From NYRB
After training at Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J. on Saturday, head coach Sandro Schwarz and forward Mohammed Sofo spoke with the media prior to New York’s match against Real Salt Lake on Sunday.
News and Notes
• The Red Bulls have posted a 6-1-4 mark against Real Salt Lake at home.
• Captain Emil Forsberg has recorded six goal contributions in his last six MLS appearances.
• New York Red Bulls are 9-2-4 across all competitions at home this season.
• Defender Sean Nealis is three minutes shy of eclipsing 15,000 minutes played for the club and would become the seventh player in club history to accomplish the feat.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On takeaway from the last three matches…
Yeah, that was, first, it was very important to have these rotations with all these games now, tomorrow, game on Wednesday, the next game, Saturday. So very tough with our schedule, but it was good to see all the guys. From the performance side, it was very well most of the time. I think that was very important for us to use the time to develop our principles, to develop how we want to play. We could see this in all the games. The first game we won, then was a little bit unluck against Monterrey. Against Juarez was very tough this game so but I would say it was good to have these two weeks and the performance in all these three games, and now we must continue the next step for tomorrow against Real Salt Lake.
On messaging to the team…
It's an important part of the season now, especially with the last nine games. So, we have one break more in this part with an international window, but now to have the focus to go step by step, so not to think about what can happen after the season, or. how many points do we need for the playoffs, or something like that. I think the main part is what we said after Chicago, directly, to go day by day, to use our time for our development, for our identity, for our philosophy, how we want to play. And tomorrow is the first step of the last period. That's it, against Salt Lake. And we must show them our intensity, our energy, and our quality.
On managing a roster…
Simple, then it's very simple. So, our focus is for tomorrow and of course, but we are very excited now for the week. It's a good week, not to think about, oh, it's difficult. How do we manage now, something like that. So, I think in the past, when we are looking, for example, in May, with all these games, we had a very good experience with these rotations. And yeah but now keep the focus first of all for tomorrow game. And after the game, we start directly, then the preparation for Monday training session, Tuesday training session, and then starts on Wednesdays the next game.
New York Red Bulls Forward Mohammed Sofo
On Salt Lake…
here's no single team that we are playing which we are approaching the game with the mindset of stopping one player. I think we are playing them as a team. So, for me, we were putting the team like playing against a League, not against only one player. So yes.
On confidence…
I'm always ready. Like, try to try to help the team do my best. And this is the message the coach also passed for everyone. It doesn't matter if you are starting or coming off the bench. You will need everyone as a group. And yes, I just feel happy to be able to help the team whenever I'm on the foot or even if I'm coming from the bench.
On pressure…
No, honestly, every game is important. We are not trying to think too much about playoffs or what's ahead. We try to take every game one by one and yes, approach them with the same mindset here.