The key to ending the winless streak is for NYCFC to have mental fortitude | OneFootball

It feels like the winless streak will never end, as New York City FC has gone one and a half months without a win in Major League Soccer. Despite winning in the U.S. Open Cup games, the Boys in Blue are now seven matches without a win in league play. The loss to D.C. United at home should not have happened.

Nevertheless, NYCFC is in this position. And it is not like the roster matches the results. Yes, the Pigeons have been playing without a true starting striker due to Alonso Martínez's ACL tear. But Nicolás Fernández Mercau has done very well filling in at the false nine and by scoring the goals missed by the Costa Rican. And overall, this is a strong squad, arguably stronger as a whole compared to 2025, thanks to stronger options off the bench.

NYCFC needs to be strong mentally

But how does NYCFC begin to even get back on track? How does the team turn this winless streak around? Can they turn things around? On paper, the Bronx side should be better, but the question of whether this is the true NYCFC remains.

It is not a simple answer. Again, the Boys in Blue are better than the results. But one thing that was mentioned was that this streak could be blamed on the mental aspect. In anything one does, including sports, mental fortitude is vital to achieve success. If anyone is off mentally or has doubt following them like a shadow, then performances can be thrown off.

NYCFC needs to ensure that the players are mentally sound and okay. They need to make sure that the belief is there regardless of the streak and that everyone is on the same page.

Again, it must be said that the club needs to have a sports psychologist on hand if they do not have one. They can work wonders in unlocking players and their issues, whether on the pitch or off of it. And if the Boys in Blue have doubt and feel like they cannot win no matter what they do, then a sports psychologist can help them work through it.

In addition, NYCFC needs the mental fortitude in the sense that they are focused and can get the job done for all 90 minutes. This is especially true with the five more games that they have in May. There will be some challenging matchups, and the players need to ensure that they do not make mistakes or become complacent in their play.

A healthy mind can go a long way in sports, and the same goes for soccer. NYCFC needs to take care of any issues that are impacting them mentally, they need to be focused, and they need to believe that they can climb back up the Eastern Conference table and compete down the road.