NEW YORK RED BULLS MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 30, 2022

Gerhard Struber

Press Conference

New York Red Bull 2, Atlanta 1

GERHARD STRUBER: First of all, we are very, very happy that we changed the game, especially I think after the goal that we concede, I think the boys have the right mindset. Also the subs were coming, make I think a big difference in this game from the physical power from the 1-1 ability, and also the ability to score. I think this was very good to see.

Every sub, it's not easy maybe come in the game. I think it was similar systems, what comes together, and we have in the end we have so many one-one battles. And in the end, we can see also with the goalkeeper, we have sometimes problems to find the right moment to press.

And they switched the game and played many times or recycled the game many times -- from the left and the right side, and this was in the end after 30 minutes the reason that we changed the shape to go in 4-2-3-1 and we can see especially after that, we have, yeah, better distances; and we have with the tens I think more relevant points. It was easier, and in these moments, the six was higher and we have better influence to win balls and after that we control a little bit more the game.

I think second half, I would say yeah that we controlled many things but not always clear with the right decision. One more time, I think I would say especially after the goal that we conceded we are back and we fight, and to change the result.

And I think it's also development in the group that we can see right now, the young group, they have the feeling never give up, they have that feeling on the field until the last second. I feel this today and this makes me very happy from the coaching side that we have in the end so many players in the roster right now. We have Serge, very young player, 16 years old, comes in and he has a big impact in this game.

Yeah, I'm happy, but on the same time, we can see how important it is to win at the moment. The table is so close. I think you have to win the home games. You also have to pick up points away that you can stay in the end in the playoffs in a good spot.

We are happy but want more. We have the next game on Sunday in Kansas, one more time a very, very big challenge and one more time for us a chance to create a turnaround in away games and pick up points. That's the situation right now.

Q. All right. You talk about beginning of game having few problems, trying to make the right play or just not having the right approach. What did Atlanta do to you in the first half?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think I must say, I was a little bit surprised with the system today that they played in the back three. I don't expect it. This was for us I think a small surprise for us, and on the same time, they have a higher aggression.

Normally they give every power in possession and today also we can see high aggression moments and I think the one or other player a little bit surprised in the personal battle. And of course you can see when a goalkeeper has a big ability to play football and they can use it from the staggering and they have a very good position plan. It was for us the system, I think, a little bit disadvantage from the distances and we have in the end not the right numbers on the right high in the right spot.

But I would say after 30 minutes, on the same time, I must say they have, I would say two good possibilities but in the end not more, we was also close. From the system side, to change help, of course, in many directions. But good one is that we are flexible to do it and also in-game, and not the halftime we speak a long time about it, we can change systems very quick in the game. This is also very important that my players understand very quick the new role what they have.

Especially in the second half we was a little bit also more compact with the tens from the distances. They shift also better and we have good distances to press and we have some good moments, and especially in the end, Cristian, you can see in every position at the moment because here is a player, he helps in every position, the tens, the six, and then he play right fullback.

With his aggression, with his intensity and also the confidence what he has to take responsibility and ownership, this is exactly the player what we want, the role model for me, how you create a game and never give up mindset. It's very good to see which development he made the last one and a half years. He's a great player.

Q. Could you give me your thoughts on Serge's goal, especially in the final third, because for a 16-year-old to have that calm head while shooting the ball, I mean, you don't see that too often in soccer.

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, maybe not from 16 years old boy, we see situation like that. But I don't expect from a 16 years old boy he comes in and he makes a difference. Today, he did do it.

The good one for me how you win the ball, how you create the moment. First of all, without this situation, he don't score. In our game style and our basics always, win the ball high, find a good dance, find a good trigger, and he read this moment very well. Then he was cold. For me, also, it's more I look a little bit back, of course he has talent otherwise he would not play here. But for me it's much more important his mentality and the mentality makes the difference. I don't speak so much with him about talent. I speak with him about his mentality, and especially moments like that, how we win the ball. It's not a question of talent. It's a question of attitude, and how ready he is in our match plan, how ready he is in the basics. In this direction, yeah, he makes me outstanding happy.

Then, of course, the goal makes the first three points and this makes the in end the difference. I'm very happy for him but also it's not always a question of age. It's a question of quality and today he show me he's ready.

Q. Quick question about Tom Edwards. Any updates on whether that's a severe injury or not?

GERHARD STRUBER: I have a very short speech with him in the dressing room, and when he say the ankle feels bad, then something's wrong. Otherwise, he's not a player with crying moments. Today looks not good, and the description what he did was not good. I have not a clear picture right now from the medical department. This was his feedback.

Q. Could you please speak on the performance by Aaron Long especially in the first half? Seems like you were attacking and giving Atlanta space and he was the last line defense against Carlos and he was the one who a lot of times kept the score 0-0. Can you talk about that?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think first of all, we have to say he has a special week behind him. He has no training time. He was with COVID in Los Angeles and I think on the last moment we bring him back with two negative tests right now, and I think the preparation of this game was not super sexy, yeah.

But on the same time, the player with so much experience and also when I speak with him how he describe his feeling for this game today, that I have to trust in him that we bring in the end always a good performance on the field. But this was also not out of risk when you bring a player on the field without much training time.

But we can see how important is he for us, and we cannot only say Aaron, stay on the bench. We need him every game and he is for us, yeah, he has a big impact in the dressing room, on the field with his ability. He's a very, very important player absolutely.

Q. We're talking about two games, four days apart. You talked endlessly about the development and giving them chances. Tonight and based on what you saw in the last few days, does this validate your belief and trust and knowing that going forward anyone that comes in the system, if they have the talent and they have the maturity they are going to be able to make a difference?

GERHARD STRUBER: Yeah, I think no one can get a gift from me and get game time. Everyone has to show me this in the training, and then I never look so much on the age. I look only, can the player create my football style what I want.

And yeah, and of course, our philosophy is to work with a younger group, like other teams, and also my big conviction is to develop young players very quick in a direction that they have also on the same time output, and I think this is always important. We have not a youth team in the end in a youth league. We play in the MLS and we have big goals. The club has big goals.

In the end, no one ask me after the season how many players you developed without results. I think this goes hand-in-hand, results, development, and I think this is also my responsibility. This is the Red Bulls world, yeah. It's not every coach, I would say has the skills for that and also the patience to create and develop the young players; and on at the same time live with the pressure to bring points home.

But I have a big experience in that, and I have the feeling when younger players get a lot of trust, then the difference is coming and we have good players here. It's not always easy to see when they make mistakes. You have sometimes to be ready for that, yeah, that some players, and we cannot expect right now Serge go through the roof and every game, goals.

But steady I think he go in a good direction, and he has the mentality for that. He is not a player right now he is sitting in the dressing room and celebrating. This was the first step, and what we have to do tomorrow that we have a good chance, or a big chance to score again, and this is the mentality from a top athlete. And not a player who is celebrating and forget the basics, and in this direction, yeah, he is a big asset for the club, and we have a big responsibility for him to bring in step-by-step constantly good performances.