New York City FC Head Coach Pascal Jansen is emphasizing the need for a "bulletproof mindset" as his squad prepares to take on LAFC this weekend.
City had to settle for a point in their last match against Inter Miami CF after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer. Now, they travel to California seeking their first win of the season. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game at BMO Stadium, Jansen highlighted the importance of mental resilience.
"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.”
This will be City’s second consecutive road game, with the team traveling nearly 2,500 miles in pursuit of victory. Managing such a schedule is a new challenge for Jansen, and he is relying on his staff to keep the team fully prepared.
"I have a very experienced squad around me and staff members as well, so they’ve helped me out a lot,” he said.
“I listen, of course, to my staff who have dealt with these kinds of situations before, and try to add details from my perspective. But it is what it is.
"It's a huge part of MLS and playing these games that we're going to play. So we just have to deal with it and can never announce it as some kind of excuse for not performing well enough.
“It is what it is, and we deal with it the best way we can and prepare ourselves the best way we can for each and every match."
Jansen also spoke about young midfielder Jonathan Shore, who impressed in preseason and earned his MLS debut against Miami.
“It's something he earned himself,” Jansen said. “I didn't know him before I came to the club, obviously, but he did really well during preseason alongside Justin Haak or Keaton Parks in the games that we played.
"I was very confident to put him on the pitch when I saw the moment was there during halftime playing against Miami. There was no doubt in my mind putting him in and that's something he achieved by having a very good preseason. Going forward, I hope he can continue.
"One of his strong aspects is that he’s been available all preseason, even though the intensity and the load has gone up.
“That's a big achievement for Johnny and a few other youngsters. So hopefully he can continue and build from this game.”
Speaking alongside Jansen on Thursday was midfielder Hannes Wolf. The 25-year-old started the season opener against Miami, and is well aware of the threat posed by their next opponent.
Wolf emphasized the importance of balance heading into Saturday night’s match.
"I think, of course, great team, and they have a strong offensive especially with the three players, and sometimes you need to be careful when you attack, because they wait for their moments,” he said.
"I think for us it's very important to find the balance when we attack so that we also have a good rest defense and that we don't concede."
