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The Best of MLS Week 12: David Villa, Carlos Vela and more

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Week 12 in Major League Soccer belonged to road teams, as they scored five wins and three draws over five days of action.

However, one of the five visiting winners stood out among the pack to earn an impressive victory.

There were also plenty of stunning individual performances, as three different star strikes put in two-goal performances.

Below is a look at who the SBI staff voted on to be the best of MLS Week 12.

Player of the Week

On David Villa Day at Yankee Stadium, the Spanish forward found the back of the net on two occasions and contributed an assist to a third New York City FC tally.

Team of the Week

The New York Red Bulls pulled off the biggest result of Week 12, as they went into Mercedes-Benz Stadium and beat Atlanta United 3-1. Jesse Marsch’s side is fourth in the Eastern Conference and first in points per game.

Rookie of the Week

Luis Argudo turned in a solid 68-minute shift in the Columbus Crew’s 1-0 win over New England. The start was the second for the 67th overall pick in the 2018 MLS draft.

Goal of the Week

Carlos Vela’s sublime shot from the right side of the box left Jeff Attinella froze as it soared into the top-left part of the net in LAFC’s loss to Portland.


Red Bulls' Murillo, Escobar excited to chase dream of playing for Panama in World Cup

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With the World Cup less than a month away, Fidel Escobar and Michael Amir Murillo have their dreams on their minds. That comes as little surprise, as they officially begin preparations for Russia this week as the first ever Panama team to qualify for the World Cup.

The two, along with the entirety of the 35 player provisional roster, will be participating in a camp in Panama before head coach Hernan Dario Gomez narrows his squad to 23. Murillo trained with the Red Bulls on Wednesday and will play this weekend against the Philadelphia Union while Escobar has already left to join with the national team.

“(It’s an) enormous feeling. I can’t explain it,” Murillo said. “Just to be able to think about going to Russia, being part of a big team, being a part of the Panamanian team, it’s an amazing feeling.”

It has been a constant state of joy since October, when the team booked their spot in Russia on the final day of World Cup qualifying in Concacaf.

Our coach told us there’s no tomorrow. This is it,” said Escobar, who played 90 minutes that day. “This is the last chance that we have, so the motivation of not only playing at home, but playing in front of your fans and your family, that was a big thing for us.”

It clearly worked, as Panama beat regional giants Costa Rica, 2-1, to make the dreams of many come true. While Murillo and Escobar cannot contain their excitement, neither can the people in Panama, a nation where baseball has reigned supreme.

“With us making it to a World Cup, the feeling of it is all soccer,” Murillo said. ” People are still partying it up about us making it to the World Cup. Every time we go back, it’s a total party.”

Panama’s first appearance at the World Cup comes against heavyweights England and Belgium along with Tunisia, setting up for a tough group stage. The nation prepared for it with a trip to Europe in March, where they faced fellow World Cup-bound teams Switzerland and Denmark. They came out with two losses and a lot of eyes on their physical style of play, which shocked Europeans who have little experience watching. That does not bother Panama, though.

A lot of countries didn’t know about us, didn’t know about our style of game,” Murillo said, “but I think not only the style of game but the dream that every single player wants has to go to the World Cup is what made us go to the World Cup and that’s what pushes some teams bigger than others.”

It is that dream, of theirs and many others, that has the defenders excited for more than just themselves.

“It’s good things for the kids that are growing right now, for them to see what we do and for them to hopefully become what we are,” Escobar said.

Murillo echoed the sentiment. “For me, the kids are a big motivation into going in it … It’s to inspire them to move forward, to get there, somewhere where we all want to be and to always play the hardest that they can.”

More than anything, though, they are focused on the task at hand, and that is making the final 23 man roster.

“It’s only a dream,” Murillo said. “I still have to live it.”

Marsch: Adams, Lawrence expected to be healthy for weekend

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The New York Red Bulls received a pair of injury scares in Sunday’s win over Atlanta United but, fortunately for the club, it appears both Tyler Adams and Kemar Lawrence are good to go.

Adams was taken out of Sunday’s 3-1 win with an apparent knee issue, a worrying incident for both the Red Bulls and the U.S. Men’s National Team. However, Jesse Marsch insists the injury is nothing serious as Adams participated in a light training session on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s match against the Philadelphia Union.

The news comes amid reports that RB Leipzig is pushing to sign the young midfielder, who would reportedly remain with the Red Bulls through the end of the season.

“Tyler was out training today,” Marsch said. “We took it a little bit lighter with him just to work him into training the right way, but he’ll be full go tomorrow and he’ll be ready for the weekend.

“Everything was fine. They think it’s potentially a combination of a quad contusion where the swelling went down to the knee, possibly just the turf, but it’s nothing symptomatic of anything structural, just a little collection of swelling that gave him a little score, but he’s good.”

Lawrence’s scare looked even more serious as the defender was down for several minutes after colliding with the Atlanta turf. The Jamaican fullback was stretchered off the field and underwent treatment and observation soon after.

Marsch says that doctors instructed Lawrence to stay out of Wednesday’s training session, but the defender has been cleared to join the team for Thursday’s practice.

“The reason I can joke about it is because Kemar is good,” Marsch said. “He’s done a ton of testing, which is one of the reasons they gave him off. They’ve treated him like a lab rat for two days to make sure everything is okay and everything is great. He’ll be in training in full tomorrow and he should be ready for the weekend

“It was scary for everyone. For me, going to see him at the hospital, I could see that he was fine. He was in good spirits, all of the tests were coming back great. He had no symptoms at all and was doing great. I was joking with him about this being an elaborate way to get out of regen the next day, but he’s fine, and thankfully so.”

Parker, Meara highlight Red Bulls' strong defensive effort against Union

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Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union was certainly not the desired result for the New York Red Bulls, who have gotten used to scoring frequently against opponents at home. However, that did not entirely dampen the mood of Jesse Marsch and company.

“I’m not taking negatives away from this. I’m taking positives,” the coach said after the match, and there was an obvious positive to take out that match. It was a standout night for a couple of defensive players, as Tim Parker continues an impressive run of form and Ryan Meara recorded first MLS clean sheet in more than six years.

“As a defensive group we’re happy to keep it clean at the back,” Parker said after the match.

Doing so has become habit for Parker and the Red Bulls, who boast one of the league’s better defensive records this season. It has all come in his debut season with the Red Bulls, seamlessly transitioning into a new team and system.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a player come into this team and fit so smoothly into what we do, and that’s a lot of credit to, I think, our scouting team and our sporting team of identifying him as the type of player that we need,” Marsch said. “It’s a big credit to Tim and his excitement and anxiousness to try to come here and fit in right way and establish himself on our team.”

“(I had to) just fully buy in. I think it’s hard to have a style where in Vancouver I played such a different style and here it’s something so new, so I’m really throwing myself fully into it,” Parker said. “Dealing with the ups and downs and mistakes, learning from them, and continuing to push them along.”

Aaron Long, Parker’s partner at center back, was also very complimentary of the newcomer.

He’s a very smart player,” Long said. “He’s very gifted, so athletically, he do everything that the club asks, but he’s also very smart, so tactically, he’s very aware and he’s very good defensively.”

Parker and Long have barely missed a beat in their young partnership. They have looked comfortable with each other each time they have played together, something that Long attributes to their matching habits.

I think me and Tim think similarly,” Long said, “so I think we make a great partnership back there. More than anything, he holds himself accountable and I do the same, so I think that’s why we are good partners.”

Additionally, it was a remarkable day for Meara, who is playing his first stretch of MLS games for the club since his rookie season in 2012. The goalkeeper followed up a strong showing in Atlanta last week with an equally notable effort against the Union, making a pair of saves in the process.

Marsch, naturally, had only nice things to say about Meara. The coach was more than pleased with his record of only goal conceded in 180 minutes, but  “it’s also the way he played, the saves he made, the clarity he had on the field. … It was like he’s been there for years.”

After his first league start at Red Bull Arena in six years, Meara was happy to have had the chance.

“Anytime you can play here it’s great,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like [it] between all the Open Cup and Red Bull II games; I feel like I’ve played here a bunch but anytime you get a game, it’s good. Opportunities are hard to come by so I try to make the most of it.”

Meara was also tasked with saving a C.J. Sapong penalty early in the second half, but the Union forward sent the ball wide of the net. The goalkeeper said that his side “got a little bit of a break,” but he had a feeling his team would get lucky.

“As I was diving I was kind of looking at it and I was like, man, that’s a little far,” Meara said, “and luckily it doesn’t hit the back of the net. So I don’t know, it was a questionable handball [call]. I don’t think Kemar [Lawrence] did it on purpose; he wasn’t even looking at the ball, so sometimes things have a way of working themselves out.”

While it was not a perfect outing for the Red Bulls, it could have been worse.

“We’re disappointed to not get all three points but in the end they missed a penalty,” Meara said. “I guess it could’ve gone either way so I guess we’ll take the point tonight.”

SBI MLS Player of the Month: Kaku

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It took some time for Kaku to find his feet in MLS, but the New York Red Bulls star put on a show throughout the month of May.

Kaku helped spearhead a number of impressive Red Bulls performance, providing a goal and five assists. Kaku’s efforts helped lead the way in the Red Bulls’ unbeaten run through May while earning the Argentinian playmaker earn honors as SBI MLS Player of the Month.

May began with Kaku’s best performance: a standout effort in a 4-0 thrashing of NYCFC. Two of Kaku’s assists came in the battering of the Red Bulls’ local rival, as did his lone goal of the month. The midfielder followed that performance up with another assist in a win over the Colorado Rapids before adding two more in the Red Bulls’ 3-1 road win over Atlanta United.

Kaku’s efforts helped elevate him into the discussion when it comes to the league’s top playmakers, and his assist-filled month also earned him honors over the likes of Zack Steffen, Romell Quioto and Mauro Diaz.

What did you think of Kaku’s May effort? Which player stood out to you in May?

Share your thoughts below.

Red Bulls' club strategy shines in Open Cup win over NYCFC

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The U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC was not like the usual rivalry match.

Out of necessity and desire, both coaches chose not to play many of their usual starters. Yet, the Red Bulls enjoyed the same success as their last meeting with NYCFC, beating them 4-0 and the result allowed the club, not just the team on the field, to shine, which was part of the plan for Jesse Marsch.

I even challenged the team before the game to use us stylistically,” Marsch said. “And it’s a derby and a chance for us to showcase our team and showcase our club and showcase what we do here and no doubt our players went out and did that.”

The Red Bulls’ lineup featured eight past and present players for their USL team, with former Red Bulls II player Sean Davis captaining the side. This combination of players, though not suiting up for the senior team frequently, missed very few beats, putting on a dominant display, doing their job in the back and up top.

There’s great chemistry amongst those players,” Davis said. “All of us have worked really hard for a long time together and we’ve played a lot of Red Bulls II games together. We’ve been in training for the past few seasons and so for it all to come together tonight is very special.”

Wednesday’s performance followed the well-known set up of the New York Red Bulls, where the MLS team, USL team, and all of the youth teams play the same style of soccer. As Vincent Bezecourt, one of the night’s goalscorers, noted, it makes transitioning a lot simpler.

When I first got here, I think three years ago, it took me a little while to understand the tactics but now I think everyone in the roster, in the first team roster, in the second team roster, knows what to do,” Bezecourt said. “There’s this path from the second team to the first team that is great, so when we get the call, that means we’re all ready. It’s pretty easy to move up from one team to another because the demands are the same.”

The combination of chemistry and synergy allows for an easy transition for the more experienced members of the team who are given leadership roles at young ages.

Such was the case for Aaron Long, who played alongside Hassan Ndam and Ethan Kutler in the backline.

I think being here for two years you know the system and it’s easy to help these young guys that you play with every day when they step on the field,” Long said.

Ultimately, being successful with the Red Bulls means accepting the demands of the coaches, though Marsch had more colorful language to describe the process.

I don’t know if I should even say this, but sometimes I call it brainwashing, right, because when you come here, you have to believe that this is the way to play the game,” Marsch said.

“If you have any doubts or you want to play but you have game and you want to pass the ball around and you want to think all about possessions, this is not your place and it won’t work,” Marsch said. “You have to buy into who we are and how we do things, and if you do, you are rewarded.”

Kutler's first MLS start another sign of Red Bulls' young, deep roster

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In a way, the New York Red Bulls’ 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday was a snapshot of the team’s season so far. Once again, New York Red Bulls II players past and present found themselves in the senior team’s lineup, and the latest player to make the jump was Ethan Kutler.

“He’s a very gifted player,” head coach Jesse Marsch said following the match. “We’re continuing to try to build in more defensive sophistication and more of a defensive edge with him but he does provide us with that ease to be able to pass, put plays together, see the next play and on certain days, that’s really valuable.”

The right back showed off that passing ability, recording assists on both of the Red Bulls’ goals. The second one in particular was memorable, as Kutler’s superb cross was finished by Bradley Wright-Phillips. Despite impressing the crowd, the process was simple was simple for Kutler.

“You look for Bradley Wright-Phillips when he’s in the box,” Kutler said. “He’s always making pretty great runs, so it’s pretty easy to find him.”

As for his overall performance, Kutler was modest despite receiving praise from his coach.

It’s my first MLS start, so I’m pretty proud of that, but it’s a high pressure situation for me,” he said. “I obviously [had] a little nervous energy out there. I’m missing passes, missing defensive plays, but it’s something that I’m going to get used to, playing in high pressure situations, so hopefully down the line I can be comfortable in these types of situations. 

It’s a pretty big adjustment tempo-wise, pace-wise, [and] physicality-wise,” though he noted that the easiest part of the transition is understanding the system. “The system’s pretty much the same,” he added, “so you know exactly what you have to do for both teams.”

As Luis Robles noted, Kutler’s strong start mimics the success of many of the other players on the Red Bulls’ roster.

It’s not Ethan,” the goalkeeper said, “it’s pretty much anyone whose number has been called upon this season.”

Kutler joins the likes of Florian Valot and Vincent Bezecourt, among others, to make his way onto the first team after spending an extended period of time with the USL side. In years past, Marsch and company have handed similar promotions to other players, but a majority of them saw very few minutes. With the departure of older players like Sacha Kljestan and Mike Grella during the offseason, spots opened up for the younger talent within the organization, and many of them have taken advantage of their opportunities.

Additionally, their performances have provided their teammates with a sense of relief, especially during weeks with multiple matches.

I remember in years past, when we had to deal with stretches like we are right now, we just thought, ‘Oh no. Who’s going to step up? Are they going to be able to do this?,'” Robles said. “We [would] question our depth,” the goalkeeper added.

Overall, Kutler’s performance represents a bigger accomplishment for the Red Bulls.

“Right now, it seems like no matter who Jesse puts in,” Robles said, “the clarity that he’s instilled within the group, and of course, the confidence that exudes from this group, we feel like we’re going to get a result no matter who we play against.”

Kemar Lawrence shows off attacking, defensive leadership in Red Bulls' victory over FCD

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Kemar Lawrence hardly ever makes the headline, but in the New York Red Bulls’ 3-0 defeat of FC Dallas on Saturday, he stepped into the spotlight. Putting in his usual dominant display on the left wing, the left back not only helped pick up a clean sheet, but provided his first league goal in over a year.

The play that resulted in Lawrence’s goal, the final one of the match is not typical for the Red Bulls, and particularly Kaku, who recorded the assist on the goal. The defender ran quite the distance to get to the penalty area and finish from a tight angle, but in order for Kaku to complete that pass, Lawrence had to do a bit of convincing in the days leading up to the match.

“Me and him have been at it for a couple of days in a more friendlier
way because he sees so much things sometimes,” Lawrence said. “Sometimes I’m running from so far that he sees me but he’s like, ‘Kemar is running from so far, I don’t want to play him.’ … Lately I’ve been telling him like put it in the space, you know I’m going to get there. I got the speed to get there so just put it in the space and let me get there.”

Finally, Lawrence got the pass he desired.

“He was screaming at me from midfield and to be honest I saw him [and] gave it to him,” Kaku said. “He’s very fast and luckily the ball went in.”

Additionally, the match highlighted Lawrence’s growing role with the Red Bulls, becoming a leader in the side. After joining the team three years ago, he has become one of the more experienced members of a team full of players just starting their professional careers.

I kind of understand now that I’m a leader in the team,” Lawrence said. “I’m one of the persons that the guys look to shut down the best team’s winger or attacker, so sometimes I gotta talk, I gotta share what I see with the team.”

The leadership was more than needed on a day like Saturday, when the team went down to ten after Daniel Royer’s red card in the 27th minute. The team’s goalkeeper, Luis Robles, spoke about Lawrence’s leadership style, calling him a “a great character in this locker room”.

Ultimately, though, Lawrence leads by example.

“He not only brings a lot of positivity but just energy, and it’s not just in the locker room but in the game and we saw that today,” Robles said. “The way he was able to get up and down the line, he created mismatches, he was a headache for them all ninety minutes and then, even when they tried to play the ball on the weak side, it’s not easy to win a header over him. So, it’s great that he got the goal but all together what he was able to do along with the entire defensive unit was amazing and that shut down a very, very, good Dallas attack.”

It was as well-rounded a performance that could be expected out of the left back, who has quietly been enjoying a strong season.

[Jesse Marsch] always told me that when I’m at the place where nothing can get by me is when I’m always alert … and I’m kind of at that place right now,” Lawrence said. “It’s fun being there, it’s fun training, and it’s just fun being out here right now.”


Report: Jesse Marsch nearing role with RB Leipzig

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The situation remains a complicated one, but it appears Jesse Marsch may be heading to RB Leipzig after all.

According to the Athletic, Marsch is close to leaving the New York Red Bulls to join up with the Bundesliga club. The report says it’s unclear what role Marsch would take with the club, which recently announced that Julian Naglesmann would take over as head coach for the 2019-2020 season.

The report says Marsch could be hired as Leipzig’s interim head coach while serving as an assistant under current sporting director Ralf Rangnick is also a possibility.

March has been linked with a European move for quite some time with RB Leipzig links heating up since the tail end of the Bundesliga season. Marsch has been in charge of the Red Bulls since 2015 after previously managing the Montreal Impact. The Red Bulls won the Supporters’ Shield in Marsch’s first season as he earned Coach of the Year honors.

The Red Bulls currently sit second in the East with several games in hand heading into Sunday’s derby clash with New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.

Jesse Marsch leaves Red Bulls, Chris Armas takes over as head coach

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Jesse Marsch’s departure is now official.

The New York Red Bulls announced on Friday that Marsch has left the club to “pursue other opportunities”. The news comes in the aftermath of reports linking Marsch with a role with RB Leipzig.

Chris Armas has been promoted to head coach to replace Marsch. The former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder joined the club in Feb. 2015 and has served as an assistant under Marsch.

“We are fully supportive of Jesse and his decision to pursue a new opportunity,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Denis Hamlett. “Jesse played a large role in establishing our club identity, but the culture here is the result of the dedication and hard work of many.

“We are confident in Chris Armas. We know Chris and the coaching staff will have our team ready to compete each week, and they will continue to find ways to improve and work towards our ultimate goal of winning MLS Cup.”

The Red Bulls currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with rivals New York City FC at Yankee Stadium.

Chris Armas ready for chance to lead Red Bulls

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It was a seemingly hectic Friday for the New York Red Bulls, a club that has seen many of those. Jesse Marsch, the team’s longest-tenured head coach, officially left after months of speculation, with his next steps yet to be confirmed. Chris Armas, Marsch’s assistant coach for his three-and-a-half year stint, has taken his place for his first professional head coaching job. Yet, the Red Bulls players and new head coach showed very few signs of tumult.

Armas’s hiring is a sign of continuity from the Red Bulls, who have been working with their specific pressing style for several seasons now.

I understand more than ever the philosophy, the tactics, the way we play, the personnel, the depth, USL, [and] academy,” Armas said at his introductory press conference. “I’ve invested myself completely in this club.”

That was the intention from the beginning.

The most important part is having someone who understands how we play and how we do things because that’s not going to change,” sporting director Denis Hamlett said. “That made the decision so much easier.”

For the players, the sentiment is the same.

Nothing changes here,” Bradley Wright-Phillips said. “The players do that every week. We all have different personalities. We’re not all intense, but when it comes to game day, we know what our job is and that won’t change.”

However, Armas and Marsch are not carbon copies of each other.

Chris’s way is more relaxed,” Wright-Phillips said. “We all know Jesse’s intense and that gets the best out of us. … Chris gives you the other side where he’s relaxed. You go in feeling calm. Your job is clear and you know what kind of a man he is and that’s the effect he has on the players. Even when he takes a session where it’s calm or it’s not too much shouting or not too much anything.”

In some ways, the move has been a long time in the making. Armas and Hamlett have known each other for 20 years when Armas was a player and Hamlett was an assistant coach with the Fire.

“He just led by example,” Hamlett said, “and you could see his ability to sort of connect with people and bring them on board and get them to sort of push themselves to the next level.”

When it was Hamlett’s time to take the head coach job in Chicago 10 years later, he quickly made Armas one of his assistant coaches, though he had to leave after a year. “I figured, if I get him a chance to hire him again, it would be here in New York, so that day has come,” Hamlett said.

That did not mean Marsch’s big announcement was easy for the Red Bulls players and staff.

It was definitely a bittersweet moment because when you think what Jesse has meant to this organization and what he’s meant to me personally, it’s tough to lose a guy like that,” captain Luis Robles said. “At the same time, what he’s doing is incredible for not only himself, but soccer in America, all right? It’s not often that a coach gets an opportunity one, that’s an American, two, go over and coach a club at that level.”

Armas in particular had a close relationship with Marsch, who was also his teammate in Chicago.

We were both emotional about the whole thing,” Armas said. “It’s an incredible moment for each of us. … He only wished the greatest of support and told me that he’d be my biggest fan. He can wait to see me on the sideline.”

Though it is his first professional head coaching gig, he feels ready. “I’m always watching and learning and listening and picking up as much as I can,” Armas said about the coaches he has worked with over the last two decades. Marsch obviously made list, as did the likes of Bob Bradley, Bruce Arena, and Juan Carlos Osorio.

Now, Armas finally has a chance to put his learning to the test. “I’ve been preparing — it sounds, I don’t know, cliché — my whole life for this moment.”

NYCFC outlasts Red Bulls in derby win

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The Hudson River Derby is usually one of the most high-flying and energetic rivalries in MLS, but Sunday’s iteration was notably lacking in a number of ways, but it did have a winner.

Sunday’s match lacked excitement and energy, but it ultimately did have one goal as NYCFC won, 1-0, at Yankee Stadium. The finish came from Maxi Moralez, whose 85th minute goal gave NYCFC the team’s fourth ever derby win.

Moralez’s goal came late in a dreary match as the Argentinian, who started atop the NYCFC attack, fired home an assist from Jonathan Lewis to seal all three points.

The match started with a frenetic pace which died off as the first half wore on. NYCFC controlled the possession throughout, seemingly learning from their mistakes made against the Red Bulls’ high press earlier this year. However, neither side could create a clear-cut chance as the first half ended both dull and scoreless.

By and large, the second half was more of the same as neither team could muster up a goal. Luis Robles and Sean Johnson were tested several times, making three saves each, but those saves were generally routine as the two defenses stood tall.

That was until Moralez broke through as NYCFC escaped with all three points.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Making his first start since the first week of May, Maxime Chanot stepped up in a big way in the heart of the NYCFC defense.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Moralez provided the breakthrough late, sealing the win for the hosts.

MATCH TO FORGET

Aaron Long was solid all game, but his misplay on the goal was the difference on Sunday night.

Jesse Marsch joins RB Leipzig as assistant coach

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Following his departure from the New York Red Bulls, Jesse Marsch’s new position has been confirmed by RB Leipzig.

The Bundesliga club announced on Monday that Marsch has joined the team as an assistant coach. Sporting director Ralf Rangnick will take on double responsibility for the team this season as he manages the team.

“It was a decision we had to take time to think over,” Rangnick said at a press conference. “We have decided that I will take on the head coaching role myself, with the help of the best possible coaching staff. The goal is for me to be on the pitch for the training sessions [while] we will redistribute some [internal] tasks to my sporting director.”

Marsch has signed a two-year contract with the club and will remain as an assistant coach next season when the team transitions to Julian Nagelsmann  for the 2019-2020 season.

Nagelsmann is set to lead Hoffenheim through this upcoming Bundesliga campaign before joining up with RB Leipzig.

Chris Armas' first game in charge a mixed bag in Red Bulls' derby loss

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Chris Armas’s first task as the head coach of the New York Red Bulls came against a New York City FC team also dealing with a coaching change, a tie that the younger New York team eventually won, 1-0. Though Armas was chosen to succeed Jesse Marsch in a show of consistency, the first time head coach’s debut saw some changes from the Red Bulls, some that worked out and others that did not.

The starting lineup he put out came with very few surprises, as Armas made only one change from Marsch’s final lineup against Toronto FC a week earlier. Daniel Royer made the cut this time, though his inclusion was easily explained with Florian Valot’s season-ending ACL tear. However, Armas made the choice to keep Alex Muyl in the lineup and leave Derrick Etienne on the bench, and perhaps more shockingly, left Michael Amir Murillo on the bench in his first match back from World Cup duty with Panama, electing to start Connor Lade at right back instead.

Armas defended his choices post-match. He complimented the midfielder’s ability to win second balls.

I think he played great today,” he said of Muyl. “I thought he had energy thinking about what type of game this was going to be. It’s almost like he can be the first guy to think about starting.”

As for the choice at right back, he admitted that it was not an easy decision to make, but felt that Lade had been “sharp” in Murillo’s absence. The long-time Red Bulls defender, he believes, is returning to pre-injury form, and Armas ultimately feels justified in the decision based on Lade’s performance.

The match itself proved to be one of the more forgettable matches in a young rivalry that has almost always brought plenty of entertainment. Neither side recorded a lot of meaningful opportunities on goal.

We had 320 passes, they had 376,” Armas said. “Things really don’t flow in that game.”

The Red Bulls struggled in the first half, as NYCFC managed to cancel out the press the visitors have become known for in recent years.

It’s weird, because in the past, the start of our game has been the strongest point of our game,” Tyler Adams said. “We [wanted] to let them play out so we can utilize our press, but they tried to use that long ball to pick up second balls, which they probably won second ball battles on the day, and that led them to success.”

Is it a day for our pressing? Is it a day for second balls? We’re wired for both,” the head coach added. “We knew that we might see direct play. We talked about it, we game-planned for it, and we knew that big switches would be a part of it, too, which we saw. I thought we got a good handle on that in the second half.”

The second 45 minutes, as Armas noted, saw more of the Red Bulls team that has dominated the Eastern Conference over the last few years.

I think in the second half, we woke up a little bit, that’s for sure,” Adams said. “We made a couple of more tackles, got everyone on the same page of how they wanted to press.”

NYCFC eventually tallied the game’s lone goal, scored by Maxi Moralez, on a giveaway near the goal in the 85th minute. Only after did Armas make his first substitution of a match that could have used some more energy, putting on Etienne for Sean Davis.

We thought at 0-0, we’re making a good push and if I have to make a change early in the first half, I’ll do it,” Armas said. “At that point, we didn’t think a change was needed. We were pushing the game in a good way and felt like a goal was coming.

“The guys on the field are performing well, why would you change anything? Of course you go down a goal. What do you do then? Do you do nothing or do you make a push at that point? So I think it’s pretty simple at that point why we made the move.”

It may have been a hectic week for the Red Bulls, but ultimately, they do not believe that led to their eventual loss. There’s continiuity there with Armas stepping in, and the hope is that continuity leads to better days than Sunday.

“There was no difference, really,” Adams said. “That’s the best part of having Chris around is that he’s been under Jesse’s wing for a long time. He knows exactly what Jesse would want and he came out here and there’s no difference.

I think knowing that we’re a good team gives a coach comfort,” Armas said. “You step out on the field and think you can beat anyone on any given day, so in the role of head coach on the day, it’s a bit different, but I’ve been in this building before, I’ve been on that sideline before, making the decisions before so I largely felt comfortable.”

MLS Ticker: Red Bulls send Rivas out on loan, Valot suffers torn ACL and more

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The New York Red Bulls wing depth chart is going to look much different as the second half of the season rolls on.

The Red Bulls announced on Monday they loaned Carlos Rivas to Atletico National in Colombia for the rest of the season.

Rivas, 24, featured in 264 minutes for the Red Bulls this season after being included in the Sacha Kljestan trade with Orlando City.

Rivas has 83 appearances under his belt from his time with Orlando City and the Red Bulls, but he wasn’t able to crack the starting lineup due to a multitude of reasons.

Valot out for rest of season with torn ACL

Florian Valot’s breakout campaign ended abruptly on Thursday, as he suffered a torn ACL, which the New York Red Bulls announced on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Frenchman started 13 games for the third-place team in the Eastern Conference and contributed three goals and five assists.

With Valot out for the season and Rivas on loan, the Red Bulls have to call on their depth, and maybe a dip into the transfer market, to improve their quality on the wings.

Alex Muyl started opposite Daniel Royer in the club’s 1-0 loss to New York City FC on Sunday. Derrick Etienne is another internal option to consider .

Minnesota brings in Ibarra through TAM

Minnesota United used Targeted Allocation Money to upgrade its midfield on Monday.

The Loons announced the signing of Romario Ibarra from Universidad Catolica from the Ecuadorian top flight.

Ibarra, 23, played all of his professional career in Ecuador and received his first international call-up for Ecuador last fall.

“We have been looking for some change-of-game pace for the team and that’s one of the best things Romario does: He changes games with his pace and he challenges defenders,” Minnesota head coach Adrian Heath said.

“He’s of a great age at 23 and he has had a good start to his career. He has just broken into the Ecuador national team, which is one of the premier national teams in South America. It’s a big step for us, a real investment on behalf of the club and I am delighted. Can’t wait to get him here, can’t wait to work with him.”


Jesse Marsch is taking a risk moving to RB Leipzig, but it is one worth taking

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There’s nothing safe about the choice Jesse Marsch has made. The safe decision would have been to stay in New York, continue to build a reputation and go from there. Safe would have been to continue the path he was on and someday take the leap on different terms.

What Marsch did instead, though, was something different. He jumped at a chance that isn’t safe and isn’t guaranteed, but one that represents a calculated risk unlike any taken by an American coach before him.

Marsch’s departure from the Red Bulls became official on Friday before Monday brought confirmation that his new home would be RB Leipzig. Marsch is set to serve as an assistant under Ralf Rangnick this upcoming season before the continuing through the second of his two-year deal under Julian Nagelsmann.

Marsch is taking a risk. There is nothing certain about being an assistant coach overseas. On the surface, it seems like a step down from a very good head coaching job in a major American market. Marsch was beloved at Red Bull Arena, and moving abroad for an assistant gig under an interim coach is certainly something that challenges pride.

As risky as the move is, it is one worth taking for Marsch. Rangnick, RB Leipzig’s current sporting director, is the pioneer of the program’s high-press, high-octane style. It’s a style Marsch has tinkered with and thrived with as boss of the Red Bulls. It is a style that propelled Leipzig into the Bundesliga and, ultimately, the Champions League, a style Rangnick will continue to preach and its a system Marsch will continue to learn under the German manager.

It is one of a number of factors that make Marsch’s role more than a typical assistant job. It is clear that he is highly respected by the Red Bull higher-ups, who have showed faith in him for several years. He is valued by the organization, which took the steps to ensure he didn’t slip away for another European job. Along the way he has earned the trust of Rangnick, who should give Marsch plenty of opportunity to develop at RB Leipzig.

Now, a lot can change over these two years. Marsch is very unlikely to wind up in the head managerial role at RB Leipzig. That’s Nagelsmann’s gig, and Marsch will be a part of transitioning the club from Rangnick to the Hoffenheim manager when the time comes next season.

When those two years are over, Marsch will have something new on his resume. He will have European experience. Success in New York goes a long way, but a European stop on your resume is what makes the difference between an entry-level gig and real high-level European soccer. The aim is to succeed at RB Leipzig, earn the respect of his peers in Germany —and throughout Europe — and parlay that into another good opportunity.

It is a very different path than the ones traveled by previous American coaches who have journeyed through Europe. Bob Bradley parlayed national team success into smaller European jobs before finally diving into the Premier League. David Wagner utilized his German connections to emerge as a top assistant before becoming a hero with Huddersfield Town. Gregg Berhalter followed up an extensive European playing career with a job in Sweden before coming back to the United Statesand emerging as a contender for the U.S. Men’s National Team job.

Marsch’s experiences don’t align with the names mentioned above. Not every player can jump to Borussia Dortmund like Christian Pulisic and not every coach can leap right into a top-level European gig. It comes down to experience and connections.

Marsch had never broken through on the international stage as a player or a coach. His success has mostly come in MLS, even if it was witnessed by Red Bull executives based in Europe.  It is now time for Marsch to find success elsewhere, and he is taking an unusual path that could someday end up with the European challenge he covets.

Jesse Marsch: RB Leipzig move next step in personal development

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Jesse Marsch’s next step was a move to Europe and, now that he has taken that step, the former New York Red Bulls boss is ready to learn.

Marsch was named as RB Leipzig’s new assistant coach on Monday, joining Ralf Rangnick’s staff with the Bundesliga club. The move sees Marsch join RB Leipzig as an assistant for two years, first under Rangnick before Julian Nagelsmann takes over for 2019-20.

“The next step is not always when the timing is perfect,” Marsch said according to RBLive. “(Red Bull Head of Soccer) Oliver Mintzlaff and I had the first talks on Wednesday last week. I knew there was a lot of speculation before, but I still had a job to do (in New York). And then everything went fast. I always had a good relationship with Oliver in New York.

“Coaches like Bob Bradley have gone to Europe,” he added. “That was an inspiration for all American coaches. I started to think about other possibilities. So I took my next step and obviously it was very valuable to get to know the people here.”

Marsch says that stepping into an assistant role is not a demotion, even if the longtime MLS veteran rose through the ranks as one of the league’s top coaches. Instead, he sees it as the next stage of his “personal developement”, a chance to get his foot in the door in Europe.

Now, he’ll work alongside Rangnick, the man credited with helping organize the style that defines Red Bull soccer. Rangnick, the team’s sporting director before taking the head coaching gig for this season, was previously in charge of the team in 2015-16, helping the team earn promotion to the Bundesliga.

Marsch has previously worked alongside Rangnick during the MLS offseason as the former Red Bulls boss traveled to Leipzig each of the last three years to learn alongside the veteran coach.

“We discussed things, I did not write anything down,” Marsch said. “I think Ralf is very clear how all are integrated. My job is to bring in my experience and knowledge of how to work with the players. I’m going to take work off  his plate because he has a lot to do, and I can.

“I am intense. And I demand a lot when it comes to success. I am a coach who builds relationships, who cares about the people, who wants to understand what helps them to become better.”

After those two years, Marsch’s future will be up in the air. The goal is almost certainly to use this experience as a springboard towards a head coaching gig.

Someday, Marsch says, the U.S. Men’s National Team job is something he could push for. Marsch was linked with the job for quite some time but, according to the coach himself, there was no real discussion.

For now, though, Marsch is focused on helping RB Leipzig while taking his next step as a coach.

“The national team was not discussed,” Marsch said “That was a public discussion, but there were no discussions. I hope that someday I can also manage the U.S., but I’m young. There’s a lot to learn. “

Second-half Red Bull surge helps Chris Armas earns first MLS win

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It was always going to take time for the New York Red Bulls to gel under new head coach Chris Armas. A derby defeat to NYCFC in the dying moments at Yankee Stadium didn’t help his cause last weekend, but the Red Bulls surely wouldn’t let that come again on Saturday.

German midfielder Marc Rzatkowski’s brace in a seven-minute span in the second-half propelled New York to a 3-2 home triumph against Sporting KC. It was the 28-year-old’s first goals in MLS after his move from Red Bull Salzburg this offseason, which now adds another goal scoring weapon to Armas’ arsenal.

“It really means a lot to me, I’m really just happy for the entire team and to be able to help with two goals,” Rzatkowski said. “There have been a lot of ups and downs this season for me with being injured, but I’m happy to be able to prove to the team that I can help.”

“I just wanted to come onto the pitch and improve the whole game for us. It was not only me, Derrick and Amir came on and did very well too so we’re happy it ended up our way in the end.”

Rzatkowski had seen some time under Jesse Marsch, but hadn’t registered a point since June 9 at Columbus. He had shown some flashes of his creativity in the midfield, but found it tough to beat out Alex Muyl, Daniel Royer, and Kaku for a spot in the starting XI. The German replaced Kaku in the 60th minute which was a surprising substitution with the hosts fighting to tie the match. Armas praised Rzatowski’s week of training and knew he would be a guy to call on if things got shaky.

“Marc had a great week of training and every session brought energy and his talent to the mix,” Armas said. “He showed a lot of life and coming into the game we knew he would be someone we could rely on if we needed it.”

“I had a talk with all of the players on the roster when I took over and told them where they stood and where they needed to be to play,” Armas said. “Marc was also involved in those conversations.”

Saturday’s win helped the Red Bulls move to five points behind NYCFC for second place in the East. Their home unbeaten run in league play extended to five matches, where they have outscored their opponents 13-3 and kept three clean sheets.

Midfielders Tyler Adams and Sean Davis were huge in helping the Red Bulls quiet some of KC’s attackers, helping hold Daniel Salloi, Yohan Croizet, and Gerso Fernandes off the scoresheet. While Adams continues to become one of the top young talents in the U.S., Davis’ organization in the Red Bulls defensive set up has not gone unnoticed as he continues to grow into a top player in MLS.

“Sean Davis continues to grow, as a soccer player understanding how to play the No. 6 and be a leader,” Armas said. “He’s the guy when you scour video after the match he’s the guy pointing teammates in directions, organizing and running the show. I think he will continue to be a big player for us this season.”

“We knew tonight would be a conflicting match with two teams facing one another under very different styles,” Armas said. “I think the first half they powered us a little but the second half we pushed our way back.”

The Red Bulls next close out a two-match homestand on July 21st with an Eastern Conference clash against the New England Revolution. As for Armas, he will learn from the success of Saturday’s victory but also notice the changes that need to be made as New York continues to stride up the table.

Tyler Adams: 'No contact' with RB Leipzig in wake of transfer rumors

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Rumors continue to swirl regarding Tyler Adams’ club future and, while the midfielder admitted to keeping one eye on Europe, the other is firmly fixed on the New York Red Bulls’ season.

In the wake of reports from MLSSoccer.com linking the midfielder with a move to RB Leipzig, Adams told The Athletic that there has been no contact with the German club. The midfielder admitted that he has “ambitions to play in Europe one day at the highest level”, but those ambitions are on hold for right now as he focuses on the 2018 MLS season.

“No, nothing,” Adams said of RB Leipzig, according to the Athletic. “The earliest that they have talked to me was when I was 15 and I went over for that little trial stint with Sean [Davis]. Other than that, you see guys get loaned here and stuff like that, but no contact about me going there right now.

“I just know that 100 percent I’m here for the whole season,” he added. “What happens at the end of the year, we’ll see, but I think that my focus is on what I’m doing right here right now.”

Adams added that he sees the Bundesliga as a fit, citing Weston McKennie’s development as one reason he feels he would enjoy German soccer. RB Leipzig, meanwhile, would seem logical landing spot for the young midfielder considering the Red Bull connections.

Those connections saw former Red Bulls boss Jesse Marsch join the club as an assistant following a period of rumors linking him with a role with the German team.

“Any time that you can work under a coach as good as Jesse, he’ll help you develop and he’ll work with you every single day,” said Adams. “If that’s in the cards again one day, then I think that would be great, but the coaching staff here is just as good.

“For me, my focus is 100 percent here, it always has been. Obviously, with Jesse going there, we know there’s a good connection between the clubs, but my focus is 100 percent here.”

Marsch himself said that RB Leipzig would be “lucky” to have Adams while admitting that he sees the midfielder in Europe at some point after his time with the Red Bulls is done.

“To me this season isn’t successful if we don’t win MLS Cup,” said Adams. “We have nothing else on the line. We don’t have U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League to get in the way of anything, so we have one goal this year: win Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.”

Wright-Phillips continues to cement status as MLS great with 100th goal

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Bradley Wright-Phillips’ New York Red Bulls career wasn’t supposed to go this way.

Originally a trialist following several up and down years in the English league system, Wright-Phillips wasn’t supposed to be some kind of superstar when the Red Bulls signed him five years ago. He was an added piece with a famous name, one that could provide a few goals with a fresh start.

On Wednesday, just about five years to the day after he signed, Wright-Phillips reached another milestone with the team, further cementing his status as a club, and league, legend.

Wright-Phillips scored his 100th goal for the club on Wednesday, becoming the fastest MLS player to reach the century mark. The forward wasted little time scoring what turned out to be the game-winner just two minutes into the match.

It wasn’t his most beautiful goal and it wasn’t his most his most impactful goal but, for a player still rewriting team and league records, it was a memorable one.

“It was kind of lucky,” Wright-Phillips said. “I’m obviously happy. Not just to score 100 goals but to do it for this club too, they gave me a chance.”

“He’s obviously a club legend but we’ve all been privileged,” added head coach Chris Armas. “Whoever’s spent some time around him– this is my fourth year with him. To just be part of his 100th goal, that it comes in a derby match and a meaningful one on the road, it’s a big win for him.”

Wright-Phillips says D.C. United matches have always been special to him because, from the moment he signed with the Red Bulls in 2013, that was the main rival. Largely, the Red Bulls have found success in that rivalry since the forward’s arrival, and that continued on Wednesday.

The goal certainly wasn’t Wright-Phillips’ prettiest. After beating his defender, Wright-Phillips banked a shot off David Ousted, a goalkeeper that forward admitted has always given him problems.

After scoring, the forward lifted his jersey to reveal a second jersey underneath with a 100 stitched on the back. The original plan was to unveil a shirt saying “100 for 99”, alluding to the forward’s number, but kitman Sean Ruiz surprised the forward with a better idea in the form of the No. 100 jersey.

“I wanted to show the traveling fans the jersey underneath,” Wright-Phillips said. “It was kind of warm under there honestly. I got my chance and it was great. As soon as I got it I was relieved.”

And the Red Bulls are relieved to have him. With the goal, Wright-Phillips moves up to ninth on the all-time goalscoring list, and the forward could conceivably jump all the way to sixth this season. It’s easy to imagine Wright-Phillips leapfrogging Taylor Twellman and Dwayne De Rosario in the coming weeks before approaching Jason Kreis, who sits on 108 career goals. Of that top 10, Wright-Phillips’ .63 goals per game ranks the best with Twellman sitting second with .58 finishes per match.

With a tie atop the single-season charts already on his resume, Wright-Phillips will certainly go down as one of the best goalscorers MLS has seen, and Wednesday will be looked at as another big achievement for a player that few expected to every get this far.

“Brad is the best,” said defender Aaron Long. “We expect him to score goals like that. We know he’s going to score goals, he’s going to keep scoring goals. He is the fastest to 100 ever, that says something great about him.”

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