NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

March 15, 2025

Sandro Schwarz

Press Conference

Orlando 2, New York Red Bulls 2

Q. The team came out start of the second half -- do you feel good about what the vibe was like?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: We analyzed -- some consequences, we need more deep runs and better box positions in the box, and this is what we did very well, especially beginning of the second half, I would say the first 20, 25 minutes.

But at the end, and this is what I don't like today to be honest, and I said this directly to our guys in the locker room, what I don't like is how we played the last ten minutes at the end.

So I would say most of the time we control the goals. We concede two goals very easy in an easy way, especially the second goal. But that we have to be happy at the end of this game with this point. That's, for me, not possible today to be honest.

Q. You mentioned it but just to go back to the second goal that you conceded what did you see there, especially from Edwards, and is that the danger of the high line there?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, for sure. This was the situation that we stay two deep in this moment with our left wingback but this was not only in this situation to be honest. We had also some moments in the first half when they attack.

I would say most of the situation, they attack on their left side with Angulo, and we had some moments where we were two deep in some situations with our center backs, with our six position, as well, and then it's difficult to make the highest pressure on the ball against the opponent.

This is what we analyzed in the halftime, but we controlled, I would say, also, the first half. We played very dominant. We had a lot of situations. We had a lot of moments around the opponent's box, but yeah, we concede easily the goal, as what I mentioned. But at the end, how we played the last ten minutes, to be honest, it's not good. This was not good today.

Q. With Raheem Edwards, his first start today, talk about his performance. Feels like one of the goals, he was far back and allowed them to stay on side and score that and a lot of times he was out of place. Talk about his performance and where you think it goes from here with him?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: This is my job to be honest to analyze the whole performance of Raheem, and when we are looking to the big picture of his performance, I would say he had also very, very good moments, especially in our final third, and he was in good moments in good positions, especially in the second half, and he had good chances, for sure.

But in this situation where we concede the second goal, we have to stay higher, the whole back five, back three in these moments, and this was a mistake that can happen. I would say, it's also not so easy without preseason. He came back end of, I would say, last two weeks in the preseason, and then it's not so easy directly to come in after four or five games now, and to adapt our style how we want it play.

But for this first game, I would say it was okay and but as a team, this is what we have to improve as a team and especially the last ten minutes, this is today, to be honest my point.

Q. When it hit the post at the end --

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, that was our idea. Last week, he played as a wingback, and today our idea was to have more speed in our offensive line, especially with Dennis, because he has the quality for deep runs in transition moments and also when we are dominant in the final third to find the gap to come between the lines, or sometimes to use the channel for deep runs and I would say did it well, very good moments, and especially in our offense.

We started our pressing with Choupo. For me Choupo was great today how he worked for the team in holding the ball and keeping the ball in a lot of moments. It was a top performance, and Dennis, as well.

This is what we need then, also, how we scored our second goal and to come on the first post or second post or penalty spot to stay there, and this was a good situation, and good run from Dennis in the box.

Q. Wanted to ask you on just the performance of Choupo who got the bowl but also on the defense, there was a bit of issues with the spacing with the center backs. Do you think that's more of growing pains because they need a little bit more communication at times to play together or is it just something that was a momentary lapse of concentration?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, this is the next step to be honest. That's the next step for us in our development when you have a lot of situations with the ball.

And then, I don't know, 60 percent like this in the first half and not to lows the control and not to lose the energy in your defensive behavior. How we concede the goal was a long ball behind our six position and our reaction was not quick enough to turn the moments in these transition moments. The second goal, this was then, I think it was more individual point than a tactical point to be honest.

But I don't have concerns about how we defend over the next weeks but we need our focus, we need our energy level but this is the next step when you want to play dominant with a lot of ball possession when you create moments in the final moment not to lose the energy, not to lose the intensity and not to lose the organization in your rest defense; and in this case, especially in the first half, they had had some moments and then beginning of the second half, I think this was the best period of the game from our side, I would say, the chances with box positions, and the last ten minutes -- and this is what I don't like today and I said this; that you have to be lucky for this point because Carlos saved them two or three moments.

This is what I don't like to have this feeling today because when you play 75 minutes, 80 minutes like this, what we did, sometimes you have to be satisfied with pun point but at the end you have to be lucky and this is what I don't like to be honest to have this feeling.

Q. You mentioned you didn't like the way the seam faded off in the last ten minutes. Is it because of all the new piece us and didn't have a decent -- some of the fans feel that for some reason you haven't played a complete game, so what do you say to those fans that feel with a way?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: I would say, normally I'm a positive guy. You know that. We have to learn from these situations. That's the key, and it's not -- I know it's very easy to sit here and talk about okay, great, reaction, after the first goal which we concede, this is very easy, and it's true.

Also it's true today that we had, also, especially the second half great reaction. We played dominant. But after the game, I'm thinking more about the last ten minutes, and that's not good for me, and also for my family today (laughs).

Q. I have a question regarding for the next match for Toronto. What do you think that must be different for the preparation to have a win in that match?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: So first of all, tomorrow, we analyze our game from today, and then we are looking on a day off, and tomorrow in the evening, some games of Toronto.

They played with three center backs most of the time, sometimes they build up with two center backs. This is what I know. And then we have a professional preparation during the next week to start on Tuesday to analyze Toronto, and then to prepare and then to be ready in our next home game against Toronto.

First of all, to think about, what do we need for getting three points, and this starts every time with the right intensity, with the right mentality, and then with our principles. And this is what we have to prepare.

But I don't have concerns now about how is the preparation now against Toronto.

Q. After all, and I seen in your body language and everything --

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Oh, you're analyzing my body language. That's great. What is in my body language today?

Q. You're always smiling, and I see you kind of like frustrated. You're feeling like you're winning a point or you're losing two?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Losing two.

Q. That's the way you feel?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah.

Q. Okay.

SANDRO SCHWARZ: This is very simple answer. And this is what I said after this question. It's very simple to say, okay, one point against Orlando, that's a great team, everything true.

But in this situation now, it's more my feeling when you ask maybe tomorrow morning, hopefully after a good night, maybe my answer would be another answer than we will see.

But now, at this moment, it's more the feeling that we lose two points.

But at the end, what I said -- sorry for my long answers today but at the end, it's also true, we have to be lucky. Because the last ten minutes we have to be happy that we are getting one point.

Q. Serge Ngoma made his return to the pitch. Talk about what you've seen from him in training, and do you see him as a key contributor going forward in the attack?

SANDRO SCHWARZ: Yeah, it's good to have him back. That's good for himself, first of all, and also for us, for the whole group, for the team. We need his quality and we need this quality consistently at the end without injury hopefully.

That's the key for Serge because he has high potential, especially in our offense, transition moments with his speed.

Yeah, he had a great week and then he played today, ten minutes, 15 minutes like this, and hopefully we can continue this now in every training session, each training session, and then to be ready for the next game.