NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 27, 2022

Gerhard Struber

Press Conference

New York 3, Inter Miami 1

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think we are very, very happy. We have I think a long time behind us since June, and we celebrate a victory. We realize a victory what we deserve also in this direction, and I think we come through with many things in this game. We was behind and I have the feeling my boys are ready. I can never feel we struggle because we were very discipline in our match play. And of course the red card help us a little bit to come in in those moments, and this time, we can see already we use moments in possession in a very successful direction. I think especially our equalizer, the one v one, we show we can play against the long ball very successful.

And in the end, the second goal was also very interesting how we create, also, the situation, and the second ball fight, we come in the penalty, and I think this also is a solution or can help us in some moments to bring an opponent down. I think, yeah, we deserve this win. It was necessary to win at home. I'm very happy for the fans, for my boys, that we can celebrate together a win. We left everything on the field. I can see a big commitment from my boys today, and yeah, I think it was the first step in a better direction, also, at home.

Q. You mentioned your team did well against the low back which has traditionally been an issue at home, and also against ten, which sometimes can be more difficult for a team to face. What was the difference in getting those goals for your team against those circumstances today?

GERHARD STRUBER: First of all, we find I think a good position in possession in the overload moments. I think especially our wing backs, sometimes in wide areas or sometimes wing backs are inside with the ten -- or Cristian, they come in the right areas, and they came out and handled I think the different moves, and especially I think in the last line, a right moment and a good connection with the strike and good forward runs.

Of course, I think the different moves, especially Lewis Morgan and how he create the situation with his goal, he comes inside and he good forward run. Also, I think that this went a little bit between the sixes and the center backs from them, yeah, and this was sometimes a big issue or a big challenge for them; that they realize which player is my reference point. I think in this direction, we find today a good setup.

Yeah, we play sometimes one, two, touch football, and especially against a team like Miami, not easy. The second goal and on the same time, also it's important when you play against Pozuelo, you saw a very high quality, they bring on that moment a very high level in defending moments and rest defense moments.

We leave so many areas also defending some balls in a very good way. Yeah, we could say today we deserve to be in more directions and we was I think in all four phases today, and better than Miami and yeah, we happy. We deserved that.

Q. Could you talk about Daniel's distribution coming into the season, kind of his weaknesses, since he's gotten the starts, he's looked very much more comfortable on the ball, and you could see that in kind of the first ball that was called off-side. Could you tell what he's improved?

GERHARD STRUBER: First of all, he's a very intelligent boy. From the field and also his football intelligence, and he knows exactly I think what we want from him and how our football works. What he can think, his transition thinking, and also that he's a player, he step out in the right moment with a good anticipation, and then he realize, also, in forward actions, to find good slots, to find not always the next line. Find also the line behind with good forward passes and good passes line the last line.

Yeah, I think he has a good orientation on the field, a good anticipation, and his decision-making is on a high level about his orientation. I think this helps him, and he step in the last few months, deep in our football principles and he knows exactly what I expect from a six.

Yeah, right now, he executed and showed me in his game time very good, steady performances on a very, very good level.

Q. Are there any updates with Aaron Long after he came off?

GERHARD STRUBER: Right now I have not a clear picture what's going on, but he feels a little bit around his Achilles, pain. We have to look clear and find a clear picture of what's going on. I think for the Montréal, it looks not super sexy at the moment.

Q. There were a lot of big referee decisions today. What did you take of the red card to Pozuelo and the second to Kyle?

GERHARD STRUBER: For my view, it was a very clear red card. It was open against his chest. I think this was in my world a clear red card, and also the yellows for Kyle, it's hard -- and then he cannot go back. This was a hard decision, but we have to accept that.

I think today, we can see everything, fight for the playoffs, and in this direction, we can see many aggressive moments. Also, I think today, a completely different Miami team. I look back the last year, how they play and how they play in certain situation, I must say a big respect. They make a great chop with this team in a very successful direction and it was very definitely today to beat them. We had to go in our absolutely limit today.

Q. After Miami went down to ten, it looked like you were going to sub in Lidas (ph) around 35th; he put his jersey on. Can you go over that decision of not putting him in, and obviously you wanted to get him in at the end of the game but time ran out.

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think of course, I think if we went with a different striker, a different weapon on the field, this was also my plan.

On the same time, I realize also in set pieces, he's not hundred percent in our world. I think we work in this direction with him, this morning and yesterday with him, a bigger content of football principles and especially I think the last trainings help that he has the right on boarding in our world.

But I think we have to give him a little bit more time that he's in the end a player when he come on the field, he had as a big effect and big level today. I would like to bring him in but in the end, the time fly away.

I think we work with him the next few weeks in a very good way, and he shows me in the trainings, interest in power and interest in abilities, and I think, yeah, maybe Montreal, we will see what's going on in the next home game, we have fresh legs on the field and he may be a possible starter.

Q. What was the message in the locker room to your team just now? You had a pen; were you writing something on the board, and what is the mindset going into the Montréal game?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think one more time, it's a big commitment from the boys and the coaching team. I think when we are very close together in our world of football, that always we celebrate success.

Especially yesterday, we go in the hotel and we stick together what we do on away games. We find the same setup like what we did in away games -- a little bit more time together and we create from yesterday for a good atmosphere today, and everybody was on the same page from the first second to the last second.

Of course the game always give us some questions, especially with the red card. But on the same time, we have to use the moment, yeah, and my team realize that today in what direction.

It was a big victory, and also, they show in all four phases today, our fans, and also ourselves, that we are ready to come in possession in good moments and find good solutions to score. I think also is my feeling that right now, my feeling is that many, many shots on target and on the goal, and in many moments, we have to create the victory. Also in the end what we can see, Carlos, how he was important for us, especially in the over time and he save two outstanding balls from them.

I think you need everyone, every single player, and today, my boys showed me that. FastScripts by ASAP Sports ...