NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 18, 2022

Gerhard Struber

Press Conference

New York Red Bull 2, Toronto FC 0

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think today we expect an open with high technical power and also with I think a very good strategy in possession and was not always easy to find, especially, the first half, good triggers and also the right distance for good pressing moments, for good high-pressing moments. Sometimes, especially the first half, the center line too quick (to) open, and we have not always pressure on the center backs. And then this give us in one or other moment, yeah, a little bit of a challenge.

But of course, I think that the situation that we score very quick gives everyone I think a very good feeling and was very good for the confidence. On the same time, we can see Carlos in the first half, saved a very important moment, very clear on a high level, and also the second half, again, he did it.

But in the second half, I think it was much better in our structure and our behavior to find better -- with more pressure on the center backs, and also we find very good moments on the center fine, that we can handle this a little bit better, with a little bit a difference with the sixes. It was good, and gives us many, many moments for good transitions, and I think this is what could make better, especially first half, second half. We have so many moments when we come in transitions, and we was not always clear to find, yeah, find the address, develop the counter and also to realize in the end the counter with the goal.

But over the whole thing, I can see the football, especially the second half, the principles was very, very good to see from the coaching side, can see the signature and style of play and also the right output. It was not easy today against Toronto. They have, I think especially playing against us in position, we can see how high is the power from them.

But I think we deserved to win. The clean sheet is also a very good feeling, especially when we look forward to the next games. It's a big week for us, and the game gives us I think, yeah, a right feeling, we bounce back from Charlotte, and we are right now I think one more time, yeah, in a good spot in the table and of course we have Wednesday, the next step in the Open Cup.

Q. In your own words, what changed in the game when Tom Barlow entered at halftime?

GERHARD STRUBER: How important is this for our style of play and also for our output when we have in the end a striker on the field, he is also away against the ball, give everything, left everything on the field, and he made a very good job for us. I think he made transition moments, and also against the ball, he was a monster. I think this is what we need.

Q. It looks like as a team, Toronto blew opportunities the first 20 minutes of the match but somehow Toronto got their sea legs in and making shots and run towards the defense but it was a game of pretty much slow control. Is that a concern going forward when you may face better teams that may not miss those opportunities that were presented to TFC?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yes, I think we can see, but I still speak a little bit more about the first 20 minutes. I think in these situations, where we create so many transition moments for us, I think the set that was top pressing, but the output was on the move but on the same time, I must say, we cannot be inefficient. This is I think the first thing. For me it's a big problem. I think we have to score more goals like that, and then we have a completely different picture.

But on the same time, it's not always going this direction what we want, and we have to be also in, I would say the last 20 minutes, in the first half that we find a little bit better set up in the center. We was sometimes not always close enough or we changed or come out or step out with the center backs on the tens.

So it's not always easy to find good pressure against them. But this was I think of course a little bit the problem and we was also a in this direction -- we get back on the field, I know this exactly and we have to improve also this direction. But one more time, again, we have to score quicker and have to be more efficiently in the first 20 minutes.

Q. Obviously you starred the game without Tom Barlow and you had Omir Fernandez and Lewis Morgan playing up top. Did you see what you wanted out of that arrangement in the first half and do you think it's something that you might do more and more often as the season goes on?

GERHARD STRUBER: I think it was a special situation. Patryk was suspended. Tom Barlow has a special week behind him, now twins. I think this makes everybody happy in the dressing room, but also he was not involved in many trainings time this week and has completely a different topic in the mind, and with a big understanding and for him. Yeah, proud parents right now.

But in the second half, we can see how important is the set up against the ball and how important is also Tom Barlow with his power against the ball. He was also improved in the second goal when Luka in the end he scored. He was on a very good level today, good power and good feeling in the back.

Yeah, I'm very happy with his set up and his performance. I think we have a good variability in our set up with each players who are starting and each players -- we have I think a very small roster, yeah, and of course the -- league is coming and we have something to do. The goals are very high.

Also, I think the expectation is growing, especially the last few weeks or last few months, and in this direction, also, I think it's not a disadvantage.

Q. As you alluded to before that you're in a good spot in the table, second in the east, is this confirmation that you thought how the team would perform off-season all since the start of training camp? You said the expectations will rise, especially the points will become a premium and you won at home, how do you feel about the squad going forward? Do you think you need to get those wins because things will get tight down the road? What's your assessment in your own words?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, in the last season, we have many, many moments with a big learning curb in many directions. We spoke many times about development process.

And of course my goal was in this season, we speak more about the output, and everyone realized our special -- during the winter, I cannot say this was a very successful winter. In the end we lose Morgan and with Luquinhas out getting players and other players getting big, big steps and I'm very, very happy right now with players on this level.

But then we speak about titles and more, then I think you have also to realize that you need in every position a competition between players. Right now, I have a big trust in my group and I have a feeling we can surprise in many directions.

But the group is very young and the group is, yeah, in many moments on a good level, and we grow, and we grow in a direction that it's not easy against us, handling our play, our structure, our strategy, our principles.

But yeah one more time, that's what we want, and I think our clubs and our fans, they want to realize in the end more like to be a playoff team. But I will always say, it's important for us to realize that with so young a group, at the same time, I also want more with my boys. The goals are on a high level. The expectations are growing, but I think we give the expectation, also the situation, right now, the right space and also the right frame. We are very focused and concentrated in every game, and stay very, very humble. I think this is -- with so a young group, very, very important that we think not right now, oh, title and everything. The goal is very clear; we realize the playoffs and in a good spot hopefully, and then we will see what's going on in the MLS Cup. Yeah, we have the feeling for more.

Q. There was a moment in the second half, a couple times late in the game, where you got into it a little bit with Carlos Saucedo and Michael Bradley, curious what happened there and if there was any kind of makeup before the game ended with you and Saucedo and the Bradleys?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, it was a little bit emotional feeling. It was an infight with the elbow with Lewis Morgan, and I have the feeling it was a little bit a bad moment against him. And especially key players, all my players, I have sometimes the feeling to protect us a little bit more, especially Luquinhas and Lewis, they can sometimes foul. This is very, very bad. And I would say I was also too much over with my emotion against Carlos, but I think this is sometimes the game and understand that.