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Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does.
Earlier today, New York City FC manager Ronny Deila revealed in a press conference call that attacking midfielder Maxi Moralez would not be featured in Tuesday’s group stage match against Orlando City. According to Deila, Moralez has sustained a quad injury and will have an MRI tomorrow.
In conference call #NYCFC coach Ronny Deila said that Maxi Moralez will get an MRI tomorrow (quad) and is definitely out for Tuesday's match vs. #OrlandoCity and could be sidelined for "many weeks." #MLSisBack #MLS @NYCFC @MLS
— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) July 12, 2020
Regarding Maxi’s return to play, Deila said that the star Designated Player could be out for “many weeks” pending the MRI results.
Moralez, 33, has been integral to City’s game plan since arriving to the team prior to the 2017 season. In 2019, ‘Frasquito’ led the Boys in Blue to a first-place finish in the East with a total of 20 assists and 7 goals in 29 total appearances (28 starts). Losing a player so adept at pulling the strings from the midfield is never a good thing.
NYCFC’s attacking midfielder options are quite low, with the only realistic replacement possibly being Taty Castellanos who has shown gusto when deployed in central attacking positions in the past. Other shouts could be Keaton Parks, Gedion Zelalem, or the seldom-seen Juan Pablo Torres.