After training at Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J. on Friday, head coach Sandro Schwarz and forward Julian Hall spoke with the media prior to New York’s MLS regular season match against Charlotte FC on Sunday.
News and Notes
• The Red Bulls have posted a 3-1-2 mark in their last six matches across all competitions.
• Captain Emil Forsberg has recorded eight goal contributions in his last eight MLS appearances and now has nine MLS assists on the season, which ranks tied for ninth in MLS.
• Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has recorded eight shutouts this season, which ranks tied for sixth in MLS. Coronel has posted a 5-1-3 mark against Charlotte FC in his career across all competitions.
• Forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has recorded a goal contribution in three-straight matches across all competitions.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On Charlotte…
It's a clear structure, how they are playing in a 4-4-2 4-3-3, when they have the ball in 4-2-3-1 in some movements, but clear style of play. So similar, what they did last year. It's similar also when we played the first game in our home stadium against them. So it's clear identity of the head coach. So they were very successful, especially the last couple of weeks, with these six games in a row. So very successful. But main focus is our part at the end. So it's clear how they want to play. It's clear how we want to play. Then we were also very consistently in our performance, and we increased our self-confidence as well, especially with the win against Philly. And that's it. That's the part. Charlotte is a really good team, clear structure, and very good with winger players in their transition moments, especially (Wilfred) Zaha. So we know it's a key player for them, but at the end, we have to defend altogether, not only the situation one against one.
On new signing Rafael Mosquera…
A long training sweep, a regular week now, and was new for us, especially when you are looking for the last couple of weeks. And the whole team trained very well. And (Rafael) Mosquera was really good. And is a type of player, he can play as a winger, or maybe as a second striker as well. And with his speed, with his timing for deep runs, also good technique in really good moments left foot. So it's really, really impressive to see him every day, to see him every day, which steps he's doing in his development, and that's really good so, and we will see if he's then an option for Sunday.
On improving road struggles…
Of course, we know all the numbers, the stats now, the situation, how we lost the games in some moments on the road, but the main focus for me, as usual, is so our performance, our style of play, and this is what we what we have to prepare, and from the mental side as well. And I think when I see the last game in Philly, for example, against a really, really good team. So this was good, good performance in Chicago. Was not the best, but it was also not the game which you have to lose at the end. Now it's every time next chance to look forward. And on Sunday, I'm pretty sure that the training week was very well from the whole group. And now we have to show this on the road, on top in Charlotte. That's the next chance. And but I can understand, of course, when you're looking to the table, you see all the points in our home stadium and on the road, not so many points, of course, that you have this discussion then. But in our daily work, main focus performance behavior, and for Sunday, to prepare everything that we are ready.
New York Red Bulls Forward Julian Hall
On playing at Bank of America Stadium…
I mean, you know, we would all love to be playing at home, but these are some of the challenges, you know, you face throughout the season. But, grass or turf, whatever, we're going to still go out there and play 100%
On Andy Rojas and Rafael Mosquera…
Yes, I think everyone could see the quality they bring. They've been doing really well with the second team and coming up in training and playing with the first team, so I think they'll bring a good dynamic to the team, and I think they'll do well.
On personal impact…
My objective is to score always and maybe provide us this, or just make an impact in general, for our guys up top to score. But I think all of us are trying to make an impact on Sunday, and we really want to bring our win.