Following a third consecutive playoff elimination, New York City FC entered the offseason with some questions to answer. The future of head coach Domènec Torrent was being questioned by fans, the team’s ability to perform in big games was exposed and, on top of it all, the team’s captain and all-time leading scorer departed for Japan.
The loss of David Villa leaves an obvious hole in the team’s roster, especially after watching the 2018 performances without the Spaniard. Although Torrent has brought in a third Designated Player with the signing of Alexandru Mitriu021bu0103, it is unknown if the Romanian will fill the shoes of Villa, something the team requires in order to be a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference.