UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – If New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe is on his way back home to Sweden on a permanent basis at the end of the season, he does not know about it yet.
A day after Swedish newspaper Expressen quoted Backe as saying he would go back to Sweden in December because he had not been given a contract extension, the Red Bulls head coach refuted the claims. Backe was even amused when asked about the report, chuckling and smiling before touching on the topic.
“Don’t trust them too much,” Backe told MLSsoccer.com on Friday before repeating himself. “Don’t trust them too much.”
Backe is in the final year of his three-year deal with the Red Bulls and the recent departure of general manager/sporting director Erik Solér has caused some to believe that new general manager Jerome de Bontin will not bring back Backe at season’s end. While that may ultimately prove to be the case, Backe is adamant that a decision on his future has not yet been made.
“No, no, no, no, not at all,” said Backe. “Absolutely not.”
Currently off due to the international break, the Red Bulls return to MLS action on Oct. 20 with a home game against Eastern Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City.
