Post-match sound files and transcriptions from New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz and captain Emil Forsberg following New York’s 0-0 draw against Nashville SC on Sunday night.
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Sandro Schwarz
On the learning moments from today’s match…
We can analyze all phases of the game. Our defensive behavior or in our offensive transition. I saw that the character of the whole team was good, the mentality, how we defended was very good as well. Also, the moments of our ball possession, when we were in the last third, and in the beginning of the second half. In our first away game, the atmosphere for the last 10-15 minutes, it was also important that we didn’t concede a goal. If you have so many chances, maybe you don't have the feeling in the last moments to score, it was very important that we did not lose that game, and this was good.
On the players and himself making their MLS debuts…
Yeah, I'm not so important in that. What is more important is what happened on the field, this is for the players. Noah was good. He did a good job with Sean and the back four, to give the whole team confidence with how we defend. This was very strong. We had good moments in buildup situations. Emil, you can see his experience and his quality in the small to medium spaces. Also [Roald] Mitchell’s first game in the MLS. That is good for us, and he also had a very good preseason. So, good moments, especially from these players in their first [MLS] game, but it's more important that the whole group stayed together, and they are very happy with each other. That is what I saw during the whole 90 minutes today.
On the importance of preventing last minute chances…
Important, very important. I said this in our locker room directly after the game to our team. It's very important that you don't lose the game when you miss some chances. I'm not frustrated about that. But then, it's important that you don't concede a goal with the atmosphere, on set pieces, or something like that. For a young team, that's important to have this development and to have this feeling on the pitch. So, it was 0-0 and emotional in the last 10-15 minutes with some long balls coming. Also, for Carlos it's good. It's good to know that we didn’t concede a goal.
New York Red Bulls Captain Emil Forsberg
On MLS debut…
First of all, I'm feeling good. I'm happy to have the debut crossed off now. I think in general we played a good game; we controlled the game for a long time. I think the only time they were dangerous was when they had corner kicks and stuff like that could put a little bit of pressure, but apart from that I think we played good. We controlled the rest of the defense we had after our attacks, so that was also good. We had some good chances and a little bit of bad luck, but I mean in general happy to have made my debut. It was a good feeling. I think we played a good match, but of course disappointing to not get the win, but there's a lot we will take with us after this game.
On Dante Vanzeir and Elias Manoel…
I think, like I said, we dominated the game. We had some good chances to score, but I think it's still not perfect. It was the first game of the season, but either way, I think we played a good game, we controlled it with Dante and Elias up front. We know we had good finishers and they had bad luck today, but I mean we keep on going like I said. We had a good game. We have to work on that, we have to work on our finishing to get that better, but I think in general we were the better team today. We had good control over the game in over 75 -80 minutes and that we will take with us.
On attacking sustainability…
For sure, I mean we played a really good game. I think we were controlling the game. We played fast, the pitch was a little bit dry, but we played fast. We wanted to move them. We created chances and as long as you do that in the end you're going to score, and the guys are going score and they're going to have what we call a catch-up effect. It's like a domino release, it's going to come, the ghost is going to come. I think we just keep pushing, keep believing. Happy about the game today, it's the first game so it's always normal that you have a little bit of mistakes here and there, but I think in general we played a very first very good first game and it's important that the guys know it. And of course, we're disappointed about the 0 -0 because we think we had a lot more in us, but I mean in the end it's going to come. I'm sure of it next.