Pascal Jansen is totally assured that New York Metropolis’s energy in depth will permit them to maintain constructing on their sturdy house 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 house match 3-0 in opposition to the Houston Dynamo, however had gained their earlier two outings at Citi Area, beating rivals New York Crimson Bulls and Chicago Hearth, scoring 5 targets within the course of.
Regardless of lacking some gamers because of worldwide obligation, Jansen has little doubt that they will pose a risk.
“We have now a roster the place we consider we are able to substitute these guys [missing through international duty],” he mentioned.
“All the main focus, as soon as we completed Nashville [SC], went into getting ready the group that may play—constructing chemistry and cohesion with the gamers who will now have to begin or come on as substitutes.
“Goalkeeper is clearly an enormous piece, with Tomas [Romero] in as a substitute 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 gained solely 4 of their 17 MLS video games this season.
That they had gained back-to-back video games in opposition to FC Cincinnati and Orlando Metropolis however noticed that streak snapped by the Crimson Bulls in a 2-0 defeat on the weekend.
Atlanta have already crushed NYCFC this time period, and head coach Ronny Deila is targeted on enhancing their protection to get a repeat end result.
“We have now labored lots with the protection,” Deila mentioned. “We used the break rather well. The boys have been very skilled and switched on.
“It’s a must to handle smaller areas. It’s a must to be faster on the ball. It’s going to be a extra intense recreation.
“We’ll get probabilities, 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 report 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