ORLANDO, Fla. – Jesus Medina knows what it takes to get raise his game in his second season with New York City FC.
The Paraguayan young Designated Player displayed an excellent start to life at NYCFC, but his form gradually dipped towards the latter part of the season.
For Medina, 21, last year was a learning curve that’s shaped up his focus for 2019.
“I have a lot of goals, first with the team and that follows with the individual ones,” Medina told MLSsoccer.com. “I think this year will be major because it’s my second year here and I understand the league. My first year was mostly learning, now this year is more on working and jumping to newer heights that I wish I could have done towards the end of last season.”
Medina, who signed with NYCFC ahead of the 2018 season from Club Libertad in his native country, contributed right away for NYCFC, recording three assists and a goal during his first four starts of the 2018 MLS campaign.
In the end, he scored six goals and seven assists in 28 regular season appearances last year, but his form didn’t remain thoroughly consistent for much of the season. Medina knows that.
“Last year, I started off well then I feel I didn’t perform to that same standard the more season went on,” Medina said. “Now I’m just focused on not committing those same errors this year and keeping a consistent and regular performance.”
The addition of DP Alexandru Mitrita, who is waiting for paperwork to be processed before rejoining the team, is an important signing in terms of the team’s attacking options, said Medina.
“He’s a player with a lot of versatility,” said Medina. “I think that’s important to have in the team. As a team, we have to depend on everyone to play an important part since it’s the only way to improve.”
