HANOVER, N.J. – It’s been called a House of Horrors, but the New York Red Bulls won’t be entering Foxborough with any fear.
Facing a New England Revolution team that has typically had their number at home, the Red Bulls know they will have to be wary of not only their dangerous attacking players, but also the less-than-ideal playing surface that adorns the Gillette Stadium pitch.
The field turf won’t necessarily keep certain players off the pitch, but it can often make for a more hectic match.
“Whenever you play on an artificial surface, it always comes into your mind,” defender Connor Lade admitted. “You have to be careful with your touches and make sure that, with every bounce, you’re staying concentrated for the entire game.
“We know that every time we go up there, it’s a battle. Both teams have to play on it, so when it comes down to it, it’s about who wants it more. We’re anxious to get out there. We haven’t had that much success there in the past, but we know that we have a good team and no matter who steps on the field, we’ll be ready for battle.”
Although he hasn’t been seen in action since sustaining a season-ending injury during last season’s run in the U.S. Open Cup, defender Chris Duvall may be someone that head coach Jesse Marsch calls upon given the absences plaguing the backline.
As one of the more experienced options remaining in the defensive core, the Wake Forrest product knows just what to expect during a match in New England.
“Anytime you play a rival away from home, it’s a tough game,” he told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “We understand that it ends up being a lot of crossing and counter-attacking at their place, but I think we’re prepared for that. We understand what kind of game we’ll be getting ourselves into, and we’ll be ready.”
In an effort to build upon the second half effort that saw New York triumphant in their last MLS match, Marsch preached a similar mindset leading into the Revolution match. And while the turf presents its own set of concerns, Marsch insists that the team most willing to do the little things on the night will come out victorious.
“We’ll do set pieces tomorrow on the turf, but the whole turf experience isn’t the easiest to translate,” he said after training on Wednesday. “What you have is a game that is very random. There are a lot of moments that are just about competing and picking up loose balls and finding a way to gain an edge. We’ve talked about that, we’ve worked on it, and we know that’s what it will be about.”
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