Yesterday, we bought you the images from this #NewYorkRedBulls presser.
Below are quotes from yesterday’s media availability with Head Coach Gerhard Struber and midfielder Cameron Harper.
From NEW YORK RED BULLS, HEAD COACH GERHARD STRUBER
On adjusting from last week’s match in Orlando…
Yeah of course, we were very disappointed after this game. It was not clinical enough, it was not with the desire that we want. It was, with the boys, a critical confrontation and they realize that we have to be in this moment sharper. I think this is the big mission on Saturday that we use our chances. I think the chances are coming on Saturday, this is crystal clear, but we have to use it and in this direction. We have to do to execute this on a final way of success. And I think this is my big expectation on Saturday against Nashville - that we are much cleaner in this moment and with much more determination.
On starting last match with two strikers…
Yes, of course, I think maybe bringing more numbers in the opponent's box is always the higher chance to score. I like to play with two strikers, but it also depends on which one is available which one is a good fit together, but I think in this season, we are very flexible with a high variability with the shape. We can play in different systems and yeah, this makes us hopefully unpredictable, but of course we have right now enough strikers and by now we should play in the next time with two strikers.
On the home opener…
Yeah, on Saturday, we want to bring a big power in this game. A good spirit a good energy, and every single player should leave everything on the field. I think this is so, the basement for success and this is my my expectation. I think maybe we can build our foundation, our typical game of football, then it's difficult sometimes, and on the same time, we expect the team to have peak power in transition moments. This means for us they will stay maybe also deep in our block. We need patience in this game. To handle moments, maybe they are not too easy in a game. That we are caught again and again against them with a good possession game and also with a good transition game. And this means in the end, a good performance and a great result to give us confidence. This give us the conviction. This is of course, important that we want to show this but, first of all, it's important that we have a big focus in our performance. This is what can be planned. I think the result is not so easy to plan, but the performance I think is in our hand and this is what we can plan and in this direction. We give a lot of power.
NEW YORK RED BULLS MIDFIELDER CAMERON HARPER
On the offseason and what he did to improve…
Offseason was good. It was a lot, I was still recovering from my injury in Montreal last year. It kept me out for a while. It was a left quad tear that took around, I was hoping to maybe back by sometime in the playoffs, but that wasn't the case. Unfortunately. A lot of time was spent seeing some family you know, again, went back home to California see my mom, my dad, my siblings and then go see some family in Scotland as well. And then just recovering, heal up and just kind of take some time off.
On playing right back last weekend…
Yeah, it's not too different. For me. I think it was something that I worked on a good amount last year, I think when I broke into the team, and a breaking in as a wingback. And you know, it's fun it is to be able to do the offensive stuff. You know, you have to do all of the defensive stuff in your locker if you want to play wing-back, and that's something I really had to work on and just stay mentally sharp and in moments where you can get picked off. If you're not focused. And I think it's just kind of taken a little bit of an adaptation to get there and I think last year I was lucky enough to play there and I'm ready to play whatever position whenever and the gaffer put me there against Montreal and I just tried to repay him by you know, showing him, the trust he had to me I he can trust me again and whenever he needs me he can put me wherever he wherever he needs and just tried to do my best the same in Orlando and thought I did alright.
On how he can help the attacking players…
You know, I think last year that was something that I was able to contribute to the team a little bit when I played wingback I was able to kind of contribute some goals and assists and kind of offer a different variety in an attack. I think, offer some things that not everyone is able to offer. I think also some things that maybe I should improve on, but I think in terms of offense, offensively, I think I'm good one v one. I think I'm someone who can create chances out of out of nothing and I think I need to kind of get the same mindset where you know, I need to be aggressive and confident in my attacking ability. You know, I'm, I got here to this position today with my ability on the ball and off the ball so I think it's something I got to trust whenever I can.