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Vieira: Lampard, Pirlo key
- Updated: September 29, 2016
New York City FC manager Patrick Vieira says that marquee players Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa will be key as his side prepares for the MLS play-offs.
A 4-1 home victory against the Chicago Fire – combined with a victory for rivals New York Red Bulls – means City have clinched a play-off berth for the first time in their history, with their campaign set to start at the end of October.
It has not been smooth sailing for Vieira, who struggled to get the team to function initially, the low point coming in a heavy 7-0 defeat to city rivals New York Red Bulls in May.
But the Frenchman – in his first senior position as a manager after working with Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, believes he has now found a system that balances the experience of his three marquee players with the promising youth at his disposal.
“They [Lampard, Pirlo and Villa] have a lot of experience on the field and off the field, so that’s why they will help and be really important in the play-off time,” Vieira told ProSoccerTalk.
“I am really quite pleased because I have a really good mix between young players and experienced players and I think if we manage that well, we will give ourselves some more chances.”
New York City have lost just three out of their last ten games in MLS and still have …
