NEW YORK- Jason Kreis took a lot longer than usual to arrive at his post-game press conference. It is unclear whether the delay was down to him having a long talk with his team after New York City’s loss to the Columbus Crew, or because he needed time to think about his team’s latest late-game disappointment.

When Kreis finally did arrive, he came ready to ask tough questions about his team, and make it clear he doesn’t believe every player on his team is committed to the expansion team’s push for a playoff berth.

“It couldn’t be more disappointing,” Kreis said. “That’s the most succinct way to put it. It’s devastating for us to lose that game. Seven games left, 21 points available. There still has to be a glimmer of hope, but at the moment it’s tough to see it.”

Why would Kreis have doubts about his team’s ability to climb into a playoff spot. It probably has less to do with the math surrounding remaining schedules, games in hand and the handful of teams also competing for the same playoff spot and more to do with what he saw from his team on Saturday against Columbus.

Kreis saw something that made him step up and publicly question his own team’s commitment, sending a clear message that he’s not happy with his players.

“We need to work, and we need to work really hard,” Kreis said. “The players need to show if they want to be here, and want to be a part of this. Because I know the coaching staff does. I know the coaching staff cares an awful lot about this club, and the job we’re attempting to do.

“I’m not so sure that all the players do.”

Kreis ended his press conference on that one line that seemed to resonate throughout Yankee Stadium, and while it is unclear just who he was referring to, Kreis succeeded in making his doubts very public.

When asked about Kreis’ comments, Italian star Andrea Pirlo seemed to support his coach by stating that if any players aren't committed to the cause then they can easily be replaced.

“I would be very unhappy if that were true because if the people that are actually playing are not having fun and don’t want to be there I’m sure there are reserves that really would love to play instead,” Pirlo said. “I think it’s important when you play to have fun, to really want to be there so you can do your best and give your maximum to the team and the game.”

Frank Lampard’s reaction to Kreis’ comments seemed to suggest they may have been driven by unhappiness with the response a player or players have had to not receiving what they feel is enough playing time.

“I respect the manager for saying that. Managers and players should be emotional after defeats at times,” Lampard said of Kreis’ statement. “From where I’ve been, there’s a desire to be here. Every squad’s the same that I’ve ever been. Some players that are not playing might find it difficult because players want to play. As an all around spirit in the camp I don’t see a problem at all. You’ll have to ask every individual,  but I don’t feel that.

“We’re not getting the results. We’re not getting the consistency. For me it’s not for the want of trying. Hopefully it will come together very quickly and we can find consistency.”

Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Crew leaves NYCFC one point out of the playoffs in the East, but also tied with a Montreal side that has four games in hand on NYCFC. With the top five teams in the East pulling away from the pack, NYCFC is left to try and compete for the sixth and final playoff spot with four other teams in range.

So why does Kreis sound so skeptical of his team’s chances? It could be NYCFC’s 2-2-5 record in its past nine, and the fact that six of the team’s remaining seven matches are against teams currently sitting in playoff position.

In other words, NYCFC will need to play much, much better than it has in recent weeks, and the team might just benefit from a bye week coming up. Not only because it will allow some players, like Frank Lampard, to get healthier, but also because it could give the team some much needed time to regroup.

“We, first of all, need to take a little bit of a break,” Kreis said. “A little mental step back, and collect ourselves for what is pretty clear, that we’re going to need to win every game we play.”

Could Kreis be feeling the heat that comes with coaching a high-profile team like NYCFC? It is very clear that expectations are for a team boasting three Designated Players, and three of the most high-profile players in MLS. The prospect of missing the playoffs would be a devastating one for the first-year club, but Kreis believes it would be a mistake to think the playoffs are some sort of birthright simply because of NYCFC’s Designated Players.

“First of all, I think it’s unfair. I think there’s probably not enough weight given on how difficult it is to be an expansion team,” Kreis said. “In my point of view, expansion teams are set up in our league to not be able to succeed or to take some time—and that’s probably the right way to do it.

“Unfortunately, that means there has to be some patience and a little bit of a longer year, which is very difficult to have,” Kreis said. “I’m probably more guilty of anybody in this club about having a lack of patience and wanting to win immediately. Yeah, we have three very high-profile players but we had one until about a month ago. I think it’d be very unfair to say that we spend all this money on three DPs and so we should make the playoffs. I think that’s a completely incorrect statement.”