New York City FC Head Coach Pascal Jansen has told his players that “the moment is there” as they prepare to take on Charlotte FC in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 series.
Jansen’s side travels to North Carolina ahead of Tuesday’s clash at Bank of America Stadium. The first in a best-of-3 series between the two teams, there’s a buzz of excitement in New York as the postseason begins.
“The moment is there,” Jansen said when asked what he’d told his players. “What we’ve been working for all season. We’ve become way more consistent throughout the season, apart from the last two games of the regular season, I’m quite pleased with the progression that we’ve made.”
The two teams recorded identical 2-0 victories at home during the regular season, with New York City winning the most recent encounter in September. That day saw Alonso Martínez convert twice from the penalty spot to hand New York City FC all three points.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Jansen was asked to reflect on both encounters and discussed what he believed to be performances of good quality, both at home in New York and on the road.
“Looking at Charlotte specifically, that’s interesting, because our away game there, I thought—and I saw over the last couple of days while watching the games again—we were quite dominant out there,” he explained.
“We had a couple of good chances. They scored an early goal and exposed us on the right side just before the goal was conceded, and then we were back in control again, but without creating so many big chances in order to get back into that game.
“We took one at the end, but overall, two games, I think we showed good quality in both games. Game one without scoring the goals that we should have, and in game two, we had two penalties, obviously, to go ahead, but we also created lots more moments to create more difference between us.”
The 52-year-old also discussed his side’s “bulletproof mindset.” A concept that Jansen first introduced in pre-season, it is one he hopes his team can now utilize during the playoffs to great success.
“The bulletproof mindset was something I introduced at the beginning of the season, and throughout the season, you could see that we were able to handle ourselves better and better,” he said.
“We became more consistent every time we progressed throughout the season, and obviously playing against the top-seeded teams in the league has also brought us a lot of respect.
“I think throughout the season, we’ve become more bulletproof, and that is something that we need to realize also now that we’re in the final stage of the season in order to be successful during the playoffs.
“I think we’ve done an okay job to establish that, but now we have to apply it during the playoffs.”
Jansen also discussed the emerging news that goalkeeper Matt Freese had been nominated for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. A proud moment for both Freese and the Club, his coach attributed his success to a “growth mindset” underpinned by consistency in 2025.
“He has been a massive piece for us in our team,” Jansen said. “I think if you talk about the consistency that we have established throughout the season within the team, you also have to mention guys like Matt Freese, because he’s a big part of us being more consistent.
“He got himself into the national team and became the number one—that also is something that is very good for your self-confidence. But Matt, as a person and as a player, as I’ve got to know him, when you think of a growth mindset and trying to develop yourself as an athlete, one of the guys that we mention first is Matt Freese.”
Elsewhere, captain Thiago Martins also spoke of his pride at leading the team out in the playoffs.
“It means a lot to me,” he said of the responsibility of being captain. “I always put myself in the position to help my teammates, help the team, and to be there for them, to give my best and help all of the guys inside of the field and outside [of the field].
"It means a lot to me, and I’m going to do my best for them, always, every single time, because I know in the tough moments, we need to be there and be present for the guys as well.”
The Brazilian also took time to praise the club’s supporters for their relentless dedication ahead of Tuesday’s game, and an almost 1,300-mile round trip to Charlotte.
“We know, like almost every single game, it doesn’t matter wherever we’re going, we always have our supporters close to us and support us every single time, because we know they can help us a lot,” he explained.
“It’s nice to see them over there [in the away section]. We hope to see a bunch of blue shirts—light blue shirts—over there to support us, and we’re going to do our best so they travel back with a smile on their face.”
