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2026 Red Bull New York Media Day Quotes and Audio
Sound files and transcriptions from 2026 Red Bull New York Media Day with Head Coach Michael Bradley, Cade Cowell, Emil Forsberg, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Julian Hall, Justin Che, Ethan Horvath, Robert Voloder, Nehuen Benedetti and Jorge Ruvalcaba.
Red Bull New York Head Coach Michael Bradley
On team identity...
The expectations are that we step on the field every single weekend and go for it — go after the opponent, play our football, put the game on our terms, and compete like crazy until the final whistle blows.
On new additions Cade Cowell and Jorge Ruvalcaba...
Cade and Jorge have come in and established themselves really well. Their speed, their ability to dribble, to put opposing defenses on their heels — they fit who we want to be in every way.
On player mentality...
If we create the right mentality and identity every single week, the results will come. The focus is on one game at a time, 34 times over.
Red Bull New York Winger Cade Cowell
On building chemistry with attacking counterparts…
It's a very new group, and I'm just getting to meet Jorge (Ruvalcaba) and (Eric Maxim) Choupo Moting and everybody, and I think we've done really well with how we've connected and built really good chemistry, and I think we'll just keep getting better with it as well.
On choosing to sign with New York…
When Red Bull reached out I was very excited. Obviously, they're known for being a very fast transitional team. And for me, I like to play very fast. And obviously, being a forward, you couldn't be any more excited to be anywhere else in MLS. So I'm very excited to be here, obviously, with Michael (Bradley) being here as well, that was a big part of it as well. I think I can learn a lot from him and his playing style. And I think it's going to fit me perfectly.
On his play style…
I would say I'm very fast player. I like to attack a lot and just be as dangerous as possible. And I hope that excites the fans. And I hope the team as much as I can.
Red Bull New York Midfielder Emil Forsberg
On feeling going into the season…
I’m just honestly enjoying myself right now. Just being able to be on the pitch everyday,
having fun with my teammates. That’s why I go to training everyday just to have fun and
to perform. It’s going to be an exciting year. A lot of new faces for us, a new coach. Like
I said, these five weeks have been very good for us. I think it’s been very exciting
to see the young guys, the new guys coming in, with Michael and his ideas, so the
performance level and the level of how we have to perform every game has to be higher
this season and that’s what we’re going to demand from each other. So we go on Saturday
and I can’t wait.
On new teammates…
The intensity, the trainings, the video sessions have been very
good because we have ideas from Michael we want to get into but I think it’s been
running smoothly, to be honest. I think it’s been going very well, everybody’s adapted in
a fantastic way. Everybody knows what we have to do to be a successful team so, like I
said the way we come together now these five weeks has been very good. I’m very
excited and also very excited for you fans to see the new team and what we can do.
On getting prepared mentally…
I’m a down-to-earth guy. I don’t overthink too much. I’m just trying to live in
the moment, believe in my qualities, and just enjoying every moment. I’ve been playing now professionally for I think almost 16-17 years so you always try to set the bar high in every way, the way you perform and also the way you perform in your head, mentally. So I always set the high standard but try to just be comfortable in myself.
Red Bull New York Forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
On being a leader…
We have a change team, like a lot of new young talented players with some new players with experience, and obviously Emil (Forsberg) and me, we have also special role, because we have a we have a certain experience, and I try to help all of the young kids, especially to lead the team. And also I know that I know my role. I need to help them. I try to score again. Of course, some goals, assist. But at the end of the day, the team performance is the most important, and we know that we can do better than last season, but there were already a lot of positive parts. I think we have to play more consistently
On goals for this season…
I have a certain age right now. But like I said, age is just a number, but what I learned during the years is to maintain my body, to stay fit, to eat well, to live good, and to take care of my body. And I feel like last season, I feel good. Personally, that's the first important thing. And then the next thing is, how do we create again a team. Or how do we create an atmosphere of hunger, I would say, of motivation for all of us to do better than last season and to achieve as much goals as possible, of course, first of all, to get to the playoffs. But we will do it step by step, game by game. That's the most important, and like I said, because if we start to play consistent, consistently good, I think we will have a great team.
On improving on the road this season…
At home it helps us, because we have our fans, and they help us a lot, also, they motivate us, but at the end of the day, it depends on us, and we want to play the same football at home as a way we have to get out of our head or forget the last season, because, like you said, the away run was not good at all. And we know that we can do much, much better. And we focus on that. We focus on our work. And we know that if all the 11 players who are on the field, and also the players who on the bench, who will maybe enter or however, or everyone has an impact, that we give our best, that we are 100% motivated, and that we really go game by game, that means it's not, it's not the right decision. I think to think like, oh in four weeks, we play against Miami the champion at the moment? No, no, we play next week against Orlando. We play after against New England, and it's game by game, different teams, different players. But we want to play our football. We want to show them that we play over and we don't have to adapt to the other team. And I think to come back on (Michael) Bradley, he found already the right words. He's clear in his in his speeches, he's clear in his ideas and the way he wants to play. And we have to give everything to show it at the end on the pitch.
Red Bull New York Forward Julian Hall
On personal expectations for this season…
Just contributing to the team. I mean, if that’s goals and assists, just working hard every day to make an impact in training, and then of course, with the first game coming up, I really want to prove to everyone that I’m willing to fight for the team and do whatever it takes. So just contributing to the team and having a good impact.
On new coach Michael Bradley…
I think you could tell when I walked in on the first day with the second team, you could tell he was a guy that was going to do everything. And him being a national team legend, coming in and really showing with the second team that he’s going to do whatever it takes. It’s something you don’t see a lot. So him now coming to the first is a really really big step for us, and he can help us a lot. And I think he’s going to try to bring that chemistry with the team, and the young guys coming up to the first team now. So it should be great.
On links to USMNT…
The goal is to always make it to the next level, to the senior team. That is definitely something I want to be a part of in the future. So you know, if that time comes, I’m going to wear it on my chest, and it’s going to be the best honor I can have.
Red Bull New York Defender Justin Che
On working with Head Coach Michael Bradley…
It’s a blessing to work with Michael. He’s taught us a lot of things, the style of football, to play aggressive with the ball, to attack and push the game forward. I think I, and the rest of the group, we definitely trust his plan and we’re excited for this upcoming season and to see how much our hard work in preseason will pay off.
On takeaways from Preseason training…
Preseason is mostly about going through those challenges. It’s important to make mistakes, or learning points, in Preseason so you can sharpen them and go over film and perfect them for the season. We have the first game coming this weekend, and my role as the player is just to play the way the coach wants me to play. Whatever I can do to help the team is what I’m going to do.
On why he joined the Red Bulls…
Everyone here knows Red Bull is a big club. Just the name alone carries weight.
Red Bull New York Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath
On getting ready mentally for a match…
To just remember why you’re doing this and why you’re playing the game.
On American Players who played in Europe coming back to the MLS…
It’s nice for guys who have left at such a young age to come back and see how far the league has really grown.
On Texas preseason camp…
It was good. We were just in Dallas and Houston for 10 days, so that was obviously very good for a 10-day training camp and three games. So you just have to not me but like the whole group, we just have to take advantage of that opportunity in those days to try to get on the same pace.]
Red Bull New York Defender Robert Voloder
On his playstyle…
I think a big part of my game that also fits our playing style like, I love, really, love to
have the ball. I don't always like the ball. I love the ball. So I think with the way we want
to play, I've fit into this system pretty well, and I'm also more excited to also showcase
that on the pitch in the stadium.
On Head Coach Michael Bradley…
His coaching style is very direct. I had a couple coaches in my life, and I think his way is
he's very honest about what he wants to get from his players. How awesome mentality
wise, he wants us to push along and also build a strong bonding, which I think, he's
doing a really good job of doing, like trying to help us with that. And I mean also
training sessions and also off the pitch, very good example of, yeah, a good coach. And
you kind of know that he also was a good player. So he brings that with him.
On Red Bull Style…
] I experienced it two years ago. Was very, very intense. I mean, it
was a good game, that's why I also remember it well, and also enjoyed being in that
stadium. And so I can't wait to go back on the field and call it my home. But it was an intense game, very driven, very, straightforward, with a plan. So that's what's going to happen again.
Red Bull New York Midfielder Nehuen Benedetti
On making it to the first team and working alongside Michael Bradley…
Playing alongside the first team will be something new, but I have great experience with
the coach since we both came from the second team. I know his ideas and what he is
expecting of me as a player so I’m not too worried it’s just a matter of working hard every
day and positive results will show.
On the idea of winning the MLS cup and his role in doing so…
Oh my it would be such a dream, and it would be something I love. It’s something that the
club is longing for. But we’re just getting started. I know that the team has the
intention to show up every day and give it our best in everything we do. Like I said, as a
result of us all putting in the hard work, then the good results will come. Personally, I am
looking forward to the season.
On his first impressions of the first team…
Everybody has been so welcoming. Outside the pitch we’re doing everything we can to
prepare and get ready. I expect to give it my all for this team a new team with new faces
but we’re working hard and in the most efficient way possible. Although we know the league has gotten more competitive, I’m confident we have great players to take on the challenge.
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