PURCHASE, N.Y. – The first four games of Mix Diskerud’s Major League Soccer career have yielded varied results.
On the plus side, the US international scored the first goal in club history, finding the back of the net in the team’s 1-1 season-opening draw at Orlando City. On the not-so-positive side? He struggled with the high altitude at Colorado and was subbed off with five minutes remaining in the scoreless draw at the Rapids.
Of course, Diskerud isn’t the only NYCFC player going through some ups and downs, as inconsistent performances have defined the club’s 1-1-2 start to the season.
“There’s been moments in every single game where we’ve been very good and there’s been moments in every single game where we’ve been very bad,” head coach Jason Kreis said. “We have to become a little more consistent throughout our performances in each match and overall the level has to raise because I think it can. I see this group as having a very high potential and we’re not even close to scraping it at the moment.”
Diskerud is still getting used to a new team, a new league and a new city. He starred in the opener, but had a down game in Colorado, and has seen his defensive work rate called into question by USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann, who left him off the roster for last month’s friendlies at Denmark and Switzerland.
The whole process is part of Diskerud’s learning curve as a player.
“It’s only been four games, but obviously I played a lot with MLS players, been in almost every single [USMNT] January camp in the last five years, so I’m used to the system and the players,” Diskerud said. “The league is different for me, but I’m very happy to be a part of this.”
The 24-year-old has started all four of NYCFC’s games, partnering with Andrew Jacobson in central midfield. The position is one of the most demanding on the field, with Kreis asking Diskerud and Jacobson to shuttle back and forth, helping recover the ball in their own half before feeding the more forward players in the opposition’s third.
“They have to be very intelligent about when they should stay and when they should go because we need them involved in attacking movements as well in order to have the right numbers involved to be dangerous, but both of them have to be extremely responsible defensively,” Kreis said. “It’s a lot of ground for them to cover.”
That’s just fine with Diskerud.
“I like to be involved as much as possible,” he said. “So anywhere I can get the ball, I’ll come get it and get to the offensive players and hopefully that will lead to a goal.
“[Jason is] the type of coach who wants the ball played on the ground and that’s what I love. It’s the way soccer should be played, one and two touches and played quickly.”
