Pascal Jansen is absolutely assured that New York Metropolis’s energy in depth will enable them to maintain constructing on their robust dwelling kind in opposition to Atlanta United on Thursday.
NYCFC sit tenth within the Japanese Convention with 25 factors, going winless of their final two video games (D1 L1), however can transfer into the playoff locations in the event that they safe a win in opposition to Atlanta.
They misplaced their final dwelling match 3-0 in opposition to the Houston Dynamo, however had received their earlier two outings at Citi Subject, beating rivals New York Pink Bulls and Chicago Fireplace, scoring 5 targets within the course of.
Regardless of lacking some gamers attributable to worldwide responsibility, Jansen has little question that they’ll pose a risk.
“We’ve a roster the place we imagine we are able to exchange these guys [missing through international duty],” he stated.
“All the main focus, as soon as we completed Nashville [SC], went into making ready the group that can play—constructing chemistry and cohesion with the gamers who will now have to start out or come on as substitutes.
“Goalkeeper is clearly a giant piece, with Tomas [Romero] in as an alternative of Matt [Freese, who received a first United States cap], and some others [absent too].”
All eyes on Atlanta pic.twitter.com/6cEGAi1KUg
— New York Metropolis FC (@newyorkcityfc) June 10, 2025
Atlanta are three locations additional down the East than NYCFC, with simply 17 factors, and have received solely 4 of their 17 MLS video games this season.
They’d received back-to-back video games in opposition to FC Cincinnati and Orlando Metropolis however noticed that streak snapped by the Pink Bulls in a 2-0 defeat on the weekend.
Atlanta have already overwhelmed NYCFC this time period, and head coach Ronny Deila is concentrated on enhancing their protection to get a repeat outcome.
“We’ve labored lots with the protection,” Deila stated. “We used the break very well. The boys have been very skilled and switched on.
“You must handle smaller areas. You must be faster on the ball. It’s going to be a extra intense sport.
“We’ll get possibilities, and it’s about eliminating as [many chances] as doable for them.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Metropolis FC – Keaton Parks
Keaton Parks got here off the bench to help each targets in New York Metropolis FC’s 2-2 draw at Nashville SC on Saturday.
Parks is the third NYCFC participant to file a number of assists off the bench in a regular-season match, becoming a member of Frank Lampard and Khiry Shelton, who every did so in 2016.
Atlanta United – Miguel Almiron
Miguel Almiron has scored 4 profession targets in opposition to New York Metropolis FC (incl. playoffs), his most in opposition to any MLS opponent.
Almiron has scored in every of his final two conferences with NYCFC, together with in Atlanta’s 4-3 win when the perimeters met on March 29.
Second half of the season begins
