Cushing on New York's influence in his coaching development | OneFootball

Nick Cushing says his time coaching at New York City FC has developed him massively ahead of his return to the Joie Stadium.

The 40-year-old returned to City as Interim Head Coach until the end of this season after the Club parted ways with Gareth Taylor earlier this week, with his first match in charge being Saturday’s League Cup final against Chelsea.

He’d previously taken charge of our Women’s team for our first seven seasons as a professional outfit before moving to our City Football Group sister club in 2020 to become assistant coach of the men’s first team.

That then developed into becoming Head Coach from 2022-2024, but Cushing is excited to once again make his mark at City after four years in New York.

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“I spent seven amazing years here previously fighting for trophies and trying to create a team that City fans could be proud of,” he said in his first press conference ahead of Saturday’s 12:15 (UK) kick-off at Pride Park.

“Going over to New York and representing the group there was an amazing experience an amazing challenge and developed me in many ways.

“Having the opportunity to come back for our organisation, to try and create another winning team and continue the great work that’s been done here, the most amazing thing about this organisation is the people here.

“The previous teams I’ve had, they were great people and I met the team this week, it’s the same now.

“The group of girls are good people with a hunger to continue to win.”

Cushing won six major honours during his seven seasons at City between 2014 and 2020, the first of which was the League Cup at the end of our maiden professional campaign.

The Blues pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory over Arsenal to claim the trophy, with a League and Cup double following two seasons later.

For Cushing, that first League Cup triumph sparked an obsession for silverware, which continues this weekend against Chelsea.

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He added: “It’s a good challenge, we’re playing against the best in the league in an amazing stadium with an opportunity to win.

“We won this cup as my first trophy in 2014 and since that moment I’ve been obsessed with winning trophies.

“To have the opportunity to win another one for this group and organisation is enough motivation.”