Red Bulls getting ready for Jaap Stam's FC Cincinnati

New York Red Bulls, Professional, Soccer

August 3, 2021

This New York Red Bulls season hasn't been ideal for Gerhart Struber and his coaching staff. They have had to endure countless amounts of injuries that have decimated their roster when it comes to defending the ball, as the center back position has been hit the hardest.

Since training camp began, the pandemic had forced the league and the club to cancel scheduled pre-season matches and training sessions as they were close to kicking off the season. While there have been some solid results at Red Bulls Arena, the last match was a tough one to swallow because the kids did well before the final 15 minutes as they coughed up the lead and the full three points.

"First of all, I will say that COVID is not only our topic, it is for the whole league a topic, and also in the preseason, also other clubs has not had special good preseasons. I think every club has its personal challenges. We have some special challenges, but I think we can handle and manage this. From the performance side, I think, in a good way, it is more output, the outcome topic," said Struber, "This is right now the next step we have to do well, that my boys realize in the end they benefit from what they invest in every game. I think for this you need also clever tactical moments, and you need also a good realization in a game, how you can protect the momentum, how you can bring your momentum back and for young group this is not always so easy, but the last few weeks, the last few months bring us more together.

"I think, a clear mindset and understanding from that what we want, and this makes me proud. In the end, we are a professional team, and we have big goals here, we will come and create the playoffs one more time. For that, we need different results and right now, we have a long season for our chest and many games, but now I think it is a good time to come in better results. I have big trust in our group and especially our process what we go, and I think we are very close to be a team with very good performances and a team with the right results."

But now it's time to prepare for their next matchup as the Red Bulls host FC Cincinnati. Currently in 11th place with 14 points and won only three times out of 15 played, you would like to think that this should be a victory for the Red Bulls, but they need to be very careful with who is on that side and the man who has earned two results since coming over from Europe in former Dutch international defender Jaap Stam.

In the MLS is Back Tournament, Stam was able to shut down the attack in the final group stage match against the Red Bulls, and when play returned to Red Bull Arena, was doing the same thing and got a big goal late in the match to steal the full three points. This will be a tricky situation with former DC United midfielder Luciano Acosta wearing the Orange and Blue.

"Yeah, I think right now, we can see the whole teams in the season are very close and we never make the fall or the mistake to give opponents not the right respect. We know what they can, and we know Cincinnati’s a team, they can play on the ground very quick, and they have good ideas," said Struber, "They have also good players, for us it so important that we have everyone on the same page. We are ready for our style of play, and also when we are in the lead that we do not forget our match plan. Also, my substitutions are ready for that, and also every single player is ready to bring three points home, and I think we have some big hits in our face the last few weeks and we have to learn. I think we realize that we can grow up our mindset.

"Also, when we are on the lead and we are ready to bring three points home with our tactical plan and with the right behavior is in this tactical plane until the last second, then Cincinnati has a challenge for their chests with our style of play, with our quality with our energy. This is our duty on Wednesday, big focus in our style of play, and big focus from the first whistle until the last whistle, then I think we can create a good performance, and in the end, the necessary three points."

This will not be an easy contest, but one thing is for sure, the attacking press of Gerhart Struber will be on display against the defending mind of Jaap Stam who has been a solid defender during his time with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and his soli days with the Dutch National Team, we could see a clash of styles going head to head at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, and it could be a lot of fun.