The New York Red Bulls are labeling Saturday’s match as a mental test as the club looks to break out of their current slump and into the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
“If we can get a win here then we can start to think about maybe we can inch our way up in placing a little bit, but it’s a mentality moment for our group,” Head Coach Jesse Marsch said. “It’s a moment where as much as its been a difficult stretch there’s no looking back right now.”
September was a difficult stretch for the Red Bulls, who played seven matches in all competitions, most of them less than a week apart.
Sean Davis noted the degree of difficulty in September and agreed with Marsch, adding the team needs to ‘step up and get it done’ in October.
“If you look at this past month, the month of September, we knew going into it was going to be challenging and it certainly was,” Davis said. “[In Toronto] limiting their offense was a big emphasis going in and we didn’t get that job done.
“That doesn’t fall on anyone particularly, but it does come down to our team as a unit. That’s something we know we need to improve on and we’ve been saying it over and over again, but its time for us step up and get it done.”
For the Red Bulls, they control their own destiny.
New York can punch their playoff ticket with three points from their last three games, something they’re determined to wrap up on Saturday.
“We have no excuses,” Marsch said. “Now we have to get the job done and that’s the emphasis and focus.
“I think we have the kind of young men to do that so I’m excited to get back as much as we’re enjoying a little bit of time to recover and regenerate, we’re anxious to get back out there.”