DAVENPORT, Fla. – If Wednesday’s matchup with the Philadelphia Union was any indication of things to come, then the New York Red Bulls would do well to prepare for some physical battles throughout the 2016 season.
- TICKETS: Red Bulls Home Opener vs. Toronto FC, Sunday March 6
In the first half of their match in Clearwater, the Red Bulls came flying out of the gates, carving out several good scoring opportunities through some clever build up play, while also remaining steadfast on the defensive end with their high-pressing scheme. It was a relentless effort from many of last season’s starters that put the Union back on their heels for the majority of the night.
As the half wore on, it became readily apparent that Philly’s inability to get any sort of handle on the match was turning into a point of frustration. That frustration manifested itself as the Union racked up five yellow cards in the first half alone, often in the way of late and dangerous challenges.
Head coach Jesse Marsch and the rest of the coaching staff were visibly upset with the amount of physicality being shown on the night, especially in a friendly match that was inherently designed as a training exercise for both teams.
The match hit its boiling point just before the stroke of halftime, as newly signed Ilsinho—already on a yellow card—came in with a late, studs-up challenge on Gideon Baah, earning the Brazilian a red card and an earful from Ronald Zubar, Sal Zizzo, Mike Grella, and others.
“That’s something that we understand that we’re going to have to deal with,” defender Chris Duvall told NewYorkRedBulls.com. “We go out and press teams and try to make them frustrated, so we understand that we’ll get fouls in return. I think the [Union match] shows a little taste of it, but it’s something we prepare for. We just have to play through it because we understand that that’s a side effect to the style of play that we have.”
It may not be the ideal scenario, but the Red Bulls insist they are prepared for what may lie ahead. After the match, Marsch addressed his team to applaud the team’s effort on the pitch, but also their ability to maintain focus in the midst of a heated battle.
The physical nature of their opponent’s play is hardly a new obstacle to overcome, however. Throughout 2015, teams that were unwilling (or unable) to match New York toe-to-toe often resorted to setting the tone early through physical play. A result of a system that gives the opposition very little time and space to play their game, the Red Bulls seem resigned to the fact that their high-pressing, up-tempo game plan may bring about some crunching tackles; but don’t expect them to waver from their tactical set up any time soon.
“Those are good tests,” Marsch said of the team’s clash with their Eastern Conference foes. “We’re going to be faced with a lot of adversity this year and I think that was a really good end of the preseason match for us. For us, [we need] to have a competitive edge but also stay focused on what we’re trying to accomplish. And it doesn’t take that many reminders for our group because they’re dialed in, they know who we are, and they define who we are.”
