From RBNY
After training at Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J. on Thursday, head coach Sandro Schwarz and midfielder Gustav Berggren spoke with the media prior to New York’s MLS regular season match against Columbus Crew on Saturday.
News and Notes
• The Red Bulls have posted a 4-1-1 mark in their last six matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
• Captain Emil Forsberg has recorded a goal contribution in five-straight matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
• Forsberg has recorded three career goals against the Columbus Crew in three career appearances across all competitions.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On importance of match against Columbus…
Every weekend, in the situation that we are playing for the result that's clear. I know we have now six games to go in our regular season, and of course, it's an important game on Saturday in our home stadium against a really good team. We know how they want to play. It's a clear style of play, especially with the ball, and also aggressive against the ball, at the counter press. And this is what we have to prepare. So we know that's an important game for us, especially in this part of the season. And this what we have to prepare.
On newly signed midfielder Gustav Berggren…
You can see that he is directly coaching his teammates in our small games, or in big games, 11 against 11 in our tactical points. So very smart, very smart guy on the field and from the tactical side, so that he's able to make the last step in our forward defending to be very aggressive, so that he's stepping out so not that he's going back, dropping back and to look and only to shift in some moments. No, he wants to play very aggressive. He’s looking for the next contact. He's looking for the next duel. And on top what we have seen in the games, that he has the confidence with the ball, especially in small spaces, as a six, as a eight, in small spaces to turn to play forward, to find the red zone, to play in the center or through the center. So this is what we have seen. But this is not now a biggest surprise to us, because we have seen him a lot of times in the games in his last club, so now he's here, and we are very happy that we can start now our work together.
On Columbus…
Everyone knows in this country how they are playing and with a clear style. What I said, especially with the ball, a lot of players that are able to read the situations with the first touch, with the second touch, very connected with the ball, very close to the net. We have to play very aggressive at the end. So we analyze all the games, but we know that we analyze also our games last season, and especially in the playoffs. So we have to prepare our style of play to be very aggressive against them. But of course, you will also have some phases in the game where you can't press, and then you have to control also the phase, or the situation in the game when you maybe don't have the ball, and then to find the right moment where you start to press, but on the other side, when you are only looking. And 90% 95% only to look okay what you have to do against the ball. I think that's also a big mistake, especially against these teams. When they are so good with the ball, maybe they don't also not like too much than when they have to play against the ball. So I think we need also solutions with the ball, and not only to prepare everything against the ball.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Gustav Berggren
On thoughts on Major League Soccer…
I have been following the team since last summer, so seen a lot of games. It's an interesting league. A lot of good players. I'm looking forward to go on the pitch and seeing what I can do.
On playing with fellow Swedish players Emil Forsberg and Noah Eile…
It's very helpful, especially now in the beginning, to adapt with everything. So, it's nice to speak Swedish. And yeah, it helped a lot and also it's two good guys, so I'm happy for that.
On mindset…
It's a crucial stage now at the season. So, I will try and come to bring a lot of energy on the pitch. Outside the pitch, get to know my teammates, and I will do my best for us, the team, to take us to playoffs and from there everything can happen.