This MLS playoff race is an absolute mess

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess

The race for the MLS playoffs is promising that Decision Day will be as bonkers as it ever has been.

The final day of the regular season is less than a month away, with 28 of the league’s 29 teams set for two breathless rounds of simultaneous kickoffs, one for each conference (sorry D.C. United, you’re just going to have to follow along at home).

There’s an old MLS truism that a team just needs to stay in touch until late August or so, and that if said team can start to heat up around Labor Day, you’re looking at a major threat coming from what on paper is a low playoff seed. Plenty of teams with multiple MLS Cups in their trophy case have at least one season where they followed this plan to a tee.

However, in 2023 it’s not so much about getting hot at the right time as simply ending up next to an empty seat during a poorly-played game of musical chairs. Seven teams have clinched their playoff berths already, and two more are simply abysmal.

That leaves 20 teams vying for 11 postseason spots in what is an extraordinarily forgiving set-up. The problem is that almost none of this group seems able to get a solid hold on their invite to the big dance.

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess:

Bronx-born Red Bulls star Fernandez steps up on derby days: ‘New York is always going to be red’

The Red Bulls homegrown spoke to Pro Soccer Wire about his unique scoring record against New York City FC

New York Red Bulls midfielder Omir Fernandez has built up a pretty impressive scoring record against his club’s biggest rival, New York City FC.

Fernandez is likely to start on Saturday afternoon when the Red Bulls travel to Yankee Stadium for the regular season’s second installment of the Hudson River Derby. With four career goals against NYCFC — three of which are game-winners — it is easy to see why he should be a lock for the starting XI.

Considering that Fernandez has 13 career goals in MLS, it is a pretty impressive scoring rate.

As a player and as a person, Fernandez is low key and rarely rattled. Much like his playing style, there is a certain glide to Fernandez’s persona that seems much more California than his Bronx upbringing. He is affable and upbeat, so his deep emotion for the rivalry between his Red Bulls and NYCFC is a bit out of character.

He admits that on derby days, he gets amped. That might just explain the 24-year-old’s scoring record against NYCFC.

“It means a lot to me. I have said it many times that I am not a big fan of that team. I always have extra motivation of wanting to prove them wrong and wanting to beat them every single time that we play them,” Fernandez told Pro Soccer Wire.

“I think it brings the best out of the whole team as well and I have just been fortunate enough to get the goals, and hope that it continues on Saturday.”

Growing up in the same borough where he will play on Saturday, there is a different beat to this match for Fernandez. He came up through the Red Bulls Academy system, progressing to playing collegiately at Wake Forest before signing a homegrown deal with the Red Bulls.

There was never a doubt that he wanted to represent the Red Bulls, even if NYCFC was closer to his home. His soccer home, he says, was established in 1996 when MLS was launched.

The banter at the heart of the rivalry is that NYCFC is located in New York City, unlike the Red Bulls who are on the other side of the Hudson River. Not surprisingly, Fernandez isn’t bothered by that talking point even though he grew up close to Yankee Stadium.

“The New York Red Bulls have been here since the very beginning of the league. They are one of the original clubs and for many people growing up, that was the true team in New York,” Fernandez said.

“I don’t agree with people claiming that New York is blue just because of this new team coming in. I have always supported the Red Bulls and will continue to always claim that New York is always going to be red.”

In the micro, the derby match is always a heated one between these two sides, no matter the date or what the league table might say.

But for both clubs, this is an important match on the macro level for the playoff picture.

The Red Bulls are five points shy of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC is four points away.

“It is coming towards the end of the season, where every game counts now. There is at least seven or eight games left that are really important and every single game is important,” Fernandez said.

“It just happened that this next game we are playing is a derby away from home. This can be the start of a good push that we need to be able to make it to the playoffs.”

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Messi scores in first MLS match, because of course he did

Messi only needed half an hour to get yet another goal

Lionel Messi came to New York (or close to it) for a good time, not a long time.

Messi made his MLS debut off the bench, but still managed to score just about the easiest goal he’s going to score for Inter Miami, who got a valuable 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Much has been made of Messi’s arrival for Inter Miami, given that he is a) Lionel Messi, and b) has provided a constant supply of highlight-reel plays and moments. However, despite playing a bunch of games against MLS teams in the Leagues Cup, and then escaping an epic U.S. Open Cup semifinal with another victory, he hadn’t actually played an MLS game yet.

Manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino indicated that he would have to give Messi a rest at some point, which while disappointing for a lot of folks is just a recognition of Messi’s age, the travel involved in MLS, and Miami’s preposterously jammed schedule.

However, a Red Bull Arena crowd of 26,276 — a record for the stadium — only had to wait an hour before Martino answered their “we want Messi!” chants, bringing the global legend on alongside Sergio Busquets and DeAndre Yedlin with Miami leading 1-0.

With the Red Bulls pushing for an equalizer, much of the action happened at the north end of Red Bull Arena. Drake Callender had to preserve the win with a stellar late save, before Messi put the game on ice with casual ease.

Even a Messi tap-in is special, though, with the wizard from Rosario playing an unreal pass to Benjamin Cremaschi seconds before tapping home from two yards out.

The Messi phenomenon has become such a big deal that it naturally has also started to get a little weird. Take, for example, a bunch of people standing around Times Square to watch two MLS teams that sit outside the Eastern Conference playoff places play on a billboard.

Miami climbed out of last place in MLS’s Eastern Conference with the win, while Messi is — after just nine games — now alone as the third-highest scorer in Inter Miami history. You know, just a normal situation for late August when a team signs a guy early in the transfer window.

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How to watch Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls: Messi set for MLS debut

Messi, along with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are finally set to make their MLS debuts

Lionel Messi has long since arrived in North America, but he’s only played in cup competitions thus far with Inter Miami. That all changes on Saturday.

Messi, along with former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are all set to make their MLS debuts with an away game against the New York Red Bulls. The trio already won the Leagues Cup and will have the U.S. Open Cup final next month.

Until then, it’s all about league play which begins with the game at Red Bull Arena.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Messi and Inter Miami vs New York Red Bulls” link=”https://apple.co/3EaURhY”]

MLS play will be a much different challenge for Messi and Co. As impressive as the Argentine has been, it would be a sensational achievement if Inter Miami makes the MLS playoffs. Inter sits in the bottom of the Eastern Conference and are 14 points from a postseason position with 11 games to go.

But as Messi has reminded us: It’s never wise to count him out. Here is everything you need to know to catch all the action:

New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami (Major League Soccer)

  • When: Saturday, August 26
  • Where: Red Bull Arena
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

MLS Starting Lineups

New York Red Bulls possible lineup:
Coronel; Harper, Reyes, Nealis, Tolkin; Fernandez, Edelman, Yearwood, Luquinhas; Barlow, Manoel

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Kryvstov, Miller, Alba; Cremaschi, Busquets, Mota; Messi, Taylor, Martinez

MLS Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Friday at 1:43 p.m.

New York Red Bulls (+135) vs. Inter Miami (+180)

Draw: (+250)

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With Messi, Inter Miami in town, New York Red Bulls focus on their own style

The Red Bulls are preparing for ‘an outlier of a player’

HANOVER, N.J. – For the New York Red Bulls, facing Inter Miami and Lionel Messi will make up most of the buzz heading into Saturday night’s fixture. But for a team just three points out of the playoffs, the focus is very different.

In fact, despite the global stature of Messi, the Red Bulls say that they aren’t going to change who they are or their philosophy. This, despite the fact that Messi’s arrival to MLS has been a huge jolt for the league.

With tickets potentially going for as much as $20,000 for this match, it will no doubt be a scene at Red Bull Arena for Messi’s MLS debut. Against the backdrop of the world’s largest media market, Messi mania has certainly gripped the area. Over 500 media credentials were requested for this match.

Only a fraction will be provided on Saturday evening.

It is a setting that Red Bulls coach Troy Lesesne embraces while cautioning that this match is bigger than Messi for the Red Bulls, with a win being paramount for their playoff hopes. Even while facing Messi, who has 10 goals in eight games with Miami so far, Lesesne says his side’s DNA can’t change.

“It doesn’t matter necessarily the opponent that we’re playing,” Lesesne said on Thursday afternoon. “But this is an outlier of a player, you know, this is someone that can show up.

“I don’t think he had a shot on goal [in Miami’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal] but he virtually wins the game with two big moments in terms of his assists. So, there is a component of that that we have to focus on, in terms of him being an individual this talented. But the main focus though, is on how we want to go about trying to be in our way without putting all the attention on one particular player.”

Lesesne pointed out that there’s also a danger in spending all of his side’s preparation time on Messi, as it is at least possible that the 36-year-old doesn’t play a full 90 minutes so soon after going 120 against FC Cincinnati.

“Maybe he doesn’t feature on the night, maybe only comes on for limited minutes,” explained Lesesne. “What a waste of preparation, potentially, if he doesn’t start on the night and we’ve only focused on one player for the week.”

The Red Bulls are a counter-pressing side, one that frustrated Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino during his tenure with Atlanta United. The idea will be to frustrate Inter Miami’s build-up and cut off service to Messi. If the Red Bulls can force Miami to play direct, they could theoretically limit Messi’s touches on the ball.

It is a dangerous game to play, as Cincinnati (another counter-pressing side) found out. The tactic places tremendous responsibility on the center backs to stay connected, and Messi has clearly already proven that he doesn’t need much to exploit an MLS backline.

Red Bulls know it’s not just the Messi show

Messi has made eight appearances for Inter Miami since his arrival in July, none of which have come in league play. He was a part of all seven of his team’s games en route to winning the Leagues Cup, winning the tournament’s Golden Boot with 10 goals. His other Miami appearance came on Wednesday night in what turned out to be a wild Open Cup match that ended with the Floridian side progressing to the tournament’s final.

Given that Miami hasn’t lost with Messi in the fold, the task in front of the Red Bulls seems daunting. If a team commits too many resources to stop the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, that just gives the rest of Miami’s players time and space to do the job themselves.

“I think a bunch of teams we’ve seen so far, they’ve tried to strategize how to deal with that and not just focusing on Messi,” midfielder Daniel Edelman said on Thursday.

“Robert Taylor is excellent these past few games, and also Josef Martínez up top. We’ve got to just be aware of everyone,” continued Edelman. “I think we’ve gotten so much better with controlling the ball and showing teams that we don’t just press and we’re not just going to run you through the ground and play balls in the air and in behind, and be direct.

“We have players that can do more than that, and we’re going to try to show that against what looks like the best side in the league right now in Miami.”

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Breaking: Former New York Red Bulls standout Erick Ruiz joins Rutgers men’s soccer

Rutgers men’s soccer signs Erick Ruiz, a former New York Red Bulls midfielder.

Rutgers men’s soccer got a huge addition on Wednesday, adding Erick Ruiz to the roster. Ruiz is a midfielder who came up through the vaunted New York Red Bulls Academy.

He has also progressed to play for the New York Red Bulls II which played in the USL up through last year and is now in MLS Next Pro. The team has a track record of producing professional players, including United States international Tyler Adams.

Coming up through the Red Bulls system, Ruiz was a central midfielder. He has a strong work ethic and work rate, which the Red Bulls require of their holding midfielders.

Rutgers announced the signing of Ruiz on Wednesday, a bit of a coup for the Big Ten program considering that Ruiz was looked at as a player who could make the jump to the MLS level:

 

Ruiz is the first Pre-Academy player from the Red Bulls system to represent the New York Red Bulls II.

 

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Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls: How to watch, channel, time, lineups, live stream MLS

How to watch the MLS weekend match between the #Sounders and #RedBulls:

A battle of two Major League Soccer teams heading in opposite directions will take place at Lumen Field on Saturday.

The New York Red Bulls head out to face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in MLS action.

New York was bounced from the U.S. Open Cup recently, but the Red Bulls are on the up after replacing manager Gerhard Struber with Troy Lesesne. New York has claimed seven out of a possible nine points in league play since Lesesne’s appointment, including a derby win over NYCFC.

Speaking of, the Red Bulls are tied with their rivals in 10th place in the Eastern Conference following their resurgence.

Meanwhile, Seattle sits on the opposite end of things, both relating to form and the table.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Sounders vs Red Bulls” link=”https://apple.co/42p7EaB”]

A hot start to the season in the Pacific Northwest has cooled off. After taking five wins in their opening seven matches, the Sounders have now lost four of their last five across all competitions.

But a win could erase all that. Seattle would reclaim the top spot in the Western Conference table with a win.

Ahead of the pivotal matchup, here is everything you need to know to stream the action:

Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls:

  • When: Saturday, May 26
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Lumen Field
  • Watch: Apple TV

MLS starting lineups

Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Arreaga, Gomez, Tolo; Rusnak, Paulo; Chu, Lodeiro, Morris; Heber

Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; D Nealis, S Nealis, Reyes, Tolkin; Carmona, Casseres, Yearwood; Fernandez; Vanzeir, Morgan

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Sounders vs Red Bulls” link=”https://apple.co/42p7EaB”]

Major League Soccer odds and betting lines

Premier League odds courtesy of Fanduel. Odds were last updated Friday at 6:30 p.m. 

Seattle Sounders (-105) vs. New York Red Bulls (+280)

Draw: (+220)

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Vanzeir rejoins New York Red Bulls after suspension for racial epithet

Red Bulls players voted to allow Vanzeir to rejoin the group

Dante Vanzeir is back training with the New York Red Bulls after the conclusion of a six-game suspension for using a racial epithet.

Following accusations from San Jose Earthquakes players, Vanzeir eventually admitted that he had called a Black player a “monkey” during a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena on April 8.

Per a statement from the Red Bulls, the full squad voted on whether Vanzeir could return to training after the Belgian forward stepped away from the team in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

“Dante Vanzeir began a comprehensive program, including emotional accountability, restorative practice and cultural sensitivity sessions in mid-April with the outside firm. He continues to have sessions now and moving forward,” said the Red Bulls’ statement.

“We have held restorative process sessions with our players, sporting and front office staff, academy players and their parents or guardians. Vanzeir met with the team as he re-entered training and was unanimously approved to be able to return to the team in an anonymous player vote.”

Significant fallout for Red Bulls

Vanzeir returns to a club that has significantly changed since he used racist language. Former head coach Gerhard Struber’s disastrous handling of the situation — he refused calls to substitute Vanzeir from the San Jose Earthquakes, and possibly from some Red Bulls players, a choice he eventually admitted was a mistake — sparked fury among fans, who staged a walkout of their home match against the Houston Dynamo on April 15.

Between the fan outrage and a poor start to the season, Struber was dismissed on May 8.

Interim head coach Troy Lesesne addressed Vanzeir’s return to training on Friday, confirming the team statement’s assertion that the player vote for Vanzeir’s return to training was unanimous.

Vanzeir’s suspension drew intense criticism from former MLS/USMNT forward Charlie Davies. The ban ended following Wednesday night’s scoreless draw at Toronto FC, meaning Vanzeir is eligible to play in Saturday’s home game against CF Montréal. It is unclear whether he will take part, especially after not training with the club for over a month.

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Troy Lesesne, like his mentor Jesse Marsch, takes on a Red Bulls rebuild

There is more than just a philosophical change happening with the Red Bulls under Lesesne

HANOVER, N.J. and HARRISON, N.J. — With “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” playing in the background, the culture shift around the New York Red Bulls over the past week couldn’t be any clearer. From a drab, at times stoic approach that has dominated the Red Bulls playing style over the past three years, the last eight days under Troy Lesesne have certainly been very different.

It is an outlook that bears a striking resemblance to the successful spell Jesse Marsch had with the club.

Lesesne, named the Red Bulls interim head coach eight days ago, takes over from Gerhard Struber, who wasn’t very popular among many fans. Struber came to MLS with no small amount of fanfare given his pedigree in the Championship with Barnsley and his successful managerial stints prior to that in Austria. Struber’s outlook on the game emphasized a maniacal level of fitness and a direct approach that could lack creativity.

A string of early playoff exits coupled with a style of soccer that didn’t resemble the beautiful game was enough to make Struber unpopular with fans. But after he admitted he fell short in his handling of the Dante Vanzeir situation, there was a complete breakdown between the coach and many fans.

The Red Bulls went winless in the four games after Vanzeir’s incident, and won just once in their first 11 matches to start the season. The decision was made and Struber left the club.

Enter Lesesne.

With his boyish looks, topped off by a head of hair that would make the perfectly coifed Marsch jealous, there is more than a passing resemblance between Lesesne and the man who is the frontrunner for the United States national team head coaching job. Both Lesesne and Marsch have a charismatic presence that exudes a certain confidence — not a cockiness, but a certain assured quality that the Red Bulls desperately need right now.

Even on the sidelines, Lesesne seemed to channel a Marsch quality. In his tailored suit with a narrow tie, the Red Bulls interim head coach is a ball of energy, constantly clapping and encouraging along the bench area.

“I think resetting our cultural values and being really clear about what those are,” Lesesne told Pro Soccer Wire on Tuesday about his message to his team.

“So that that gives us a really good foundation moving forward of the tactics and everything [that is] going to come if we are on the same page about what we value individually and collectively as a team. Then we can start to move forward in a positive way.”

It has certainly been a positive start for Lesesne ahead of his team’s midweek match at Toronto FC. In his first match leading the Red Bulls, his side churned out a 1-0 win over D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. Then on Saturday night, they beat New York City FC by the same scoreline in a derby match that was simply a war of attrition.

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Two wins over two rivals is certainly an impressive statement from Lesesne, who came to MLS in 2022 to be an assistant coach under Struber. Prior to that, he was head coach of USL club New Mexico United after spending several seasons as an assistant with the Charlotte Independence and the Charleston Battery.

His current task is to first stabilize his players, both on and off the pitch. Under Struber, the Red Bulls never seemed like a settled club.

Things were always chaotic on the pitch, with the team pressing and counter-pressing. There was no flow, no rhythm to the team. Individuality was pigeonholed into a greater team construct that may have worked defensively, but limited the team to hopeful long balls pinged forward in a desperate, quixotic zeal to find a target forward.

Goals seemed almost haphazard and often came off turnovers.

On Saturday night, the Red Bulls held possession for just a shade under 32 percent of the match, a number not atypical of the club since their change in philosophy in 2015. Red Bull clubs across the globe don’t value possession, choosing to be more dangerous without the ball, pressing and challenging to create turnovers in transition moments.

It may be an unfair criticism of Struber, an accomplished coach prior to his time in New York, but it seemed at times that all his MLS side was able to do was press. Under Lesesne, there is hope that can be turned around.

The derby match, and to a lesser extent the win over D.C. United just days before, showed that when the Red Bulls had the ball, there was a willingness to take chances. Players switched field with purpose, not merely pumping the ball up the field. Central midfielder Cristian Cásseres Jr. played balls through the lines, attempting to spring runners.

In wide spaces, left back John Tolkin took his marker on in an effort to drive towards goal.

All little moments for sure. But little moments that showed that under Lesesne, the players have been freed within the club’s philosophy to be creative. The Red Bulls will always be a team defined by their global philosophy and style of play, but within that greater framework, Lesesne is willing to unshackle the players in the final third.

“I think the Red Bull identity has to be there. First and foremost, we have to be aggressive against the ball, make teams feel uncomfortable, and then try to create chances out of that,” Lesesne said.

“And then how can we create chances in other phases of play? With the ball in particular, can we evolve that idea a little bit more? It is something that I’ve said often, but that’s what we’re working on right now.”

But while the tactical shift is important and will take time, especially given the lack of training time due to fixture congestion over the next two weeks, the most important and subtle change for the Red Bulls is being played over the team’s loudspeaker prior to training on Tuesday.

***

There was smiling and laughing. Players joked around before training and hung around afterward prior to their flight to Toronto. Lesesne too stayed on the pitch, talking with a young player and milling around.

The training session itself was focused but the atmosphere around the club has shifted in just eight days under their interim coach.

Change is the one constant for the Red Bulls, a team that values young legs for all the hard work that their style imposes on players.

Only one player, goalkeeper Ryan Meara, remains from Marsch’s 2015 team that won the Supporters’ Shield. That team remains very much the model for this franchise, a group that collectively pressed the opposition into submission but had a dynamism in the final third that made them dangerous with the ball.

But there was also a collective will and freedom from that group. So perhaps it isn’t a surprise that little changes, such as music before training, are being blended into the atmosphere of the club.

That was Marsch’s first year with the Red Bulls as the team and the entire organization pivoted following the retirement of Thierry Henry. New York went through not just a youth movement but also a change in philosophy that changed their very model to its core.

Lesesne’s task isn’t quite as monumental, but it is clear that the current locker room was in need of a rebuild.

“I think he brings his own energy,” midfielder Omir Fernandez said after Saturday’s derby win over New York City FC.

“I think he’s trying to rally us up and be more together in moments like this. I think we’ve got to give credit to the players and Troy as well for coming together in such a quick notice and being able to get results.”

New York Red Bulls midfielder Omir Fernandez (21) celebrates his goal against New York City FC with teammates during the second half at Red Bull Arena. Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

When Lesesne talks with his team, he does so in a clear and decisive manner. But there is always a buoyancy in his message, mixing clarity of tactics with a boyish enthusiasm. So perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that the 39-year-old Lesesne is a keen admirer of Marsch.

After all, Marsch’s playing career saw him suit up for Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley, the two most accomplished coaches in American soccer history. But Marsch took that tactical acumen and mixed it with an upbeat dose of encouragement and vision, which took him to Europe and most recently the Premier League.

When studying for his most recent coaching license, Lesesne’s project was on Marsch. The two spoke frequently on the phone for the project, giving the Red Bulls coach a rare glimpse into not just the mind of the accomplished Marsch, but also his heart.

Calling Marsch a “mentor,” Lesesne details a burgeoning relationship with the ex-Leeds coach.

“He’s someone that allowed me to understand how he works. I did an entire project on him, because I have so much respect for the path that he’s paved for himself and now hopefully more American coaches in Europe,” Lesesne said.

“And then he’s someone that I’ve leaned on when I was considering coming here when I was offered the [assistant’s] job. I spoke to him throughout this time. I’ve spoken to him and he’s always available, and he’s given me great advice. He is the standard and I have a long way to go to measure up to a guy like that.”

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Gerhard Struber out as Red Bulls head coach

It has been a tumultuous 2023 for the Red Bulls and the coach has now paid the price

Gerhard Struber is no longer head coach of the New York Red Bulls, with the club saying the two sides “have mutually agreed to part ways.”

Struber joined the Red Bulls in 2020 and led the club to the playoffs in 2021 and 2022. This season, however, the Red Bulls sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 1W-6D-4L record through 11 games.

Assistant Troy Lesesne has been named head coach through the end of the 2023 season.

“I enjoyed my time at the New York Red Bulls,” Struber said in a club release. “It was also clear for me that I wanted to return to Europe at the end of this season, at the latest. It was extremely difficult for me to live here, completely without my family. I informed the club early enough about my wishes and we came to the agreement to part ways.”

A difficult 2023 for Struber

Though the decision was framed as mutual, it’s clear that the pressure has been ramping up on Struber in recent months.

The Red Bulls’ on-field performances have been subpar, including a 1-0 defeat to Philadelphia on Saturday that took the club’s winless run to seven games.

But Struber’s position had been even more compromised by his handling of last month’s incident in which Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir used a racial slur in a game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

San Jose head coach Luchi Gonzalez urged Struber to take Vanzeir off the pitch after the incident, but the Red Bulls coach left the striker on.

Struber’s refusal to take Vanzeir off led many Red Bulls fans to call for him to be sacked, with large sections of the home crowd walking out of last month’s game against Houston in protest.

The coach would later admit that he had made a mistake in not removing the Belgian from the match.

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