47 minutes ago
3
Pascal Jansen will not be on the sideline when New York City FC faces the New England Revolution on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
The club announced on Monday that Jansen will be tending to “personal matters” which would keep him away from the match.
“Jansen will be back with the team ahead of our match against Real Salt Lake,” the statement issued by the team read.
New York City FC head coach Pascal Jansen watches from the sideline as they take on the New England Revolution in the second half at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday, August 23, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNew York City FC faces Real Salt Lake on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy will serve as the acting head coach while Jansen is away from the team, and it will mark the second time during Jansen’s two-year tenure as head coach that Ballouchy has filled in for him.
Last June, Jansen was away, also attending to personal matters, when Ballouchy took over for him for one match.
“This is not about my record or my stamp,” Ballouchy said during the club’s pre-match press conference on Monday, addressing a question about the balance of filling and executing Jansen’s vision for NYCFC. “Pascal is the head coach. Pascal is connected with us twice a day, every day, and will be connected with us live on game day. I don’t think anything changes process-wise for us. I think it’s more just trying to stay connected and get him as close to us and to the team as possible.”
New York City FC has played to three straight draws, including against the Revolution in Foxborough, Massachusetts, last month but has only won two league games since the regular season resumed following the World Cup break.
The club hasn’t won a regular-season game since July 25, when they defeated the Chicago Fire 3-1 at Yankee Stadium. Outside of the MLS season, their fortunes haven’t been much better, winning just once during the Leagues Cup tournament.
English (US)