Thursday's elimination at the hands of Atlanta United in the 2018 Eastern Conference Championship brought a close to a second full season as a New York Red Bulls star midfielder for 19-year-old Tyler Adams.
Following the second leg at Red Bull Arena, the US international addressed his future at the club, with numerous reports earlier this season pointing to a potential transfer. And he dropped another hint in the lead-up to Thursday's match.
"My focus all season long has been to try to win MLS Cup and to fall short is never easy," Adams told reporters. "Obviously, for me there's been speculation all season about what will happen next, but I'm going to keep you guys waiting again. We'll find out in the next couple of days, hopefully."
But even while leaving everyone hanging, Adams still spoke like a member of a team that will be looking to come back in 2019 to win the club's first MLS Cup title in its 24-year history.
"We'll reflect on [the elimination]," Adams said, "and we'll be ready to go next year."
If Adams does depart the club which gave him his professional start, he would do so as one of the best in MLS at his natural position.
"At the beginning of the season there was talk: 'Can he play center mid at the highest level?' — all that sort of speak," Adams said. "And for me, I've played center mid my whole life. Of course, I can play center mid. And just to go out there this year and prove I can be one of the best center mids in the league was important to me."
