PURCHASE, N.Y. – There’s a lot on the line as New York City FC head into their Decision Day finale against Columbus Crew SC at Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon (4 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
If Toronto FC fail to win their game vs. Chicago Sunday, a win or a tie by NYCFC would clinch second place in the Eastern Conference, which means a berth directly into the two-legged Eastern Conference semifinals – and a nearly-worst-to-first turnaround from last year.
Meanwhile, star David Villa heads into Decision Day one goal off the pace set by Bradley Wright-Phillips of the New York Red Bulls for the MLS Golden Boot race.
So there is double the intrigue, right? Maybe, but not necessarily for Villa himself.
“This is not important. We’re fighting a lot like a team and it doesn’t matter the Golden Boot in the final [regular-season game],” Villa said. “If we are inside second place and we don’t play for anything, we can [aim] for these individual [awards], but now the most important [thing] is to get the three points.”
The match could also mark the return of Frank Lampard, who missed the last three matches because of a calf injury. On Wednesday, the veteran midfielder, who has 12 goals in 18 appearances, fully trained with the club.
“If Frank is training all week and he has no issues, there is no problem to have him on the bench or start him,” Vieira said. “It’s regarding how we’re training during the week. I haven’t made any decisions yet.”
Vieira said he’s pleased to have a fully healthy squad heading into a critical regular-season finale against a team in Columbus that he considers one of the best in the league, despite having already been eliminated from playoff contention.
NYCFC have yet to beat Columbus in four all-time meetings, including a 3-3 draw on August 13 and a 3-2 loss on April 16, both at MAPFRE Stadium.
“When I watched the last five or six games they played, it's really difficult for me to understand how they’re not making the playoffs and why they are where they are,” Vieira said. “Of course, they have missing players, but they are the team that plays the best football in this league.”
Vieira has seemingly pressed all the right buttons to get NYCFC to where they are today. But there’s tough decisions on the horizon with Lampard’s contract expiring at the end of the season and talk that Villa is looking for an extension.
But Villa and Vieira agree – now is not the time to have those discussions. The focus is squarely on finishing second in the East and heading into the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs on the right foot.
“What is important is to have everyone focused and concentrated on the playoffs, about what we want to achieve,” Vieira said.
And what NYCFC want to achieve goes far beyond just a first-ever playoff berth.
“If you’re in the playoffs, I think it's to go and try to win it,” Vieira said. “It’s going to be really difficult and competitive. I think it will be make no sense to be in the playoffs and say we don’t want to go to the end.”
