DAVENPORT, Fla. – Following a tumultuous offseason ahead of the 2015 campaign, not much was expected of the New York Red Bulls.
To say there was skepticism would be an understatement, but perhaps it was warranted at the time. As a front office shakeup took place in Harrison, sporting director Ali Curtis and head coach Jesse Marsch took the helm with the promise a brighter future.
The uncertainty from the outside coupled with the fanfare surrounding debutants New York City FC gave those within the organization a bit of a complex, but in the best way possible. The doubt was impossible to shut out, but it served as a rallying point for the Red Bulls.
Thus, the “chip” was placed on their shoulders, never to be unseated. It propelled them through the year, as the team would constantly refer to those who gave them no chance when looking for a bit of inspiration. It served to spur them on during their low points, while also keeping them grounded during successful spells. As it turns out, that mentality served them well as New York would eventual lift the 2015 Supporters’ Shield at season’s end.
As the calendar turned over, the circumstances have changed drastically. No longer are the Red Bulls a team in turmoil, but rather one of the most strongly backed teams in the league. It’s a byproduct of their success throughout the league, but it also figures to bring about a change in mentality. After all, how do you keep the chip on your shoulder when you’re no longer the underdog?
“This team is very mature,” captain Dax McCarty said. “We’re very focused on the goals that we have. I think we still want to keep that mentality that we still have a chip on our shoulder. Once we lose that, we’ll lose a lot of the things that make us good: hunger, desire, making sure we press teams and make them uncomfortable.”
With success come expectations, and there have certainly been a lofty set goals set in place for this year’s squad. The challenge now comes in the form of motivation. No longer can they claim to be a side with no respect, but that doesn’t mean their mentality and approach will vary from last season’s successful run.
“We still have a chip on our shoulders, but it’s not because of people underestimating us; I don’t think that’s the case anymore,” defender Chris Duvall admitted. “I think it’s just down to the nature of the people we have on our team. I don’t think there’s anything that will take that chip off our shoulders. We didn’t win [MLS Cup] last year, so that’s something we still want to go out there and do.”
As the Shield holders, the Red Bulls know that opposing sides will be looking to knock them off their perch; matchups with New York may very well be the one that teams circle on their calendar. That, of course, brings with it its on set of obstacles to overcome. And while McCarty has readily admitted that things will be different as one of the favorites in 2016, he’s making a conscious effort to stay grounded.
“We’ll definitely have a target on our back this year; we’re not under any illusions,” he added. “I think teams respect us and they respect the way we play. They’re going to play hard against us, so we’re going to have to step our level up even more.
“But I think that chip on our shoulder that we carried throughout the season last year really helped us be successful and it helped us keep that hunger to be one of the better teams in the league.”
For all the success that New York has enjoyed, the chip will seemingly remain. Even as their high regard league-wide appears to be the rule as opposed to the exception, the Red Bulls continue to maintain their underdog spirit. Not because of the outside factors this time around, but rather unfinished business.
“The chip on our shoulder will always be there because of the makeup of our team,” Marsch explained. “We’re a New York team, but we don’t have all the superstars; we’re more about what the group means. People might underestimate us, but we have a lot of confidence and belief in what we are.
“Regardless, our motivation is ‘how good can we be?’ We feel strongly that we have a great group of young men, we have a good philosophy, we have talent on this team, we don’t get out ahead of ourselves, we know we have to earn everything and that there’s going to be a target on our backs, but I really think this group is focused on each other, on us, and taking this thing as far as it can go.”
