From NYRB:
After training at Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, New Jersey, head coach Troy Lesesne and midfielder Peter Stroud spoke with the media prior to Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match against FC Cincinnati.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Troy Lesesne
On FC Cincinnati…
Yeah, I mean, I said this right after the match the other night. This is a team right now that is in great form, and I think that what they built over the last year and a half is incredibly impressive. So, Pat Noonan, someone that I have a tremendous amount of respect for and since he has gotten the job, I think he just has made that club into something completely different. So, we know we have to be at our best tomorrow night and one of the first things we have to do is make sure we are physically prepared. So, that is what Sunday and Monday have been, coupled with just trying to make some minor adjustments to try to take away some of things that they are great at, but we want to continue to focus on ourselves as well. I think we have done a good job of that in the last couple of weeks, and we are going to continue to try to focus on some of the things that we have done well and hopefully we can have a positive outcome.
On the challenges they present…
Yeah, I think there are similarities. There is no doubt about that. I think that the way that they go and approach the game against the ball, they try to make it incredibly difficult on you. They press and they win the ball high up the field, and they create chances that way, but the thing that Pat [Noonan] has added to this group, they have some very talented attacking players and I think that he’s bought them into the game in a lot of different ways. So, I think in all phases, they are going to be extremely well prepared and hopefully on our end we can take some of those things away.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Peter Stroud
On the match tomorrow night…
Yeah, obviously it is a Open Cup game. So those have a different feel, it is winner goes home, which gives us another opportunity to advance in another competition and it is a very important game for us. Obviously, the feeling is good right now. We are doing well, not to get too ahead of ourselves obviously, and just take it game-by-game, which is the most important thing at the moment, especially will all these games coming thick and fast. So, just another step in the journey right now and another, opportunity for us to keep improving and to get back on track, which is what we have done in the past week. But, we want to continue on that same pathway.
On what the team needs to do tomorrow…
I think right now, guys pulling for each other, you know, a team that is playing for each other, down a lot of guys, been down a lot of guys most of the year. I think there is a pretty good team spirit out there that you can tell, you know, celebrations, just a good aurora right now, guys that are hungry. Obviously, young which is guys trying to prove themselves and I think that all adds up, and I think it is crazy good, really good team culture that we have right now. We are continuing to cultivate that culture and grow that culture and I think that is what we are going to continue to do. We are going to try and do so typical Red Bull way and then obviously, just guys fighting for each other.