Don’t be fooled by the Red Bulls’ first-place standing going into Saturday’s game in Houston (8:30pm, MSG). They have plenty of work to do, especially on offense.
Getting blanked last weekend at home against Real Salt Lake underscored how much they need captain Sacha Kljestan. With last season’s MLS assist leader back from US National Team duty, can he add creativity and much-needed quality to an attack that’s second in MLS in shots but middle of the pack with four goals? Considering both teams love to press, there will be plenty of chances on both sides.
“They press with their front three, put you under pressure and want to make you make mistakes,’’ coach Jesse Marsch said.
Kljestan said: “They’re more wide open than in the past. [They] have three guys that hang out up front and defend with about seven. When we were down in Houston two years ago, we lost 4-2. It seems like in two years there’ve been a lot of goals. Hopefully we tighten things up in the back, and we’re good enough to break them down on the ball and then are fully aware of them on the counter.”
The past two meetings have produced a combined 13 goals — the Red Bulls beat Houston 4-3 at home last season — and new Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera has the Dynamo even more attack-minded than before, behind “Cubo” Torres, Alberth Ellis and Romell Quioto (out with a dislocated left shoulder). Then the Red Bulls face another road test April 9 in Orlando.
“Now we’ve got to go to two tough places where it’s hotter than it is here, just get used to the environment, a new stadium in Orlando where they’ve done well,’’ Kljestan said. “We know it’s going to be a couple of tough places to play. But we just have to go in there with confidence and be a little bit better.”
Gonzalo Veron is out for the Red Bulls. Derrick Etienne and newly acquired fullback Michael Amir Murillo are both back from international duty, and practiced. Murillo will debut with the USL Red Bull II on Wednesday if his loan is cleared up by then, and move up to the big club shortly thereafter.
The Red Bulls inked striker Bradley Wright-Phillips to an extension this week that made him a Designated Player.
“I’m excited for him, and I’m excited for our team to have him stick around for a few more years,’’ Kljestan said. “It means a lot to the attacking part of our team.”
The Red Bulls brought in former South African international and Bundesliga veteran Bradley Carnell as an assistant.