NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

July 17, 2022

Gerhard Struber

Press Conference

New York City FC 1, New York Red Bulls 0

Q. You guys seemed to have a lot of chances early on, you dominated the first half but you weren't able to get a goal. Was it something they were doing defensively, was it the lack of sharpness in the final third? What contributed to the fact that you were not able to finish the chances that you had?

GERHARD STRUBER: I think for us, I am with you, we dominated I think 50, 55 or 60 minutes in a very good direction, and we waste a lot today. I would say the staggering structure, the behavior in our football made so many moments click.

But I think the situation, especially when we speak about follow action after high ball -- I would say not always the right decision in the brain and also so not always on the right sides in the right moment. We see it was a good chop today in defense moments but I think in the first half, we missed to go on the lead, and I think in the end, this was a little bit a new situation that we invest in this direction so many things, and you have no benefits, then you come in special moments to think.

The moments how we think, I think especially after 55 minutes in the right way, and we miss a little bit to stay the concept to be ready for our game, and in the end, I think, yeah, it's very, very disappointed moment for me, for my coaching team and my players. We expect today a different result performance-wise. Investment, I would say we give everything today on the field but of course we could make one or other decision to drive clearer in the center line and be a little bit cleaner, then I think we could create better chances on a higher level to score. But now, yeah, it is what it is.

Q. I noticed that neither Barlow nor Klimala was in the starting lineup, was that a tactical decision or something else? There was not a lot of clinical finishing. Matter of fact, there was nothing at all. Was somebody missing during the first half?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think, of course, I think the boys today, they keep everything and also one or other moment to realize a goal. The setup was good.

And also, I think to play against with so mobile boys, like Omir Fernandez, Lewis Morgan and Luquinhas against players they have I think not a special good mobility or not strength in this direction, we look for center attacks from them, I think this was in this direction, this is what we could see also the first half in some moments very helpful for us to create something. But of course in the end, the big score moment was not -- we cannot see.

I think, yeah, we know after last week's that we have to do something this direction, of course. But at the moment, I have a group of high motivation players. They give everything, and also the subs when they come in, they really give everything for a good result. Yeah, it's the situation.

Q. Going back to the open cup game against NYC FC that game was a lot of stops, starts, fouls. This game, the first card came in the 43rd minute against them. Why do you think that is? Was there talk before the game to keep physicality down or was it how things rolled out today?

GERHARD STRUBER: I would say in both direction, you can see a good direction. I think everybody was in a good frame today. I think it was in many moments on what I expect in the MLS. I think I have to look one more time, the hand situation. I don't know right now what was that; there was one or other moment we could speak about the yellow. But I think this was in frame today and it was okay. The digression, nevertheless, was on a high level. But I think both teams has a good feeling. Has I think not overload situation this direction.

Q. Obviously mentioning Patryk Klimala, and Yearwood have not been in the team the last few weeks. Do these players not have your confidence any more and is there any way back into the team for them?

GERHARD STRUBER: Both players have my trust and my confidence. But also we have to look on the other players. This is not against Patryk Klimala or Yearwood. This is more at the moment for the setup.

And I think, yeah, this is the reality that I think when other players are growing and other players have a better output, especially in the last few weeks, and it's clear for me to make a fair decision, and we cannot always speak about the past and what was five, six months ago.

For me, it's important right now in the here and now, and in the here and now, I can see that some other players at the moment have a little bit the nose in front of them. I think this is an honest situation that I decide always in the end, hopefully for a good result and for a good performance. Today, the performance was okay, but the output -- we don't create the right output in the attacking areas and don't score goals at home, of course it's difficult.

Q. What's your thoughts going forward as you get ready to face Austin FC? They are a top team and going to be bringing the same sort of problems and set of issues for your squad as you go on the road. What are your thoughts going forward? How do you learn from this and try to build a positive result?

GERHARD STRUBER: I think the game today show us, you have to be ready over the whole game time also in every detail. And when we look how they score the goal, then I must say we have no pressure on the ball. This was very easy that he play a chip ball behind us and the setup in the end defending was not on this level what we can normally trust.

I think for us, it's very important. Of course we are looking forward. We create a good performance over a long game time today, and this give us the confidence and we look forward with the young group to be hungry, to be clear in our basics, and I think this is so maybe -- top in the basics, have a big concentration in this direction.

Of course, the date's painful. We lose the derby, but my boys has two more off and then we come back and then we bring a mindset in the brains what help us for the next big game, and we know, Austin is not the easy one. They are in the top in the table. They have especially at home, I think always success but we fly there and we will give everything and leave everything on the field again, with a good set up, I am 100 percent convinced we have the right mindset also in this game.

When we lose at home, it's not sexy, yeah, especially also for our fans today, and we have a lot of fans today in this stadium. They support us on a great level. I feel a little bit sad for them that we cannot create a win for them or a better result. But the group is young. The group is hungry. The group don't think so much about in two days about the derby. I know that we are looking forward with the very good feeling and then we go again, that's it, and we have no time for moaning or crying. It's not our reality in our world. We are looking forward with brave moments in the next game and with a good mindset.