IMAGE, MATT KREMKAU FOR EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by DAVE MARTINEZ

If you have ever spoken to someone who has taken in a Portland Timbers match at Providence Park, the response will usually go something like this:

“You have to experience it to believe it.”

Well, New York City FC did just that — and their players and staff were simply glowing about the environment.

Already on a high from their 2-1 victory over the Timbers on Sunday evening, NYCFC players and staff could not stop gushing about the atmosphere in Portland following the encounter.

“This is the best atmosphere so far I have experienced [in MLS],” said NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira. “When the anthem was going, the fans were fantastic. And as a player, you are looking forward to playing on this kind of stage.”

And Vieira wasn’t alone in his sentiments. This was NYCFC’s first ever trip to Portland, meaning several players were taking in the raucous environment of Providence Park for the first time. Even well traveled players like captain David Villa were left impressed with the atmosphere, splicing no words in his admiration for the Timbers’ support.

“Amazing. So far it is the best, the best in MLS in my opinion,” Villa said after the match. “A lot of games, a lot of the stadiums have very good atmosphere. But for me, in my opinion so far, Portland is the best atmosphere.”

Villa even went so far as to say his team were “unlucky that we play in the other conference.”

“Maybe in two years we will get to come and play against Portland here. The atmosphere is amazing,” Villa said. “Congratulations to Portland, to the Portland Timbers, to the fans. Because the atmosphere is amazing playing here.”

Even Mix Diskerud, who shares a dicey past with Portland after being courted by the club years ago, hailed the tremendous support of the Timbers Army — the same Timbers Army that goaded him during the match.

In fact, he spoke to EoS beat reporter Christian Araos after the match and implored him to write about the experience at Providence Park.

“I have to talk about the crowd,” Diskerud said. “It is really cool to travel to a place like this. The fans filled up [the stadium] before we even got here.

“You just have to write about how fantastic the fans are and the stadium is here because the atmosphere was really amazing, really.”