The New York Red Bulls will be ready to "give everything they have" against Chicago Fire on Saturday, according to Head Coach Jesse Marsch.
The Red Bulls will see former captain Dax McCarty for the first time since trading him to the Fire earlier this year and Bastian Schweinsteiger since his debut in MLS. Chicago has 11 points through seven games this season, winning two of their last three.
🎥: Jesse Marsch on facing Chicago#NYvCHI | #RBNYpic.twitter.com/xb44fevh2A
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) April 27, 2017
"A vastly improved Chicago team, with the added caveat of Dax being involved for them and him coming back to Red Bull Arena," Marsch said. "I think it will be a special moment for him, a special moment for our fans."
Marsch said that the Fire are improved defensively and in the midfield this season, and have carried over their attacking prowess from previous years.
"Making it hard on those guys in the midfield will be key," Marsch said.
The head coach said that McCarty's appearance will drive up the stakes around the game.
"I think our team will be up for the challenge," Marsch said. "He’ll be ready to give everything he has and we’ll be ready to give everything we have."
Heading into a tough week, with three games over seven days coming up for the Red Bulls, Marsch said staying focused on the game at hand is paramount. New York follows their three-game homestand with a mid-week game in Kansas City and an away trip to Philadelphia on Saturday.
"With everything that this Chicago game will mean, this group will be up for it," he said. "It’ll be important for us to get the points in this game because we have two tough road matches coming up."
