Skip to main content

"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."

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Injury Update: Marcucci and Vanzeir Shine; Morgan Still Recovering

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced As preseason winds down with one game left to play, the players ready and available for Sandro Schwarz become more clear. Dante Vanzeir, who ended his 2023 with a back injury, has seemingly found the form the team hoped to get last year and goalkeeper AJ Marcucci looks ready to prove himself as an MLS goalkeeper with a solid performance on Wednesday. While there are positives from players coming back from injury, one player who still appears to be looking for fitness is Lewis Morgan. The 2022 top scorer for the Red Bulls, saw himself on the sidelines for most of 2023. Now, in preseason, he finds himself still working towards fitness according to head coach Sandro Schwarz. "We don't make risks for him," said Schwarz when asked if Lewis would feature in the team's last preseason game. "He's only in team training since two days. Tomorrow we have recovery training and on Friday one team session on the field. He will be t...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more