Jansen Rallies NYCFC Ahead of Union Clash: “No Excuses—We Perform, No Matter What”

With NYCFC preparing to host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Citi Field, head coach Pascal Jansen took to the media room to deliver a message that was as much for his players as it was for the fans: unity is important, but accountability is everything.

“We are one with the fans, and they are one with us,” Jansen said, acknowledging the energy and support the team receives from its followers. But he also made it clear that support from the stands can't be the only fuel for the team’s performance.

“From day one,” Jansen continued, “we’ve said to each other—it doesn’t matter what type of circumstances we have to play in, we have to perform in any type of game, fans or no fans.”

His comments come in the wake of NYCFC’s disappointing 2–1 home loss to Minnesota United, a match that saw the team start slowly and concede twice in the first half. Though the crowd at Yankee Stadium was behind them, Jansen made no excuses for the flat opening.

“The context was there on Sunday, but it doesn’t give us any excuse to start the game like we did,” he admitted. “That is something we have to take into account and make sure it doesn’t happen again—whether there’s one fan or 10,000 fans in the stands.”

The Union clash represents a key opportunity for NYCFC to get back on track and climb the Eastern Conference standings. With 38 games in the regular season, every point matters, and Jansen is determined to instill a mentality of resilience and consistency across all environments.

Whether under the bright lights of Citi Field or in tougher road environments, Jansen’s message is clear: no excuses, only results.