New York City FC HC Pascal Jansen on USOC clash vs Riverhounds: ‘We take this game just as seriously’

“Wherever we go, how long the trip will take, how many trips we have to make—it doesn’t matter. We have to be ready always,” he said. “That is also a huge part where I believe in the mental preparation for the games. Don’t make that topic any bigger than it needs to be.”

This will be yet another match-up vs a MLS side which Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley matches wits against a veteran coach with a proven track record of success.

In this case though, Lilley has a track record of over 20-plus years coaching in National competitions, both in the US Open Cup, but also in Canada (where he won  Voyageurs Cup and Cascadia Cups with Vancouver and Montreal.

In the Bob Lilley era (since 2018), the Hounds are 9-5 in the Open Cup, with losses coming to FC Cincinnati (in 3rd Round in 2018, 3rd Round in 2022, Quarterfinal Round in 2023) and Columbus Crew (in 4th Round in 2019). Wins have come versus Erie, Dayton, Indy Eleven (2019), Maryland Bobcats (2022 & 2023), Rochester (2023),  New England (2023), Columbus (2023) and Columbus Crew 2 (2024).

While Lilley, 59, has accumulated the most wins (400 and counting) among all active coaches in professional soccer in the U.S., the former Dutch player, Pascal, has accumulated an impressive 149W-75L-53D record, which includes his first 11 matches with NYCFC after coming over from Ferencváros, a Hungarian club based in Budapest.

Pascal added that the team’s approach to the match remains consistent with their league preparations.

“Our preparation hasn’t been any different than going into an MLS game so far. We take this game just as serious as any other game. It’s a massive opportunity for us as well, because if you do well in the next five games in this tournament, you get a very nice ticket and you get some silverware.”

Coming off an impressive win over FC Cincinnati on Sunday, NYCFC returns to action just three days later, with another fixture against Montréal looming this weekend. Jansen was asked whether squad rotation might come into play.

“You’ll have to see who we’re going to put on the pitch for tomorrow,” Jansen explained. “But I mentioned this also after the Cincinnati game—we have potentially nine games [this month]. That’s what we’re looking for, and we’ll take it game by game. Cincinnati was finished, then we put our focus on this opponent, and that will be the same after Wednesday night.”

For New York, rest will also be a consideration having just played on Sunday, and perhaps the biggest question will be who leads the forward line for NYCFC.

Julián Fernández got the start and an early game-winning tally in the team’s 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati, while Alonso Martínez leads NYCFC with six goals on the season.

Jansen could use either player, or have one or both come off the bench, depending how he wants to approach the match.

“I see my boys train every day, and the guys that travel with us now to this cup game have earned their place in this roster and are ready to play. I have no concern whatsoever. As I mentioned to one of your colleagues just now, it’s been the approach from day one, whenever we have to play—if it’s 3am or it’s two in the afternoon—my guys have to be ready always, and that is what I expect tomorrow.”

With the first team back in the Open Cup and the second team having some significant success, this could possibly be the year that NYCFC breaks through for a run to the National Final.

“We’re very, very ambitious and looking forward to competing with this team,” Jansen said.

“But we have our own targets and our own goals set for this game. No matter who we play in this tournament, that will never change.”