For New York City FC coach Ronny Deila, the 5-3 triumph over San Carlos in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League round of 16 on Thursday proved to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“I’m a very attacking coach,” Deila told NYCFC.com the day he was hired. “I’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0.”
Fueled by a hat trick from Héber’s, who became the first MLS player to score three goals in a single CCL match, New York City earned a road win in its inaugural international match.
“The first 35 minutes was excellent, we played good football and created great chances,” said Deila who was named the club’s fourth head coach on January 6 – five days before the start of preseason.