Red Bulls preparing for exciting 2nd Leg against Chivas

The New York Red Bulls are getting ready for their big second leg Semi-Final matchup as they will host Chivas of Guadalajara from Liga MX at Red Bull Arena this coming Tuesday night. For the first time they come into this second leg trailing by a goal, which means their backs are against the wall.

But that wall is not so hard as they have been fantastic at home scoring multiple goals both in league play and in CCL play. The only goal they conceded was against Club Tijuana in the first half, but were able to level the match and then in the second half explode for two more.

But once again this is a side that is very talented and ready to play going against the Red Bulls, they know that being up a goal is not a comfort level and probably, they will try to play a little bunker ball throughout the entire 90 minutes. But make no mistake that this is a very talented Guadalajara side.

“I think we learned first hand how good Chivas is and how difficult a place it is to play there. We didn’t give much away, they didn’t give much away. It was a very close match, about exactly what we expected, combative at times.” said Jesse Marsch.

“Now we know coming back here even though we are down a goal, we are confident at the way we play at Red Bull Arena and we are going to find a way to create more chances. We need to be more aggressive but making sure we don’t get exposed, so that’s a big challenge on the day.”

With the Red Bulls missing both Alex Muyl and Aurelien Collin due to yellow card accumulation, it would mean that things might get juggled around a bit but does that mean that Jesse has to switch things up?

“We had a plan for what the game would be down there and we had a game plan for what the game would be like at home. We were already evaluating if those two players would be in the line up back home.” said Marsch.

“We were already evaluating if those two players were going to be in the lineup back home and we were going to evaluate how the first leg went, it’s unfortunate they aren’t available but we have a deep roster and a lot of players we can count on.

Chivas played a mid-week game and we did not is a little bit of an advantage. They played others while sitting down most of the starters as we know they will be ready to go against us on Tuesday night.”

The Captain of the Red Bulls Luis Robles sat with the media and informed them about the mood of the players going into the second leg of these Semi-Finals of the CONCACAF Champions League.

“Since we’ve got back from Guadalajara the mood has been upbeat, I think right now looking at the past result and looking into the next leg there are certain things we need to make adjustments on, but we feel good about our position.” said Luis Robles.

“We feel since pre-season we feel confident about the personal we have in our locker room and no matter the task, no matter the opponent we feel we can take care of business and about us conceding the one goal down in Mexico puts us in decent position and we know we are behind.

We know it’s going to be a game to be very offensive, but we need to make sure that we defend as well to make sure we don’t get behind.”

But Robles was very happy to see CONCACAF suspended center back and Captain of the goats in Jair Peralta for two CCL games for putting both of his hands on the throat of Sean Davis.

“I’m glad that CONCACAF got that right. Because on the field it was so obvious and so blatant and the strangest thing apart about it is that it was right in front of the ref (John Pitti Hernandez).” Said Robles.

“Even after the game in that situation it doesn’t pertain him and I’m thinking what situation in life can you grab someone by the neck and not be penalized. What situation is it o.k. for someone to behave like that whether it’s o.k. being on the field or in the streets?

That could’ve altered the game a little bit for them being down a man. obviously we were down a man in that situation, it could’ve opened up the field a little bit. But this is why he is a good player who has a good career and is one of their leaders, so he will be heavily missed.”

But as we all know about this side from Mexico, Guadalajara has another top player that can fill in big time and is a veteran of big time games and playing for the National Team in the World Cup in Carlos Salcido.

But this will be a very tough opponent once again as Guadalajara who are having a terrible league season is still good enough and strong enough to perform on the international stage and defeat the Red Bulls, but it will be at Red Bull Arena and we shall see if the home cooking will continue for the home side.