New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese lauds the work that new head coach Pascal Jansen has done with the club in the short time he’s had since joining the club late in the off-season. Currently the team is participating in the Coachella Valley Invitational, playing against other MLS club in preparation for their start to the season against Miami in just one week.
“I recognize that he is very confident and speaks with a lot of authority in a really good way,” said Freese after the team’s loss on Wednesday to St. Louis City FC. “I know he has a very impressive track record of developing young players and I’m sure that he’ll do the same here.”
City has been given a new mandate to be a club that looks to develop talent as opposed to going out and purchasing already proven commodities. For that reason, Jansen has been brought in because of his years in growing from within at clubs like AZ Alkmaar where he found moderate success with limited means. In MLS, that kind of approach is one that has found success in various ways and City is hoping that the Dutch manager can lead the new way of growing the team into on-field success.
In some ways it will be a tall task for Jansen and NYCFC. While the team is certainly in a transition period, they have had a fan base that has expected results and is certainly looking for redemption after an Eastern Conference semi-final exit to rivals New York Red Bulls. While we know that young talent can flourish quickly in MLS, the question is whether that talent is in place for City to do so.
“My mission is to mold a team that is compatible for every game in MLS,” said Jansen about the continuity of his lineups during preseason. “That’s a big challenge, but the chemistry being there helps. Having young players on the roster that have grown during the past season, and will be more mature this season, helps a lot. I must say, the learning capacity, the openness and the willingness to exchange new ideas has been fantastic so far.”
The true test will come on February 22nd in Fort Lauderdale when NYCFC opens up the season against Inter Miami in what can only be viewed as a baptism by fire. City will remain on the road and travel to LAFC the following week before opening the season at home against Orlando City on March 8th.
photo by Jordan Banks