After training at Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J. on Thursday, head coach Sandro Schwarz spoke with the media prior to New York’s MLS regular season match against CF Montreal on Saturday.
News and Notes
• The Red Bulls have posted a 2-1-2 mark in their last five MLS matches against CF Montreal, including two results earned in their last three trips to Stade Saputo.
• Captain Emil Forsberg has scored 19 MLS goals in his first two seasons with the club and is one shy of tying Clint Mathis for the most goals scored by a midfielder in their first two seasons with the club.
• Midfielder Wiki Carmona has recorded two goals in his last three matches against CF Montreal.
• Defender Noah Eile scored his first career MLS goal in the last match against CF Montreal on April 26 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, which was the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On Montreal…
Yes, it's a very important game, 100% on Saturday in Montreal, and our focus is clear: the quality and performance that we want to show on Saturday. And of course, it's very important. And also, when you are playing very well, when you are playing very intensely, then you want the result in the form of three points. So, it's very important to have a clear focus and concentration on our identity. And of course, the clear, clear focus, clear concentration of the result as well.
On mental preparedness and pressure…
No, 100% that's a big deal, of course, and it's good also to feel the pressure, to be honest, because that's professional sports. It's not semi-professional, professional sport. And so we prepare everything. And of course, it was clear focus and clear concentration in our training session. Of course, after the Portland game, especially after this result, it's not the best atmosphere with everyone not laughing here, but that's normal. That's okay. You have to see the difference between a losing game and a winning game, and we feel this as well; it's a good thing. And now we will see if we can handle the pressure on Saturday, of course, that's at the end. We can talk a lot at the press conference. We can talk a lot in video meetings, on the training pitch, but when it kicks off, then you have to show the intensity and quality with the ball in a clear direction. That's every time the answer is what you can give on the field, and not to talk too much about before the game.