New York City FC striker Mounsef Bakrar has not had an easy time since joining the club in 2023. While head coach Nick Cushing gave him opportunities to replace lead forward Talles Magno, he failed to grab the brass ring, eventually surrendering it to dynamic forward Alonso Martinez.
This weekend presents an interesting turning point in his time with City as Martinez will be away on international assignment, opening the door for the Algerian to stake a claim under new head coach Pascal Jansen.
“Mounsef (Bakrar) has been working really hard,” said Jansen to the media. “It’s not an easy battle to be in competition with Alonso (Martinez). This is his opportunity to show where he’s at this moment. We have all the confidence in him to be a good striker up front.”
Bakrar made 28 appearances in 2024 with 14 of them as starts. Over that span he only mustered four goals and one assist, despite being in the right place to score many times throughout the season. His biggest goal came in the Hudson River Derby where City handed Red Bulls a 2-1 loss. Bakrar’s effort was the decisive goal in the second half. While it seemed as if his confidence would grow from there, little came in the way of production. At the same time, Martinez grew in confidence and became the team’s leading scorer.
Now, with a new head coach and new tactics, Bakrar is at a crossroads where he can prove his worth against a stiff opponent like Columbus Crew SC. A strong showing will not just add another element to the competition for a starting position but also show Jansen that he has reliable options throughout his roster.
“In order to be consistent, we’ve created a program where we build our confidence, develop our play style and get our physical fitness to a higher level,” said Jansen about the team’s recent preparations. “Over the past few weeks and months, you’ve seen them grow, and then it’s always good to see that consistency transfer onto the pitch on a Saturday night.”
City, who are riding a sweep of their two-game homestand, are looking to take that energy on the road against the Crew on Saturday. A win would be their third in a row and could give them the confidence needed to push up the table early in the campaign.
photo by Jordan Bank