NEW YORK, NY — There isn’t much time to pivot with a brief MLS offseason and for NYCFC since their 5-1 Eastern Conference playoff loss at Miami in November. A painful hiatus that addressed their dismal showing and quest to get their second Cup championship.
A loss and elimination though NYCFC and first year coach Pascal Jansen went beyond expectations. A young and competitive squad with a few veterans that wasn’t projected to reach the final four. Yes the brief time away from the pitch offered time to regroup and prepare for another run towards a MLS Cup title.
Two months to review a roster with additions and subtractions. MLS is different from other major sports leagues partly attributed to a brief hiatus. Regardless, here they are down in Tampa, Florida, and ready for pre-season matches, new faces and a coach with expectations.
NYCFC coach Pascal Jansen met with the media on Thursday ahead of the club’s preseason starting up this weekend – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
“Our main ingredients within how our culture works and how we work on a daily basis, the word is energy,” said Jansen during a conference media call Thursday afternoon. “The team has come in very energetic. Every training session so far has satisfied me in a big way. Also, the new kids coming in understand what is demanded of them, and they try to do just that every day.”
The approach for Jansen last season was chemistry, NYCFC had that strength as a team. Jansen also came as advertised having success with developing young players. Additions from New York City II will get a look in camp. Jonathan Shore, a 18-year old defender who had significant playing time, arrived mid season.
Though contracts and other components of MLS leave that void and NYCFC will miss the presence of Justin Haak, a reliable and clubhouse fixture who signed a contract with the Galaxy of Los Angeles. There is also the temporary void of missing Alonso Martínez, the forward who led NYCFC in scoring last season with 19 goals and is recovering from a torn ACL sustained during international play with Costa Rica in November.
Alonso Martínez, recording 19 goals last season, remains recovering from a torn ACL which was sustained back in November during international play with Costa Rica back Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Jansen, though and newly appointed NYCFC sporting director Todd Dunivant said replacing those goals are a priority. MLS has become a league of scoring, NYCFC at times last season had trouble finding the net, had it not been for the late game heroics of Martinez, perhaps a run to an MLS CUP wasn’t possible.
Jansen is ready for the challenge. A new season begins in Los Angeles against the Galaxy on February 22. Also this is the last year of home games at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, the team awaits 2027 for an initial season at Etihad Park, a soccer specific venue in Flushing, Queens.
As for his second year and the difference, Jansen said, “A different approach, because when I came to the Club in January 2025, I didn’t really know what to expect in certain areas. But that is different this year and allows us to raise the bar again because the compliments are there from last season.”
“But the reality is, it’s only an impression. So far there have been no end results, if that makes any sense. So that is something that we’re going to try to do better this year, and it all starts with the energy that everybody has to bring to the team.”
In year one of Pascal Jansen at the helm, NYCFC appeared in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference Finals and lost to Inter Miami CF – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
It was being competitive and going with the plan that led to an unexpected run for the MLS Cup.
“In the final stage of the season, we were still very competitive,” he said. “And that brought us all the way to the Eastern Conference Final. There were no prizes won at the end of the journey last season. So that is something that we’ll try to do better this season. But we’re convinced that we have taken the right road and are heading in the right direction to be successful and stay competitive again this season.”
He mentioned the changes and how players from last season have started to adjust to new faces, also with an approach to continue with a plan.
New York was fully behind NYCFC in 2025 and the same is expected in 2026 as this year marks the final year of the club playing at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
“I know the majority of the players and knew what to expect when this preseason was about to start, the team has to replace four key players who are not available anymore for several reasons,” Jansen said. “So, there’s a good opportunity during preseason to make sure that we find the right rhythm again, get everybody to play in their best role and utilize their best strengths in order to be a better team in 2026.”
The captain and defender Thiago Martins commented about Jansen’s system. Martins also was vital on the pitch during the opening round and Eastern Conference semifinal one game elimination.
Thiago Martins had words of confidence and belief for Pascal Jansen, commenting on the coach’s system and how it impacted the club across 2025 – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
The loss to Miami still stings, NYCFC he said did not put in their best effort in conceding five goals.
“It’s not easy when we change coaches and it’s not easy when we change players,” he said. “We need to adjust so many things to understand each other again. But with Pascal, he’s clear, he’s straightforward in the way he likes to play, how he expects us to perform, the environment, the future inside of our facility.”
“As a team, we believe we can perform well and achieve our goals for this season.” he said, also referring to the young players and what to expect from them.”
NYCFC will be different, again, though the approach will be the same. They expect to win. Their fan base is important and the team expects to continue that energy. In the end though it’s about another run to the MLS Cup as the pre-season progresses.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com – X(@Ring786) Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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