Andes Jasson believes NYCFC must lead with intensity when they face Toronto FC this weekend.
The Boys in Blue are in the middle of a four-game unbeaten streak that was built upon with a 2-0 win against Orlando City on Wednesday night. Goals from Mounsef Bakrar and Talles Magno handed NYCFC the win, with Jasson laying on the assist for the decisive second goal.
The young forward is now pushing for a start at the weekend against TFC, and in reflecting on his impressive showing against the Lions, he expressed the belief that the team must lead with intensity in the games that remain.
"It was a great, great feeling," Jasson said of the mood in the locker room.
"I think we all understood that if we came out together with the same intensity that we did against Red Bull we had a great chance [to win the game]. I think we now understand that the first thing has to be intensity.
"After that, we can think about tactics, we can think about how we want to play with the ball, but the first thing has to be intensity. The feeling in the locker room was great after Orlando. I think we were really happy for Tallis.
"He's been working so hard and he really deserved that goal. Now we just want to keep the momentum going and I think we can use that to hopefully get us a nice run of games and into the playoffs."
The forward also discussed the team's clear focus heading into the game.
NYCFC currently sits two points behind D.C. United in the last playoff place with four games to go. That means a victory against TFC on Saturday - along with results elsewhere - could see the Boys in Blue leapfrog United into 9th place.
With TFC currently sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference it could easily be seen as a trap game, but Jasson disagrees.
"I think it's pretty easy for us [to stay focused] because it's not only like we're playing Toronto," he said.
"We need three points like there's nothing else. There's no other way to say it - we need three points. It doesn't matter who we're playing. I don't think we're seeing it as we played Toronto.
"I think we see it as it's another game and that we need three points. Because of that, I think the guys are going to come out super intense and understand the importance of the game regardless of who we play."
Jasson is currently enjoying a fine run of form with the Club having recorded two goals and an assist in his last seven outings.
The forward has had to wait for first-team opportunities this season, and as part of that, it has encouraged him to seize every opportunity afforded to him by Nick Cushing and the coaching staff.
"I've had a lot of conversations with the coaches," he explained.
"The main one being to be patient and make sure that when your opportunity comes, you're ready. I think as a player, it can be easy to get caught up with the fact of I haven't played a lot recently and sort of get down about it.
"I think the most important thing in sports in general and in soccer you really never know what's going to happen so you have to always be ready. There could be injuries, guys could leave, guys could get a yellow card suspension.
"You might be in one place one day and the next week you're in another and I think that's something that was definitely evident with me and my situation. I think you just have to stay ready and make sure when your opportunity comes you take it.
"I think from the coaching staff that the main thing that they said to me in order to play more games was to be a bit more dangerous, create more chances and I think that's something that I've tried to really add to my game."
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