From RBNY
News and Notes
• The Red Bulls have reached their first Eastern Conference Final since 2018. Head Coach Sandro Schwarz became the fourth coach in franchise history to lead the club to the Conference Final during their first season in charge.
• Forward Dante Vanzeir recorded a goal and an assist in New York’s 2-0 win over NYCFC. He has recorded three goal contributions in his last two matches.
• Midfielder Lewis Morgan has scored a goal in three of his last four matches at Orlando.
• Goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has recorded 16 saves and two shutouts during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, which ranks tied for second in both of these categories.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On Orlando City SC…
They played very well, especially the last part of the season, since summer, after the Leagues Cup. They won a lot of games in the playoffs. So there's a very good team in defense and also in the offense behavior. We analyzed a lot of games, also our two games when we played against the Orlando on the road and in our home stadium. So we have to be ready. We have to be ready in our intensity, in our energy level, in our mentality as well on Saturday, and then also for our defense behavior and offense behavior. It's very important and also to be very aggressive and to play very, very clean, very, very clean, to play in our transitions, in our ball position moments, to create our moments.
On being road warriors in the playoffs…
Every result, every positive result gives you a confidence in self, confidence in your quality and in the preparation in every training session, for sure. But when it's kickoff on Saturday, you have to show it directly, immediately in every situation in the new game. So that's the part, and we are in a very good spot. Training session are very well, but this is what we have to show on Saturday in our Eastern Conference Final.
New York Red Bulls Midfielder Lewis Morgan
On team’s confidence going into the matchup…
Confidence is massive. Obviously. I think winning breeds confidence, and we’ve stepped up to the challenge. In the playoffs, we were written off against Columbus and beat them twice, and then we went to our biggest rivals, or one of our biggest rivals in their home stadium and knock them off as well. So confidence couldn’t be higher. Yeah, there's been lots of ups and downs. Of course, we didn't end the season the regular season that we wanted to, but I think we've embraced the fact that it's a new competition, and the group's galvanized, and it looks like we've got a second wind at the very right time.
On Sandro Schwarz and the coaching staff…
The coaching staff have been brilliant. I think we've set up very well against Columbus and New York so far in terms of the tactical plan, and the biggest testament I can give them is that every single player knows exactly what is expected of them and what they need to do when they go in the pitch. There's not really any doubts in our mind about what's expected of us. And I think we're really, really well drilled at the moment. And obviously that comes down to the coaching staff and their preparation, and all the players are bought in. Of course, when you start the playoffs like we did against a really good opponent, and getting the wins and the performances that builds that confidence in the system and the tactical stuff that the coaches are doing.