The New York Derby had many standout performers in the 4-0 win on Saturday at Red Bull Arena, but the continued emergence of midfielder Florian Valot has been one of the biggest pluses in this early season for the Red Bulls.
Valot added a goal, his third of the MLS regular season, in the fourth minute of the match to double the Red Bulls’ lead. He followed that up in the 79th minute, assisting New York’s fourth goal, scored by Derrick Etienne, Jr.
Head Coach Jesses Marsch, speaking about Valot after the match, said the sporting staff knew the talent existed in Valot, but had to figure out the right way to unlock it.
“Flo had to put his time in," Marsch said. "Two years he spent with USL, right? And we knew he was a talent, but he just needed to continue to develop and fully understand what we're doing. And then once you started to see it, I think in preseason this year. He's had great moments with USL, but preseason this year, you really saw him to come alive and start to gather confidence, and now you can see a pretty darned good player that has very few flaws.”
Bradley Wright-Phillips reiterated his belief in the player Valot continues to evolve into for the club.
“Flo’s a clever player,” Wright-Phillips said. “He’s good on the ball, he’s fit, he’s got a goal in him. You know, there’s not much more you can ask from him this early in the season.”
