m happy to be part of it. So one day when I will leave I would love people to say yes, the team is playing really well and Patrick was part of the way the team is playing now. This is what I want.”
A week ago, Vieira said he didn’t want the rumors, which have been splattered across social media, to be a distraction to his team, his staff and even himself.
Midfielder Tommy McNamara, who along with David Villa is an NYCFC original, said that hasn’t been the case.
“I don’t think it’s been a distraction to us as players,” he said. “It hasn’t really been brought up or talked about much at all.”
Vieira agrees, saying the weekly plan hasn’t deviated following a 3-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo last Friday and ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium (7:30 pm ET | Full TV & Streaming info).
“I don’t think [its a distraction] because we are in a professional world,” Vieira said. “Today, again, the way we work doesn’t change. We had our staff meeting, we had our team meeting about what we are going to work today on the field. Tomorrow morning we’re going to review the training session today. Life doesn’t change. Life is good, especially when the weather is like this.”
