From New York Red Bulls:
New York Red Bulls Head of Sport Jochen Schneider
Opening Statement…
Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you very much for coming to Red Bull Arena. Thank you for joining us online. Let me please talk about the three announcements we made yesterday regarding Denis Hamlett, Troy Lesesne, and Zach Prince. We and Denis mutually agreed to part ways. Denis made a significant impact on our club since he joined in 2015. Starting as an assistant coach under Jesse Marsch, and then becoming the Sporting Director. It was an honor for me to work together with him in my role as part of the Red Bull Global soccer team, and then from July last year, with him as Sporting Director and me as Head of Sport. His insights and perspective were always important when making key decisions for the club's success. During the time Denis was here with the club, the club qualified every year for the playoffs. We thank Denis for all the work and the energy he put into our club. We want to wish him, his wife Jackie, and his two wonderful sons all the best for the future. I also want to thank Troy Lesesne. Troy joined us at the beginning of the 2022 season as an assistant coach under Gerhard Struber. When Gerhard left, he took over as Interim Head Coach, and that was under difficult circumstances. We went through the most difficult time in the history of the club. We had nine points after 11 games, and there were two options for the team. Option A was to give up, or Option B was to stand up and fight. Toy was able to bring the team together, the team and the staff. Both the staff at Melanie Lane and here at Red Bull Arena, and the team fought back. Being 33 games and 93 minutes out of a playoff spot, then in the final minute the team was there, that says a lot about the coaching staff, the players, and the whole club. This is in the DNA of this club. There's no quit here at Red Bull Arena. I'm really thankful for what Troy did here as an interim coach. I wish him and his family the best. Please let me also thank Zach Prince. Zach joined us from New Mexico and became Troy’s assistant. He supported the club in a fantastic way. We can only thank Zach for what he did for the New York Red Bulls. We want to wish him all the best for his future. We are proud of the run that we made. We have made it now 14 times in a row to the playoffs. But, please let me say this clearly. This is not good enough. We need to take the next step. And that's why we made these key decisions. That's why we agreed with Red Bull Soccer to invest in our team, and we want to reach the next level with our club. With that said, we are resetting on the sporting side and we felt it was the right decision. We are now starting the process to hire a new Head Coach and a new Sporting Director and hopefully we'll bring both jobs over the line by Christmas. Looking now into the 2024 season, we all agree that we have to improve the product on the pitch. We need to get better. I remember our great fans in the South Ward one day holding up a banner saying “just not good enough”. Sometimes fans have the best feeling for the situation. Looking back, the moment you see that, you think “I don’t really like that”. But I'm looking back now to say, they were completely right. We need to get better. We need to raise our standards. We need to ask for more. That's what I expect from our players. At the moment, we're having exit interviews. We started today and will continue tomorrow. I'm telling everybody, I want them to come back in better shape than last year. And then we need to have a fantastic preseason. It's our job to increase the quality of the roster. I'm looking forward to the 2024 season. Let me thank our fantastic fans for their support throughout the whole season. This was probably one of the most difficult seasons in club history. Let me also thank our staff here at Red Bull Arena, and our staff at Red Bull Training Facility in East Hanover. Let me also thank the leadership team, Marc [de Grandpré] for wonderful support. This was not an easy year. And finally, I would like to thank our colleagues at Red Bull Soccer International. Mario Gomez is here with us today, I'm very thankful for that. We are always especially thankful for their support. To Mario and his team, we really appreciate it, there could be no better support than Mario for us.
On the Red Bull way…
We have Red Bull on the shirt, and it should always look like Red Bull. It should never be boring, it should never be sitting back and waiting. We always want to be on the front foot being aggressive on the pitch. When you look at the data, our style is working in this league. Even when you look at this season, as I said in the last press conference, I'm not the biggest fan of expected goals, I wish they were actual goals. But in terms of expected goals, we were quite good. So we need to finish, we need to execute, and we need to finish the games. And we haven't, we haven't done that. Having said that, that also means that we can develop our own game. And when you look at another Red Bull club like Leipzig, when I was there from 2015-2019. The way this club has developed its game, in getting better players, bringing in new coaches with their own style, but always sticking to the Red Bull roots. This is the right way. So therefore yes, we want to work on our game. We need to be more attractive, we need to score more goals, it should be, even if we wear other shirts, you should always see, this is a Red Bull Team.
On what he has learned about the MLS during his first years…
It's an amazing league, the way the league is developing is fantastic. The global awareness of the league is increasing. For sure one player has a huge impact on that [Lionel Messi], no doubt about that, and we are really happy that he's in our league. We’re learning every day what kinds of players you need to perform in this league, to win games in this league, which kind of players are making the difference. That is very important in this league, to have these kinds of difference makers. We need to do our work, and identify and recruit these kind of players who are going to make a difference.
On the club’s search for a new head coach and sporting director…
We started the process yesterday afternoon to find the right head coach and sporting director. We have something in mind, what it should look like, the profile. But I would prefer to talk about that when we announce the new coach.
New York Red Bulls Captain Sean Nealis
On Tory Lesesne not returning for 2024…
We were informed yesterday about Troy being relieved. He did a great job for the guys. Whether that's on an individual level or a team level. He’s a great coach, great guy. I wish him the best in everything he does, I think they'll succeed wherever he goes. And I think all guys were grateful to play under him. But, you know, that's sports, things always change. But, like I said, wish him all the best in the future.
On his first season as captain…
Yeah, to start the year I don't think I was the best in that regard. But I'm learning and I think a lot of guys learned throughout the year’s ups and downs how to hold yourself accountable for these games. Early on in the year, we were kind of worried about external factors like VAR or referee decisions that didn't go our way instead of just being the best that we can be, the best that I can be, looking yourself in the mirror every day and going about that too. In regards to my leadership and Captain ability, I think we have to start to get stronger, especially myself.
On his future aspirations for the club…
I think personally on the team we want to win some trophies. That’s the main goal as a competitor and as a player. Your career is only so long, and you’re judged with how many trophies you win. That's a big point. That's why we play the game.
New York Red Bulls Defender Andres Reyes
On Tory Lesesne not returning for 2024…
First of all, I want to thank him. We learned so much and although the season was tough, we still want to thank him because we did get to the playoffs and unfortunately, although it didn't work out, we want to wish him the best.
On Playoffs…
The feeling was that we could have done better and could have gone a lot further. Everyone knows that. Personally, getting eliminated isn't enough so we'll do better and go further into the playoffs.
On comeback and new expectations…
To work hard and do it all. I agree that making it to the playoffs is not enough. We need to push harder and the newcomers and the vets. We're going to try and push everyone to do better and work harder next season.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Frankie Amaya
On the high points from this season to take forward to next season….
I think obviously it wasn't our best season. It started off on a low. We did not get a lot of points and did not get the results produced. Towards the end, that was a team that was supposed to be there. Efficient climb on a very good leve. We were playing good soccer, but I think it was a little bit too late for that. For me, I think where I did a really good job was getting more involved in the attack. I think having the goals for the team really helped us, and it helped me to develop more as a player.
On Troy Lesesne and Zach Prince leaving the club…
Yeah, I think they're both really good guys. Obviously I am a little upset. I've known Troy for almost two years now. I really respect him as a man because he was always honest and straightforward with me. And as a coach, he really helped excel the team at a low point. It was hard to come in and do what he did. It was a good time for him. Obviously just a little bit upset, but we move forward.
On what he would like to see in the next Head Coach…
I'm not really too sure. I've had a bunch of coaches over the years and they've all had a different idea. I think for me, as a player, I'm looking to adapt to whatever the coaches ask me to do. I think that's really the important thing. I'm more of a team player. I'm looking for what the team needs, and what the coach wants. I'm willing to do that, so I don't really know what the coach needs, but whoever the coach is, I'm here to work with them and work for the team as well.