NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

August 31, 2024

Sandro Schwarz

Press Conference

Philadelphia 2, New York Red Bulls 0

Q. Tough loss tonight. The first at home. What was missing from your side to try to not just find the win tonight but that go-ahead goal to try to find that momentum and find yourself back in the match?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, I think the momentum is a key word today. First of all, it was not good enough in our defense behavior all together, all together especially in these two goals which we concede in these moments. After that, we showed the direction, we had our situations and some unlucky moments, and after the halftime directly, also, the moments, then to come back in the game but in the end it was not good enough in our defense all together and in our intensity, and this is what we have to improve.

Q. It seems that the team was basically defensively didn't answer the bell at all. Is that a major concern, two games, first in Charlotte and now at home? Do you speak to the team after the game about how unacceptable their performance was?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, we talk every game after the game but it's not directly in the locker room that we are talking about tactical points. This is for tomorrow then in our training session and also in our video session, this is the main point for tomorrow. I think we had some problems today with some long balls from the opponent, especially then after winning ball, second ball, so many situations for Philly, especially before we concede these two goals, and this was not good enough that we were not compact enough in these moments and this is what we have to improve and directly to start our intensity to find all together the right moment, what I said.

Q. Early in the first half and actually throughout the first half it felt like John Tolkin was getting covered a lot by Philadelphia and feet like players on the wing, when they tried to cross the ball in, the Philadelphia Union were right there and getting to those long, high balls right away. The second half you guys were getting more chances and doing bet we are that. Can you talk about what changes you made at halftime, what tactical decisions were made to counter them and get you those chances on them?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: First of all, to be more active in our pressing, I think this is for us first of all the most important thing. After that, then, also, when we are in the final third of the opponent in their half, so we need a clear direction to the goal and especially also with our fullbacks and we had a lot of moments, we had also in the first half some moments our chances but the momentum today was on Philly's side and for sure we are very disappointed about that today.

Q. We saw Dylan Nealis come on in the second half and looked like Duncan might have taken a knock in the second half. Can you speak about that switch, how he's feeling and your thoughts on Duncan's performance today?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, Kyle Duncan, he made also the job like the whole team what I said, it was not only Kyle Duncan today but as a team, especially after these long balls, what we have to defend better in these moments and so then he got this injury and after that we took the decision to bring Dylan in and so we have to look now what was Kyle and so we will check him tomorrow and then we will see.

Q. The defensive play, the goalkeeper only made four saves. Would you address that? There's just got somebody to go tough to wrap your head around?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: For sure the ball is also a little bit frustrating in a lot of moments. Great saves from Blake, from the goalkeeper, and then unlucky moments, cross bar, these situations, and you need a goal to come back.

I'm sure when we score in some moments in the first half, and especially then in the second half, so then we are directly in the game but this was not for us then these moments and then it's difficult for transition moments. I think this is also what we have to be better in these -- our rest defense. This was let me know also some transition moments for Philly especially at the end, this is normal but this is also some key points the next week for Kansas City.

Q. The second time when you put Felipe, what are you trying to change?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, with the ball, these moments, the confidence which he has with the ball to find these moments and it's also then not so easy to come directly in after one training session yesterday with the whole team and then 2-0 for the opponent but this was our thought to bring him inside directly and that he can also very quick adapt our principles but he has the quality with the ball, especially, then also in small space, medium space to transfer situations and come vertical in the red zone, and this was the reason.

Q. On the 61st minute, you brought in Cory Burke. What did I want to see from Cory that you were not seeing from Dante?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Cory had a great training week and for sure we need him then as a substitution and he's very important. This was the reason today to give him more minutes on the field and to be more physical, to have more cross situation with our fullback or Cam Harper on the right side, and this was the reason that we bring Cory for the last 30 minutes.

Q. Pretty physical game tonight. You had a few choice words to some of the officiating, picking up a yellow card. What are your thoughts on the officiating on the night?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: For my yellow card, you mean? I don't want to talk now about that but I got the yellow card, and I will miss next week the match, I'm not sure.

But yeah, this is what we have to handle with our assistant coaches for the next week.

Q. I believe it was two posts, three cross bars tonight --

SANDRO SCHWARZ: A lot.

Q. Is that more of an execution problem or just luck?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: I think you need also some moments and with a little bit of luck, goalkeeper, Blake is a very good goalkeeper in this league and also what we need, create saves and some unlucky moments then and this was at the end that we didn't score.

Q. Will you be burning or throwing the goal posts in the Passaic River?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: What can I say now about that? FastScripts by ASAP Sports ...