NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

March 9, 2024

Sandro Schwarz

Press Conference

New York Red Bulls 2, FC Dallas 1

Q. Wanted to talk about the attacking portion of the match because it seemed like your team was choosing the right moments to press on the attacking half, and if you could just expand on that a little bit.

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, in my opinion, the first half was, the defense, but most of the time, we had problems when we lose the ball. This was the problem, and especially after I think 20, 25 minutes, we controlled the game but then the original many changed of the game and especially second half.

We are very happy about the result, also for our supporters, but we have to improve for sure especially the second half, the last 15, 20 minutes, we were too passive and we didn't control the game and so many mistakes, and also, you lose with the ball. Then you lose a little confidence.

But yeah, this is the third game in the season and this is also a quality to win this game especially with this performance in the second half, after, I don't want to criticize too much. We are happy with these seven points the first three games but we have also to improve the second half.

Q. Could you have maybe drawn this up any better, both Emil and Lewis there?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, we want to change and Lewis played the first time now in the starting lineup. So after his injury, so this was also the reason for us. We spoke before the game, maybe after 60 minutes, I think the substitution was 70, 75 minutes like this, and then also, the last minutes that we have three centre-backs, it was Andrés, against this quality of talent and also the reason that we changed Lewis and Emil, also, in the last sequence of the game.

Q. FC Dallas's coach mentioned he felt like his team is very shy and grew into the game. From your perspective in that first half, what did you see that the team did right to gain the advantage?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: We controlled, what I said before at the beginning, it was good. Especially then, also, in our space behavior and ball position, we create situations. Then we play too complicated in the last half and also the first half, but we controlled more of the game, and also ourselves defensive behavior, we had some good moments after winning balls.

But this is what we missed in the second half. We have to play more forward, especially in transition moments, we scored after transition but I think it was a lot of space, also in the second half, to make the third goal, the fourth goal, by then, every time something happen. We concede the goal like a mistake and the free kick situation, and it's difficult, and it's difficult in order to change again the rhythm, and then it's important to play serious, to defend with the right mentality. This was very well, and also last week very well. This is the reason why we get today this important, important three points in the first home game and for the home club for the supporters.

Q. Anybody who was seen the first three games can see obviously that this offense flows very well through Emil force berg. Is it possible to understate his importance to this team and to this system, to this offense?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, he's very important for us, his quality and his experience. But to be honest, I was -- and not only Emil now, but the second half, I was not so satisfied with our offense behavior and also our built-up situation, and our space behavior and ball position.

But then, also to know that we don't need every weekend the best performance to get the results, this is the best message for the day. But we have also to prove should go and especially very simple, radical, and also with a clear direction to the opponent's goal, and this is what we missed in some situations today.

Q. Seemed like in the first half you were really urging Daniel and Frank to get the ball off their foot a little quicker and move fast in transition, and seemed like they improved a bit in the second half. Can you speak about the importance of those two players through transition?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, very important, very important to organize our organization and our defensive behavior, and that we are very compact, and also, when the opponents play sometimes the long ball, then it's very important with both six positions to come very close to our centre-backs to get the second ball. But also, we are in some situations where we can turn directly and to play forward, and this is, yeah -- but they are both players, very important. Good development the last weeks, and great mentality, both players.

Yeah, this is what we have to continue.

Q. Can you talk about this being your first match at home? What are your overall impressions of coaching in Red Bull Arena and the support?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, the weather was very well (Laughter).

No, it's great, the whole day was great. Also in the morning, I had to come and to go in the hotel and to feel them when they arrived here, the red carpet and the supporters, yeah, it was great to be here. Was very excited before the game and now I am very happy about the result that we all together get these three points. It's a good feeling to win. The quality for my life is better and for my family is better.

So, yeah, it was great to be here, and now we are looking forward now for the next home games in Red Bull Arena. Now we have a big challenge next week in Columbus.

Q. Three games and seven points, your team seems to be on a roll and now you have to get ready to take on Columbus. You talked a little bit about those mistakes that you said you were not very satisfied on. Have you spoken to the team about those mistakes --

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Come on, ten minutes after the game (Laughter). I do directly in the locker room and I'm talking about the mistakes, this could be not the best idea.

But you can -- we do this for sure tomorrow and also the following week. But not immediately after the game.

Q. Cory Burke was out for a little bit with an injury, came back, felt like he was a spark coming into the second half. What did you see from him that was an improvement? This is the first time out if I'm not mistaken.

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, he was injured the first two games, and he was sometimes in the training and the team training and when he was in the team training, he was also very active and good also in the key runs. I saw him today 20 minutes, 30 minutes, when he was on the pitch, and yeah, it was good performance.

This is also very important that he comes in the rhythm and every training session with the team. But this 30 minutes was a good performance.

Q. Talking about the free kick goal that Dallas scored, with your team up, Dallas had not had a shot on goal up until that point. It felt like at that moment, the frustration was getting to you but your team stayed composed and stayed strong. What does that say to you about the mentality of your team that they didn't let that shape the momentum of the game?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: First of all, when we got these free kick situation, it was a typical situation in the second half because we lost also very simple the ball, and the free kick situation comes. But then it's important that you have them the last minutes, the last 15 minutes, the confidence to defend very strong, and this was very good in some moments. We went a little bit too passive to be honest, so we can push up more our back four, and also to attack these center backs. This was not good enough.

But the mentality is great of the whole team. Every day in the training session, our facility from the whole staff is strong, and this has been also the reason why we now have our three points.

Q. Lewis and Emil, the way they have been able to gel so quickly with three games in and the ability to have Lewis play out wide and stretch the offense, stretch the plate, give you versatility. Just talk about that?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, he was a great quality in the deep runs, and it's a little bit different now to the week before because Dallas play with three center backs, and we need another space for Lewis, and this was the reason that he started and we play with one ten position and one striker. But this connection is important for us with Emil and with Lewis, but sometimes they have also to play more in a direction and also to play easily.

But Lewis, great after his injury, and we have to be careful. But this is also my experience when you've got this injury and you are out for such a long time, then the first games is very well, and then maybe sometimes then you have to be careful the next weeks about his load.