NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 1, 2024

Sandro Schwarz

Press Conference

New York Red Bulls 1, Orlando City 0

Q. Since the Miami game, save for the derby, you've had many multiple-goal games and you've really not lost a game. What would you attribute that to?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: No, we analyzed the Miami game, especially the second half. The first half Miami was also very well.

Then after Miami, we had good game against New England. Very good fighting against D.C. United, and was not a good performance in the derby game in New York City.

But now in this week, great, especially today, I think we were dominant in our ball position and we find a lot of good moments in our buildup to come in the red zone, to come between the lines.

The only thing is that we can make more deep runs in the first half, and to create more situations. But the first half was very dominant, and the second half was a great fight, great spirit from the whole team with the supporters here in our stadium.

This is important for us and we have a clean sheet, first game with Aidan O'Connor this season. Great fight.

Two injuries our back four with Noah and JMI, but we will check them in the next days. But yeah, I'm very proud of the team. I'm very proud of the the supporters here because it was a very good week for all of us.

Q. It's not the first time we've seen the team have to see out a lead late in the game. Any comments on the maturity of the group to see out all three points tonight?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, what I said, we had some problems in the beginning especially with Muriel with his behavior in half space, but they have also a lot of quality and a lot of good individual players with the ball.

But I am proud that we have this fighting spirit, this mentality, and then clean sheet for Carlos. This is also very important for us; that we can win with one free kick situation, and this is good to see that. And to have this feeling, to create these moments, yeah, I'm very satisfied today.

Q. As you mentioned, it was Aidan O'Connor's MLS debut. Just want to know what were your thoughts on his performance and what went into the decision on his substitution?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, it was very simple, the decision, because it's the only center back on the bench, and because Andrés was also out for today, this game. And yeah, he made big steps in his individual development since the first day when he's with us in our training session, and it was good to see.

Then I think it was 20 minutes -- 25, 20, 15 minutes, and he made it very well. First couple of minutes when we played the back four as a right center back, and then later we changed then to the three center backs and he played very well.

Q. Just wanted to ask you your thoughts on team now being seven unbeaten. I know you don't like to look at the results --

SANDRO SCHWARZ: You know the answer.

Q. What are your thoughts on that? And also to add, JMI he's now adding goals and assists to his game. What does it mean to have him producing these kinds of numbers and be on the score sheet?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, don't forget without the preseason, it's normal, then, to come in the rhythm that it needs then also time for him individual. But now he's been a very good sport to join our attacking situations as a left fullback, which we need on the side; and also in this forward defending, this is what we need, and he made a good job this game and also the last games.

So it's good, and the free kick was top. This situation is important for us, the whole team, to get the result.

Yeah, I know this is now seven home games now. It's good. It's good to have this feeling in our stadium, to come here from our hotel with the bus and here to then in our locker room to have this atmosphere with our supporters and with our employees and with all the club here.

It's good now but now next week is a game on the road, and this is the next opportunity for us now to get these next three points.

Q. Speaking of next week, you're going against a very bad team, New England --

SANDRO SCHWARZ: It's not a bad team. It's not a bad team.

Q. They are at the bottom of the table. But how do you continue those good vibes going on the road, because as you know, going on the road is usually a tougher assignment than playing at home.

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, next week is a special game. We had this at the beginning against Miami, the same situation because of the national break. So some players, they will be with their national team.

So now is good to have the recovery the next days, and then we will train with a small group to keep the intensity in every training session and to be the focus in every meeting and to prepare very serious, very concentrate to the next game now in New England, and not to think or to look now every day on the table.

So it's a good team, very good team. Good, as well, individual players, especially Gil, ten position. So we have to be ready and we need a hundred percent every week, every day. So it starts on Tuesday. The next training session we need a hundred percent and when we get this hundred percent every day, we have chances for sure to win.

Q. Edelman, it seemed after he went away on national break took him a bit to find his form, but the past few games he's been consistently at a high level. Can you talk about where he got back to that form and where can he go in his development? It seems there's more to his game that can expand?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Danny Edelman, top. I agree with you, it's top how he played. The games, his performance and training session, his behavior, very professional and he wants to learn every day, and his improvement is a lot. We know, all of us know his quality, especially against the ball, and he can run. He's physically in a top spot.

So the next step is for sure then to find in small spaces, the right solution with the ball.

But in this case, he made, also, good steps and very important for us. Very important for us with his mentality, with his behavior, top, top, top, what he played.

Q. Congratulations for the victory. At the end of the game, what bothered you? Because I see you getting like crazy for something, especially, after Orlando tried to put the ball in the box, and you guys tried to reach out in there. What bothered you in the end?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, because we concede the goal in Orlando a few weeks ago, 1-1, I think also was in additional time in the last moments.

And then to keep the concentration, to keep our focus in every situation how we want to defend, but this was good. I think it was not biggest chance now for Orlando in the end of the game, and the whole team made a great job. And especially then with our three center backs in the box defending, because what we mentioned before the game a lot of cross-situations on the side and then they have the quality with the strikers, with their wingbacks, winger, ten position, with all these guys.

And we play now with a new structure -- or a new structure but with new players in this structure. At the end was Dylan, right center back; John, center back; and Aidan on the left center back, and how they defend us was very well.

Q. Carlos Coronel seemed to be favoring his shoulder, and he appeared to be calling for a substitution. It also seemed like he was favoring his shoulder in the game on Wednesday. Is there anything to that? How is he feeling after the game?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: No, today he is very satisfied because of the clean sheet. And he was after the game, a little bit angry, but it's what I said in the press conference to you. It's a good reaction to be angry when you concede a goal as a goalkeeper.

But today he is very satisfied and he's in a good mood. So we have to check but he will be now out because of the national team of Paraguay. So they are playing now in two weeks, I think they start the Cup.

So hopefully it's nothing now with his injury, but I think he can play for Paraguay.

Q. If I can ask you, obviously, if you don't want to talk about it, I understand, but Elias had another hell of a goal sadly wiped out because of foul call. Did you think it was a foul or not?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Which?

Q. When Manoel's goal got wiped out because the referee calls for the foul. It's up to you if you wish to answer.

SANDRO SCHWARZ: It's no foul. For me it wasn't, but okay; it was the decision of the referee. So if you ask me if it's a foul, then I say for me, it was not a foul.