Even before Red Bulls fans revolted over the firing of coach Mike Petke, their oldest gripe was the club’s supposed disinterest in the US Open Cup. When the team accepted an invite to the International Champions Cup – creating a conflict with a potential US Open quarterfinal – the angst got even angrier.
At Tuesday’s ICC press conference, his Red Bulls were drawn to host English Premier League leader Chelsea on July 22. According to US Soccer, the quarterfinals of the Open Cup — a tournament open to American teams at all levels, from MLS down to semi-pro — are set for July 21 and 22.
But Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis claimed whatever that narrative was in the past, it couldn’t be further from the truth at present. He insisted the Red Bulls, from the top on down, want to win the US Open Cup.
“We’re making the Open Cup a priority,’’ Curtis told The Post. “When I think US Open Cup, our players, our coaching staff, myself, all the guys in the business office, the US Open Cup is a huge priority. We want to be successful in that. Five games and we’ve got a chance to lift a trophy? That’s awesome. That’s foregone conclusion.’’
Curtis has to understand, with the Red Bulls and their supporters, there are no forgone conclusions. Well, other than drama. But despite their supporters’ heartache, this is a particularly raw wound with this fan base.
They remember then-Red Bulls coach Hans Backe not even traveling to Chicago for a 2011 quarterfinal that his shorthanded 14-man team lost, 4-0. Many were in the stands for last year’s 3-0 loss to the Cosmos of the second-tier NASL, watching the team play without Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill, Dax McCarty, Jamison Olave or Roy Miller.
“Yes, it’ll be a challenge. But the US Open Cup, we want to win that thing,’’ Curtis said. “We want to have success in both competitions: US Open Cup and the [ICC]. We don’t want to compromise the health and safety of a player. Just like in every competition, we can always petition for some kind of flexibility.”
The Red Bulls have a busy slate around the potential conflict in late July, with scheduled dates against Orlando City on July 18 and Porto in the ICC on July 26.
“US Soccer being the governing body, in a situation we don’t think can manage we’d contact them and work out something that mutually benefits everybody,” Curtis said. “They haven’t given us any authorization that fixture dates can be moved. I don’t want to paint that picture. But from the club’s perspective, if we have concerns about the date … our point is to always reach out to decision-makers, in this case US Soccer.’’
US Soccer told The Post changes can be made, but they’re not guaranteed and Curtis never said one had even been requested. If the change is as simple as adjusting the time, the team would just have to inform US Soccer.
But any date changes would require the consent of the opponent, and both teams must submit something in writing. Ideally, that would occur at least two days prior to the previous round, in this case the Round of 16 being slated for June 30 and July 1.