Skip to main content

Match Preview: Red Bulls Look to Move On Against Cincinnati


Nothing is more frustrating than seeing your team take a lead in a match, only to lose it at the death, leaving everyone annoyed and angry at the result. But that's where the New York Red Bulls are at the moment after suffering a bitter defeat at the hand of the New England Revolution, 3-2 at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night.

The silver lining in this dark cloud of dread and disappointment is thanks to the Red Bulls playing three matches this week, there's no time to commiserate their shortcomings, for FC Cincinnati comes to Harrison looking to put their season back on track at the expense of the hosts on Wednesday night.

During the Media Availability at the Red Bulls Traning Facility, Head coach Gerhard Struber discussed the vital importance of finishing out games, especially against teams that they face, especially those that sit at the top of the conference table...

"Yeah, one more time, back to the game against the Revolution, I think after the game it is clear that everyone was very disappointed at 84 minutes, we hold on the lead with 2-1 and in the end, we lose this game. This is clear that every single player was very disappointed, also my coaching staff and myself. Yeah, we have worked so hard for a better result, but in the end, I think it is one more time big learning for a young group, big learnings for me, and I think we learn from that, and we learn very quickly and right now, we have a chance on Wednesday.

I think this is a [good] feeling, we can change this very quickly with the midweek game. I think we create so many good things in this game and this gave us good confidence in the end. Yeah, we have to be very focused, everyone has to be focused and on the same page with our game plan and then I think we can realize the right results Right now, we can see against the teams on this level like the Revolution and also Philadelphia. It is not easy to finalize three points, but we learned with our young group, and I think we make big steps in the last few weeks in a good direction.

Right now, we cannot build up in our results, but I think this is the only question of time and then I think we will create the necessary points. The season is long, I think right now we need a big resilience and a big belief in what we do, and, in the end, we create points. I think this is a test of the character and it is a test of the mental situation. Sometimes, I think these are big learnings and big chances to grow up your mindset to be in the end, ready for big goals. Yeah, it is a test, it is a big exam for some players and also for me. We have grown up with these tests and with these challenges."

On the keys to the match against FC Cincinnati...

"Yeah, I think right now, we can see the whole teams in the season are very close and we never make the fall or the mistake to give opponents not the right respect. We know what they can, and we know Cincinnati’s a team, they can play on the ground very quickly, and they have good ideas. They have also good players, for us, it is so important that we have everyone on the same page. We are ready for our style of play, and also when we are in the lead that we do not forget our match plan. Also, my substitutions are ready for that, and also every single player is ready to bring three points home, and I think we have had some big hits in our face the last few weeks and we have to learn.

I think we realize that we can grow up our mindset. Also, when we are on the lead and we are ready to bring three points home with our tactical plan and with the right behavior is in this tactical plane until the last second, then Cincinnati has a challenge for their chests with our style of play, with our quality with our energy. This is our duty on Wednesday, a big focus in our style of play, and big focus from the first whistle until the last whistle, then I think we can create a good performance, and in the end, the necessary three points."

Finally, on his players stepping up...

"First of all, I will say that COVID is not only our topic, it is for the whole league a topic, and also in the preseason, also other clubs have not had special good preseasons. I think every club has its personal challenges. We have some special challenges, but I think we can handle and manage this. From the performance side, I think, in a good way, it is more output, the outcome topic. This is right now the next step we have to do well, that my boys realize in the end they benefit from what they invest in every game. I think for this you need also clever tactical moments, and you need also a good realization in a game, how you can protect the momentum, how you can bring your momentum back and for a young group this is not always so easy, but the last few weeks, the last few months bring us more together, bring, I think, a clear mindset and understanding from that what we want, and this makes me proud.

In the end, we are a professional team, and we have big goals here, we will come and create the playoffs one more time. For that, we need different results and right now, we have a long season for our chest and many games, but now I think it is a good time to come in better results. I have big trust in our group and especially our process of what we go, and I think we are very close to being a team with very good performances and a team with the right results."

Prospective Starting XI:

New York Red Bulls: Carlos Coronel, John Tolkin, Amro Tarek, Tom Edwards, Kyle Duncan; Sean Davis, Cristian Cásseres, Jr., Wiki Carmona, Caden Clark, Tom Barlow, Fábio

FC Cincinnati: Kenneth Vermeer, Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron, Gustavo Vallecilla, Ronald Matarrita, Allan Cruz, Yuya Kubo, Álvaro Barreal, Luciano Acosta, Joe Gyau, Brenner Souza da Silva

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Red Bulls Announce Fan Experience Improvements

by Garry Redman On top of the theme nights announced this season, something new has been added the next time the season ticket holders and supporters step inside The Cathedral... The state-of-the-art LED lighting system at Red Bull Arena will provide higher on-field light levels for enhanced visibility and safety and introduce new entertainment features that heighten the overall experience for spectators.   Built around Musco's Total Light Control—TLC for LED™ technology, the new system is designed to provide exceptional playability and uniformity while minimizing glare. Cleaner, whiter light will elevate the broadcast quality for fans watching around the world.  Color-changing fixtures and Show-Light® Pro entertainment technology will allow the Red Bulls to wash the stadium in different colors and synchronize light shows to music, heightening the fan experience during goal celebrations, player introductions, and other big moments. If you have no idea what this means, cl...

Editorial: New York Red Bulls are Fun to Watch

photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein The New York Red Bulls 2024 season starts off and running. In their first three matches, they have looked different from their last five to six seasons of doom and despair when trying to attack or have a lapse in judgment on the defensive end. The two big editions for the club are undoubtedly the imports from Sweden in Centerback Noah Elle & attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg. Two players who are a part of the Swedish National Team have started off well in Major League Soccer. We all knew what we were getting right away from Forsberg. A high-energy creative and attacking midfielder who was already bought in from day one, when Director of Sport Jochen Schneider went to Leipzig and brought him over. He was already committed to making the trip to the United States to play his brand of soccer, and so far he hasn't disappointed. Even though he has come close three times off of free kicks, hitting the crossbar twice and being saved by the ke...

Quotes: Red Bulls Show Promise, But More Work Need To Be Done

photo by Matt Kremkau Sixty seconds in a ninety-minute match. That’s all it took for Sporting Kansas City to ruin the Opening Day festivities at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night. The supporters in attendance saw crisp passing and a stout defense that kept the visitors at bay, despite not having striker Alan Pulido in the starting lineup. But significantly, the supporters were buoyed by a return to that press that has last seen since Jesse Marsch was in charge. But that was the first 45 minutes. In the second half, things turned for the better and then, shockingly, worse for the home side that evening. Midfielder Caden Clark, who scored the opening goal, spoke about the match as a whole: I’ve kept that in the back of my mind, actually, not scoring at home. I really wanted to do that in front of the supporters, and it was great to do that in front of the few that were here tonight who brought the noise. When I scored that [goal] the place was shaking, and you feed off of that and gai...