From NYCFC
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On the energy and leadership inside the locker room entering the 2026 season... “You mentioned one of our main ingredients within how our culture works and how we work on a daily basis. The word is energy. The team has come in very energetic. Every training session so far has satisfied me in a big way. Also, the new kids coming in [understand] what is demanded of them, and they try to do just that every day - but it also goes for the staff. For me, it's a different approach, because when I came to the Club in January 2025, I didn't really know what to expect in certain areas. But that is different this year and allows us to raise the bar again because the compliments are there from last season, but the reality is, it's only an impression. So far there have been no end results, if that makes any sense. So that is something that we're going to try to do better this year, and it all starts with the energy that everybody has to bring to the team.” “I think the biggest lesson and the biggest takeaway is that we were on the right path throughout last season. You could see that the team was growing game-by-game. In the final stage of the season, we were still very competitive, and that brought us all the way to the Eastern Conference Final. As I mentioned earlier, there were no prizes won at the end of the journey last season. So that is something that we'll try to do better this season. But we're convinced that we have taken the right road and are heading in the right direction to be successful and stay competitive again this season. However, there are a few things that have changed. Even though I know the majority of the players and knew what to expect when this preseason was about to start, the team has to replace four key players who are not available anymore for several reasons. So, there's a good opportunity during preseason to make sure that we find the right rhythm again, get everybody to play in their best role and utilize their best strengths in order to be a better team in 2026.” |
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On understanding Head Coach Pascal Jansen’s system after a full year heading into the new season… “It’s not easy when we change coaches and it’s not easy when we change players. We need to adjust so many things to understand each other again. But with [Head Coach] Pascal [Jansen], he’s clear, he’s straightforward in the way he likes to play, how he expects us to perform, the environment, the future inside of our facility. Here in our preseason, we expect so many good things. We can already see it on the field in training, and for sure we’re going to do our best to help him play the way he likes to play. As a team, we believe we can perform well and achieve our goals for this season.” Thoughts on the young players in the squad and what to expect from them this season… “We can see all the guys, the new faces, they are coming in hungry. They want to be here with us. They are doing their best every single day, working hard every single day to be part of this team and to be part of the locker room. We, the more experienced players, need to help them; to talk to them every single time, for them to adjust quicker and understand the way [Head Coach] Pascal [Jansen] wants to play. We know all these young guys; we can see it on their faces, that they are happy to be here with us. This is the most important thing. It’s just the first part of our preseason, and they already show quality and intensity, and you guys can expect good things for sure.” |