New York City FC head coach Pascal Jansen wants his players to adopt a “bulletproof mindset” for each match, with Los Angeles FC then in MLS.
NYCFC was held in a 2-2 draw last weekend by 10-man Inter Miami in their opener and gave a late goal to refuse a winning start under Jansen in the competition.
He is looking for his first victory, with NYCFC one of the seven teams on one point in the Eastern Conference in the early classification, and he believes that it all comes down to the mental approach of the players.
“The approach of a mental aspect is not changing,” he said.
“I have said a few times, also in the outside world, on which I concentrate, try to get a bulletproof mindset and a bulletproof approach in every game we are going.
“From that perspective, it does not change into the LA game. So hopefully the boys have learned from game number one and can take that to Game number two.”
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Working for the weekend itch pic.twitter.com/vdkdelncr7
– Lafc (@LAFC) 28 February 2025
In the meantime, Lafc rose to a 1-0 win over Minnesota United in their first MLS competition of the season last Saturday, making them one of the six Western Conference teams to reach the perfect start.
Since then they have also won 1-0 in the Colorado Rapids in the Concacaf Champions Cup to continue with goals off the road, and Steve Cherundolo noted that the fast start of the season might already take a toll from his players.
“They are many games for small gratings at the start of the season, and we let themselves be leaned on the same group,” said Cherundolo.
“Players are not yet at their best. In this phase of the season it is more about getting the results you need and are not intended as performance, we can improve that.
“Compiling performance and results can come later, and you need some rest there.”
Players to watch
Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga
Denis Bouanga has contributed to a goal in five consecutive games of the regular season that dates from last year (three goals, two assists), the longest active line in MLS.
Bouanga is the sixth different Lafc player who records a series of at least five games with a target contribution.
New York City FC – Alonso Martinez
Alonso Martinez, who scored the second goal of NYCFC against Inter Miami on Saturday, scored a competition-cowing goals of the regular season since MLS returned last August from the Leagues Cup-break, a more than Christian Benteke, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The name is Martínez, Alonso Martínez. pic.twitter.com/scoyfjsi0
– New York City FC (@NewYorkCityFC) 28 February 2025
Match forecast: Los Angeles FC Win
Lafc expanded their MLS record winning series in season openers to eight games with a 1-0 win over Minnesota United. They are open three times with two straight victories and do this in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
NYCFC, however, is unbeaten in three all-time meetings with Lafc (W1 D2), including achieving a victory and a draw in two previous visits to BMO Stadium. The pigeons are one of the two teams that Lafc played, but never beaten in MLS game with regular season (also W0 D1 L1 against the Chicago Fire).
NYCFC is Winless in seven consecutive seasonal matches after a 2-2 draw with Miami on Saturday. They are not unbeaten by two games of a season since they draw their first three games in 2019.
Opta wins probability
Los Angeles FC – 56.7%
Drawing – 22.4%
New York City FC – 20.9%
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