HANOVER, N.J. – There is little doubt the short-handed Red Bulls will be at a disadvantage come Friday night, but the team is ready to get on with it.
After sustaining injuries in their matchup with the Houston Dynamo, New York will be without the likes of Gideon Baah, Ronald Zubar, and Gonzalo Veron for their trip to New England.
The defense will be particularly depleted, meaning that goalkeeper Luis Robles and the remaining defensive core will have the task of improving upon their previous performances that saw the team concede eight goals in three games.
The job will likely be difficult as injuries and international call-ups have ravaged the New York backline, but the captain isn’t about to make any excuses.
“That’s why you have a team, that’s why you have depth, so that players can step in and be ready to do a job when you need it,” midfielder Dax McCarty said. “You can’t have these built-in excuses that teams are injured or guys are away on international duty because every team has to deal with that. For the guys that step in, we expect a high level out of them and expect them not to drop the level.”
In their stead, head coach Jesse Marsch will be forced to lean on newcomers, rookies, or veterans being played out of position. Still, the leaders within the side are confident that those called upon will be able to fill the void.
“It’s easy to make excuses at any part of the season, but I don’t think that’s what we’re about; it’s certainly not the feeling around this place,” Mike Grella told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “Although it’s a tough place to go, that’s part of the challenge and excitement of the match. For sure, we’ll be ready to go there and get three points.”
Facing a road trip to a traditionally unfavorable venue, Marsch admitted that the Revolution will pose a tough test for his makeshift backline, but will look to lean on their recent success to spur his side on.
“The second half against Houston and the response that we had to stick with it was really good,” he said. “I described it as monumental moment after the game and I think it still holds that way. The past ten days have been great in training, so now it’s time to put it to the test.”
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