New York City FC is looking to turn the page and build momentum as the club prepares for another showdown against Charlotte FC. Ahead of the matchup, Head Coach Pascal Jansen and midfielder Hannes Wolf spoke candidly about the team’s recent struggles, mentality, and the urgency needed moving forward.
Jansen acknowledged that matches against Charlotte have consistently produced entertaining soccer and expects this latest meeting to follow a similar script. While NYCFC has shown flashes of strong play in recent weeks, the head coach emphasized that the team’s biggest issue has not necessarily been tactical execution, but rather lapses in mentality and focus during key moments.
“You mentioned urgency,” Jansen said. “Urgency is something I mentioned as well, but on the other hand I’ve also mentioned casual behavior, and that is maybe even complacency.”
The NYCFC manager stressed that success in Major League Soccer requires maximum concentration every match and warned that avoidable mistakes can quickly undo strong performances. According to Jansen, the club is fully aware that its mentality and approach must improve during the upcoming stretch of games if it hopes to climb the standings and regain consistency.
Wolf echoed those sentiments while also reflecting on a personal milestone after recording the first professional hat trick of his career. The Austrian midfielder admitted it had been years since he last scored three goals in a game, dating back to his teenage years, and described the accomplishment as a special moment. Still, Wolf quickly shifted the focus back toward the bigger picture.
“This sport is so dynamic and so quick,” Wolf explained. “You have to show it again and score again and win again.”
During recent film review sessions, Wolf said the team identified a recurring issue: a lack of urgency in critical defensive situations that led to conceding goals. While NYCFC advanced in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, league results have remained inconsistent, making the upcoming MLS matches especially important.
Now, with renewed focus and growing self-awareness inside the locker room, NYCFC hopes its recent victory can become the spark that launches a stronger run of form in the weeks ahead.
