NYCFC looks to bounce back from a tough 4-3 loss to Atlanta United last week as they host Minnesota United at Yankee Stadium this Sunday (3:00 PM).
The Boys in Blue currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, with just two wins through six games played.
Although City began the season well and started to build consistency in its play, the loss against Atlanta was a wake-up call, particularly regarding team resilience.
The Pigeons initially took a 3-1 lead in Atlanta, but defensive errors and a Keaton Parks own-goal erased the advantage as the Five Stripes came back to win 4-3. While the loss was difficult, manager Pascal Jansen says his team will grow and not dwell on the disappointing result, opting to push forward and shake it off.
“[For me], it’s always a 24-hour approach, good or less good,” Jansen told reporters ahead of Sunday’s match.
“[We have] 24 hours to mourn or enjoy success, then we move on and focus on ourselves again, and that’s what we did.”
As Minnesota United comes to town this weekend, NYCFC will look to exorcize the demons that haunted them in midtown Atlanta.
Minnesota is one of the few teams in Major League Soccer to play with a two-striker system. Led by ex-Manchester United assistant coach Eric Ramsey, the Loons are quietly crafting a solid campaign in 2025 with only one loss in six matches.
Starting strikers Tani Oluwaseyi and Kelvin Yeboah have scored a total of eight goals for the Ramsey-managed side, which will present a challenging task for NYCFC’s backline. Typically lining up in a 5-3-2 formation, the Loons prefer their opponents to have the ball, waiting for them to push high before springing a counterattack.
After the disastrous loss against Atlanta, NYCFC’s defense will be vulnerable but keen to keep a clean sheet.
“[Counterattacks] are a huge part of their strategy,” Jansen said. “They’ve been very successful in MLS this season as well. Both strikers have four goals, and it’s a huge part of their approach.”
How does Jansen plan to contain Minnesota’s speedy attack? By dictating tempo and controlling the ball in all areas of the field.
“In our games, we want to control the games, we want to control the ball. We [also] have to find good balance when we’re going to play a little bit more direct ourselves because we’ve [had a few opportunities in previous games] as well,” Jansen stated.
“But, basically, controlling the counter while you’re in possession and while you’re in attack is the biggest challenge that is there for us.”
Looking at the statistics, NYCFC ranks 19th out of 30 MLS teams in possession per match, with an average percentage of 48%. In contrast, Minnesota ranks last, amassing only 34% possession per 90 minutes.
For Jansen and his squad, Sunday’s matchup is more than a tactical puzzle; it will be another early season test as they look to solidify their identity and gain ground in a tightly packed Eastern Conference table.
Offensively, Jansen will have the help of Alonso Martinez and Hannes Wolf, the two goal-scorers for NYCFC during their recent loss in Atlanta. So far, Martinez and Wolf are the team’s leading scorers, netting a combined total of seven goals. The duo will undoubtedly be relied upon once more as City pushes for another win.
In defense, Thiago Martins and his potential center-back partner of either Justin Haak or Birk Risa, will need to prepare to deal with the pace Minnesota’s attackers will bring.
When these two teams play on Sunday, not only will it be a clash of stylistic preferences but also an opportunity to reset in front of the home crowd.
With questions surrounding defensive reliability and consistency, fans will watch closely to see how the Pigeons respond under pressure.
