NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen hopes the team can maintain “consistency” as they take on Eastern Conference rivals Atlanta United on Saturday (7:30 PM EST).
After a resilient 0-0 draw against the Columbus Crew the previous weekend, the Boys in Blue face another tough match-up in Atlanta.
Over the off-season, the Five Stripes splashed the cash in attack, bringing back 2018 MLS Cup Champion Miguel Almiron and signing 22 million-dollar forward Emmanuel Latte Lath from English Championship side Middlesbrough.
Although ambitions may be high, the Georgia-based side has looked inconsistent in the final third. Despite the team’s historic spending in the winter window, the team currently sits in 12th place in the East with just one win through five matches.
With NYCFC looking to climb the table, Jansen hopes his squad can continue the positive momentum brought on by their current run of form.
“Going to Atlanta, another serious contender in an away game is going to be a challenge itself,” Jansen told reporters ahead of Saturday’s clash.
“We’re trying to establish a certain consistency throughout the season and a huge part is also being more consistent on the road. So for us, this game is just a small part within that process, and that’s what we’re trying to focus on.”
In NYCFC’s first three road trips of the year, besides the Crew match, the Pigeons failed to return home with a positive result.
Against Inter Miami, City dominated most of the game with a man advantage after Miami defender Tomas Aviles was sent off early. However, a Lionel Messi assist in the dying moments resulted in two points dropped by NYCFC.
Similar patterns were seen in the team’s second away match against LAFC where a defensive lapse in concentration saw City drop valuable points on the road once more.
In Columbus, Jansen’s men bucked the trend, holding firm defensively to grind out a strenuous draw where they faced 24 shots without conceding a goal.
After learning hard lessons from their previous road matches, NYCFC now turns its focus to Atlanta, where they will aim to prove their progress.
Taking on Atlanta, NYCFC will look to avoid repeating the same mistakes of the past.
“Being on the road in Miami was a good game from our side in certain phases. LA was a good game from our side, but we didn’t get the result. [Then] we went to Columbus, and our participation in this game was far less than we would like it to be,” Jansen said.
“However, the home games have brought us the things that we’re looking for, but the challenges remain the same—being more consistent throughout the season and especially being on the road.”
Defender and captain Thiago Martins expressed similar sentiments, stating that the team needs to be better in possession to maintain consistency.
“We spoke about this in our team meetings: If we can’t control the ball, you’re going to defend more. We gave [the Columbus Crew] so many turnovers, and we gave them the opportunity to play in our half [of the field],” Martins said.
“I think it’s the most important thing we need to learn [from that game] and bring it to [the next match] against Atlanta.”
Ultimately, the game in Atlanta will be a measuring stick for Jansen’s system and ‘bulletproof’ mentality.
Heading into week six of the season, the teams that are potential MLS Cup contenders will begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. As City looks to solidify its standing in the East, a strong away performance will be a key step in cementing themselves as a potential playoff team.
Should NYCFC come away from Atlanta with a point, it will be a testament to Jansen’s managerial skills and the team’s ability to rise in difficult situations despdite roster shortcomings.
