After training at Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J. on Wednesday, head coach Sandro Schwarz and defender Noah Eile spoke with the media.
News and Notes
• New York have posted a 2-1-2 mark in franchise history in matches at Providence Park.
• The Red Bulls have also posted a 2-1-2 mark against Western Conference opposition this season.
• Captain Emil Forsberg has recorded seven goal contributions in five matches against Western Conference opponents this season.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On Portland Timbers…
First of all, it's a long trip, so that's the reason why we are traveling tomorrow, two days before the game. What we have seen from Portland the last games which we analyzed, they play two structures. So one structure with three center backs, another structure is back four, and with a clear philosophy against the ball, with a clear identity with the ball and also with a lot of good individual players, especially in their transition moments, with a lot of speed in their forward line. So we have to be very aggressive. We have to have the right focus, the right concentration, to read these moments, when they pass deep. On the other side, we have to create our moments, especially with the ball, to play very clean, very simple, with a clear direction. And now it's the game on the road. We know our story. This is what we have to be very open about that as well. We know the story in that season but now it's the moment, okay after this international break to be ready, and it's doesn't matter if we are playing at home or on the road. We have five games to go and now directly with a good performance, and then to do everything to get these three points.
On finding the scoresheet…
I would say first of all, to have to create our basic behavior on the road, that's important, and to play very aggressive, very intensive against the ball. This is what we did very well the last couple of weeks. But of course, then to create our moments. So we had a lot of chances to win the game against Columbus. We had a lot of chances to win the game in Charlotte and that's always to believe in our quality to create our chances and that we are always able to score. I think that's the most part. That's the main part, most important part for us, and not to think too much about how many minutes we didn't score. So we have to believe, and I would be more nervous, to be honest, when we don't create chances. So we had a lot of chances, and of course, and in our training session, we practiced a lot in the final third to have our runs, our patterns, but at the end, it's matchday. And we have to see, and we have to show, then our quality, but I'm pretty sure that we have the quality to score. But first of all, we have to play very aggressive against the ball. This is necessary, especially on Saturday.
On going against Portland goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau…
First of all, we have to create the chances. So I'm not sure that the goalkeeper is involved. Then in these moments, how we want to create the chances? And of course, and then it's always the same when you have one against one situation, or top of the box, when you want to take the shot then with the whole confidence. That's always the same with our strikers, with our wingers, with our six eight positions, this is what we need, and we have a lot of respect for Portland and also for the goalkeeper, and especially not only in his behavior against the ball, also when he has the ball with long passes directly behind the defense line. And this is what we analyzed. But at the end, our confidence is important, and first of all to create our chance, our moments on the road.
New York Red Bulls Defender Noah Eile
On teamwork…
Yeah, I think they have been quite solid the last couple of games. I think the key is not conceding too many chances. I think that is, of course, the best way to do it. If you want your goalkeeper to save as well when they get a chance, that's ideal. However, if you can keep them from getting as many chances as possible, that is the key. And I think, yeah, we've been good at doing that for the most part this season. I feel it's been a little part of the summer; we're a bit lost, and then I think we found it again. So that is something we need to keep working on, because that is the foundation of our game, the defending part.
On playing in Portland….
Ah, no, of course, the challenge, like every game in this league, is very tough. And what would you say about the distance? And there's a way that's not something we can affect, and we can do something about. So I think it's just about accepting that and seeing it as an opportunity. If you think of it as a challenge, then you're going to wear yourself down. So we have to think about it as an opportunity, like you said, we have a place where maybe other players will get a chance to play, instead, then they will have to use the opportunity to play well.