"I was a little bit surprised, Nealis told amNewYork. I thought toward the end of last season, I was playing my best soccer. But I think I'm pretty confident and comfortable playing anywhere along the back line. I was looking forward to the opportunity. I had a few games there before, whether it was a back three or a back five."
"Nealis and new signing Justin Che, a natural right-back himself, have teamed up in the middle of New York's defense to anchor a unit that has allowed just a single goal in the first two matches of the new season. How long he'll stay there, though, is a significant question."
Dylan Nealis transitioned from his natural right-back position to center-back at the start of the 2026 MLS season under first-year head coach Michael Bradley following the departure of several defenders including his brother Sean. Despite initial surprise at the move, Nealis expressed confidence in his versatility along the back line. Paired with new signing Justin Che, Nealis has contributed to a strong defensive start, allowing just one goal in two matches. However, his tenure at center-back faces uncertainty as the club signed Colombian prospect Julian Bazan and German veteran Robert Voloder, both expected to compete for starting positions. These additions could force positional reshuffling that leaves limited opportunities for Nealis.
Read at www.amny.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]