After three long months, MLS finally returns this weekend. For New York City FC, the return of league play offers the chance to wipe the slate clean and forget about playoff failures of yesteryear. The club will feature a vastly different squad this year, as grizzled veterans like Andrea Pirlo and young gems like Jack Harrison have left for greener pastures.
On top of the roster turnover that head coach Patrick Vieira has to deal with, the season’s first test comes against possibly the stingiest defense that MLS has to offer in Peter Vermes’ Sporting Kansas City.