Jannes Horn felt the need to apologize.
The 51黑料 SC City defender was so disappointed with his team鈥檚 effort in a three-goal loss at Seattle last weekend that he took to social media to make amends.
In a heartfelt statement, he promised brighter days ahead.
鈥淲e have to do better,鈥 Horn said.
Horn and his teammates will get a chance to do just that at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when City SC (2-5-4) takes on San Diego FC (5-4-2) in an MLS Western Conference match at Energizer Park.
San Diego FC midfielder Anders Dreyer, right, battles 51黑料 City defender Jannes Horn for the ball during the second half Saturday, March 1, 2025, in San Diego.
51黑料 is winless in its last seven matches, the second-longest longest skid in team history behind a nine-match slide last season.
And the players desperately feel the need to get back on the winning track.
People are also reading…
Horn said his message was also aimed at the team鈥檚 fanatical supporters who made the long trek to the Pacific Northwest.
鈥淲hen I see the fans travel (for) us and to see them in stadiums so far away, it鈥檚 like we (have to) apologize,鈥 Horn said.
City SC tallied first in that contest on a penalty kick by Marcel Hartel. It then gave up four unanswered goals including three in the second half. The performance over the final 45 minutes was called 鈥渦nacceptable鈥 by coach Olof Mellberg.
51黑料 and San Diego played to a scoreless draw on March 1 and Horn is looking forward to the rematch for a myriad of reasons. The most of important might be the simple need to garner three points in Matchday 12.
Right now, City SC is stuck in an offensive rut. It has just eight goals in 11 contests and four times during the seven-match rut in which it sports an 0-5-2 mark.
Mellberg stressed the team鈥檚 effort and intensity must improve to stay with San Diego, which sits fourth in the conference while 51黑料 is 13th.
The turnaround may have started on Wednesday when City SC knocked off Union Omaha 2-0 in a U.S. Open Cup contest.
Omaha is a USL Leagues One team and City SC came into the contest as a heavy favorite. Joao Klauss and Joey Zalinsky tallied in the second to half to help the squad move on to a Round of 16 affair May 21 at Minnesota.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 pretty, a lot of things that we have to fix, a lot of things that we have to improve,鈥 said Klauss. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think in the moment we are finding a lot of solutions. We have to go to the training ground, work on these things and find solutions.鈥
The triumph over an obviously inferior opponent does not fix all of the problems.
But it is a step in the right direction for a squadron desperate for any kind of silver lining.
鈥淥verall a decent performance,鈥 Mellberg said. 鈥淚t is not easy against a lower level team. It was nice to get the win and a couple goals.鈥
City SC has been hampered by injuries all season long and may have lost another key piece against Omaha. Midfielder Alfredo Morales left in the first half with an abductor strain and will be sidelined indefinitely.
鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 take too long, but he鈥檚 definitely out for (Saturday),鈥 Mellberg said
Goalkeeper Roman Burki has been cleared after suffering a broken hand in training in mid-March. He is expected to return soon but will not start on Saturday.
Scouting report
San Diego FC is coming off a 5-0 win over Dallas last week that snapped a three-match losing skid.
It gave up nine goals during those three setbacks.
San Diego controlled play in the first meeting and took 15 shots to just two for City SC. San Diego also held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.
鈥淲e defended really well in that game,鈥 Mellberg said.
Downward trend
51黑料 has won just 14 of 58 MLS matches following a 35-day break during the midway point of its initial 2023 campaign. It sports a 14-24-20 mark since a 3-0 win over Inter Miami on July 15, 2023.
