HANOVER, N.J. – The stage is set for the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals, and the New York Red Bulls will finally have a part to play.
Following the completion of Thursday night’s matches, each group winner has been decided, as has the seeding for each quarterfinalist.
Topping Group F with 8 points, the Red Bulls have earned the No. 8 seed and a matchup with the top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps.
“I was watching all the games and keeping track,” head coach Jesse Marsch said. “In the end, I knew that we were going to slip to the eighth seed. But in all reality, it’s not the worst matchup. It’s an opponent that we know and Vancouver will be on a similar cycle that we’ll be on.
“A big challenge of the tournament is getting yourself game prepared against teams that are already midseason and we haven’t even start our season. In that sense, it’ll be an even playing field and a good matchup.”
There still remains the massive task of navigating the 2016 MLS Cup playoffs, but the Red Bulls already have one eye on the future, as preparations for the quarterfinals have already begun.
Advancing to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in club history, Marsch and his staff are making sure that the team will be postured for success come next winter with one goal in mind.
“We already had preseason scheduled with the potential to change a few things if need be based on our opponent,” Marsch said. “We’ve got a lot of games locked in already, a site for preseason camp, our schedule and even our offseason fitness routine set so that guys are ready to go. We’ll be prepared and we’re really excited about still being in the tournament. We really want to go after it and try to win it.
