"Motivation Triggers" is Key for Struber and Red Bulls

photo by Matt Kremkau

Head coach Gerhard Struber is leading the New York Red Bulls into the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second straight season but with the home field advantage. Despite the team being young, and expectations from pundits being low, the team managed to finished fourth and now sit as a dark horse pick for making a deep run in an effort to win their first MLS Cup in club history.

"With a young group it is important to find motivation triggers," said Gerhard on the team's momentum following a win in the final week of the season. "For every single player this will be a chance to create your personal memories, create history and this is the direction will invest all that we can at this time."

New York has defied the odds with one of the youngest team in the league. Along the way they have developed talent like John Tolkin into one of the more reliable wingbacks in the league. Players like him and many others will need to keep their recent consistency if they intend on lifting the cup.

"I think you can say it gives us a little bit of a chip on our shoulder," said Tolkin on the team's age. "If you ask most people they'd say we're not supposed to win this game. But we like that, we like when our backs are against the wall. I think that's how every Red Bulls team has been in the past and when that is the case, I feel like we definitely always show up to perform."

FC Cincinnati finished in fifth place and will play the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday at noon. The visitors have won three of their last four games and only lost one in their last 12 games in order to reach the height of their success during their short time in MLS. Needless to say they will be a formidable opponent and one that hopes to continue the long suffering of the Red Bulls.

"They have high quality, especially in attacking areas," said Struber. "I think they have a high ability to score and also a big ability to create final passes. I think we know what's coming."

Comments

Red Bulls Acquire Midfielder Frankie Amaya from FC Cincinnati

photo by Matt Kremkau The rumors have become reality as Frankie Amaya has become a New York Red Bulls player. The news comes after Amaya signs a new deal with New York following a trade from FC Cincinnati for $500 thousand in allocation money this season and $450 thousand in 2022. "We are very pleased to complete this deal," said Director of Sport Kevin Thelwell. "Frankie is a player we've watched closely, and we are confident that his skills and attributes are a good fit for our philosophy and style of play. We look forward to getting him into our environment and achieving success together in the years ahead." The 20 year-old midfielder was the first overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and played in 40 total games for FC Cincinnati, scoring one goal over that time. Amaya was also a major part of the US Men's National Team U20's Concacaf Championship win in 2018. The potential is there and his age and ability match the direction New York has taken o...

Tolkin and Edelman Called into Olympic Camp

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls homegrown players John Tolkin and Daniel Edelman have been called into the US Olympic training camp ahead of friendlies later in the month. Tolkin, 21 years-old, has been called into Gregg Berhalter's camps in the past while Edelman will be making his first trip to the national level. Tolkin, now entering his fifth year as a New York Red Bulls player, has experience with the national team going all the way back to 2018 with the US Under 17 team. In 2023, he played four games for the Under 23 team and four games for the main national team as well. While he isn't a first choice pick yet, Tolkin's consistency hasn't gone unnoticed by US Soccer scouts and another solid showing could see him inch closer to a starting position. For Edelman it will be is first selection to such a camp. His experience with the Under 20's was extensive as he helped the team win the U20 Concacaf Championship in 2022. That tournamen...

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...

Red Bull News Network

Search This Blog