New York City FC head coach Pascal Jansen wants his players to adopt a “bulletproof mindset” for every match, with Los Angeles FC next up in MLS.
NYCFC were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Inter Miami in their opener last weekend, conceding a late goal to deny them a winning start under Jansen in the competition.
He is searching for his first win, with NYCFC one of seven teams on one point in the Eastern Conference in the early standings, and he believes it all comes down to the players’ mental approach.
“The approach from a mental aspect doesn’t change,” he said.
“I’ve mentioned a few times already, in the outside world as well, what I’m focusing on is trying to get a bulletproof mindset and a bulletproof approach in each and every game that we go into.
“From that angle, it doesn’t change going into the LA game. So, hopefully, the boys have learned from game number one and can take that with them into game number two.”
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Working for the weekend pic.twitter.com/vdKDELNCR7
— LAFC (@LAFC) February 28, 2025
Meanwhile, LAFC edged to a 1-0 win over Minnesota United in their first MLS match of the season last Saturday, making them one of six Western Conference teams to get off to the perfect start.
They have since won 1-0 at the Colorado Rapids as well in the Concacaf Champions Cup to progress on away goals, and Steve Cherundolo noted that the quick start to the season may already be taking a toll on his players.
“It’s a lot of games for small rosters at the beginning of the season, and we’ve leaned on the same group all the way through,” Cherundolo said.
“Players are not at their best yet. At this stage of the season, it’s more about getting the results you need and if performances aren’t where they’re meant to be, we can improve on that.
“Putting performances and results together can come later, and you need some rest for that.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga
Denis Bouanga has contributed to a goal in five straight regular-season matches dating back to last year (three goals, two assists), the longest active streak in MLS.
Bouanga is the sixth different LAFC player to record a streak of at least five games with a goal contribution.
New York City FC – Alonso Martinez
Alonso Martinez, who scored NYCFC’s second goal against Inter Miami on Saturday, has scored a league-leading nine regular-season goals since MLS returned from the Leagues Cup break last August, one more than Christian Benteke, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The name’s Martínez, Alonso Martínez. pic.twitter.com/SSCOYFJsI0
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) February 28, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN
LAFC extended their MLS-record winning streak in season openers to eight games with a 1-0 victory over Minnesota United. They have opened with two straight wins three times, doing so in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
However, NYCFC are unbeaten in three all-time meetings with LAFC (W1 D2), including earning a win and a draw in two previous visits to BMO Stadium. The Pigeons are one of two teams LAFC have played but never defeated in regular-season MLS play (also W0 D1 L1 against the Chicago Fire).
NYCFC are winless in seven straight season-opening matches following a 2-2 draw with Miami on Saturday. They have not gone unbeaten through two matches of a season since drawing their first three games in 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Los Angeles FC – 56.7%
Draw – 22.4%
New York City FC – 20.9%
