NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 3, 2021

Gerhard Struber

Press Conference

New York Red Bulls 0, Atlanta United 0

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think big compliment for my boys and also for my coaching. They made today a great job. We dominated the game from the first second in all phases of the game. Transition, crossing, everything go correctly in this way, what we prepared the boys yesterday in the training with our match plan.

And I think the play, the actions, yeah, the execution in the end was completely misdirection what we want in the end. I think we have to be critical with our self, especially how we handled in the moment, chances, this is in the end I think not enough. I think we have to win this game clear, especially when, look, now in the expected goal race, we dominated the game from chances and also from the expected goals, and this means we have to score.

I think this today, the only -- the only point I think what we have to improve, all the other things go absolutely this direction what we want.

THE MODERATOR: New York can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a draw against Nashville on Sunday, and in five games that Atlanta has come to RBA, they have not scored a single goal, and we are 4-0-1 against them when they come to RBA.

Q. Obviously big story before the game was you being suspended and your assistants, Bernd Eibler and Bradley Carnell taking over. Curious how much preparation or how much discussion you had with them about how to manage the game and whether you noticed any differences in your team's play with the different set up on the bench today.

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think we go yesterday in a very good preparation. We have a big attention and focus on this game and in the training yesterday, I think everyone knows what is the task today, and I think Bernd and Bradley made a very good coaching job in-game, and I think, yeah, I think everything go in the right way.

Today was not easy for me. I am not allowed to take influence in the game, and I think this was a special moment for me, yeah, that I have no chance to communicate with my team and my staff. Yeah, but this is the rule, and we have to accept that.

Q. So as was pointed out, Atlanta has never scored a goal at Red Bull Arena and this particular version of their squad has one of best strikers in the MLS, Joseph Martinez. What was the key to keeping him off the board tonight?

GERHARD STRUBER: Our identity, I think our special style of play makes I think kill every hope and every chance of a development in the game from Atlanta.

I think we have so a good staggering against the ball, and also our rest defense kill every moment, and I think this is exactly what we want today. My boys, yeah, made a very good job in this direction, and also we find good transitions on the ball for our side.

I think everything what we speak yesterday, we celebrate to the on a very high level. In the end, yes, we don't score, and this makes me unhappy and I feel sorry for my boys in the end that we have not three points in our hand.

Q. Let's talk about that unhappiness, knowing that your team, basically threw everything at Atlanta but the kitchen sink but you still wind up with a goal-less draw. You said the team wasn't clean on the final third. Was that based on team's misdirection of trying to get the goal in, or was it more Atlanta shutting the door at the right time keeping you off the scoreboard? I want to hear your thoughts on that subject.

GERHARD STRUBER: I think first of all, we create so many good moments from the right side with many cross-balls and I think in some moments in the first half, we have not always maybe the right numbers in the box, and also the desire and the determination in these moments was not always from the timing in the best way.

But I think when we look in the second half, we have two big ones, and I think we have to score in these moments. Yeah, we make so many things in a very, very good way, and we have so much pressure on the opponent's box and also in the box. I think in these moments, we need the balance to score, and also the determination, and I miss that today. This is in the end a topic of our end product and this was not 100 percent sexy, and I think we have to speak critically in that direction. This is I think a big thing what we have to improve, especially when we go in the playoffs, yeah, and I think this is our topic at the moment, and we have to bring this in a better way.

Q. Is this the best you've seen of Caden Clark? I know he didn't convert or when he had that opportunity to put the ball in the net, it got wiped out for off-side. Is this the best you have seen Caden Clark after the appendectomy surgery that he had to have?

GERHARD STRUBER: Of course, yes. I think Caden is back. We can see this today. He create a very good performance with very good passes with good one-one situations. Yeah, he use his technical skills. He use his orientation and he was also ready against the ball to work with the boys together.

And I think, yeah, we can see he make a very good step to help the team in a good direction, and he was also very dangerous when he come in the opponent's box, yeah. This is what we want from him. He has the talent for that, and yeah, I think he's on a very good way.

Q. My question is about the substitute situation tonight. The coaches in your stead were hesitant to make subs and the first one came on in the 80th minute. Wanted to get your thought on that. I know you had no influence on the game but your thoughts on bringing on Daniel Royer and making two subs in the last ten minutes trying to get fresh legs out there. Should that have been done a little sooner? What do you think?

GERHARD STRUBER: I have a big trust in my coaching team and I think they make good subs, and they have also from the timeline, I think we can always speak a little bit about the situation with subs, also. Today I think they handled this in a good way and a good direction.

Q. Obviously some ceremonies after the game and before the game, honoring the TV team and the equipment manager, Fernando Ruiz getting a sendoff. Your thoughts how important those figures are to the team and the importance of traditions and maintaining some of the long-term figures at the club like that?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, we know that Fernando has a big history in this club. He is not only equipment. He is a legend and yeah, and I have the chance to work with him one season.

Yeah, right now we have also a very good relationship together, and I love it to speak with him about old stories with this club, and he is always a very, very good optimistic mindset on my -- on my side, and I think I will miss the time with him when he is not more here but yeah, we have to respect he's in the age he deserve more time for himself and for his family and I wish him all the best and that he is healthy and can enjoy the time with his family but I think the gap right now without him is very big. It's not only from the work flow and from his work output, it's also a big human that we miss.

Q. What's worse, managing in your technical area or not managing in the sky box?

GERHARD STRUBER: I think the most difficult topic is when you don't can help the boys, and I think today, I hope I have never again the same situation like today, and I will -- yeah, comeback very soon to my boys in the coaching zone and will help, and we have a big mission on Sunday.