With all sorts of rumors and reports floating around about changes in the CONCACAF Champions League, here are the two incontrovertible facts Red Bulls need to know about the international competition: Their team will be in it and they will have more money to spend.
How much? Well, the numbers have yet to be approved, and it won’t happen until the MLS Cup in December. But an industry source told The Post the figures are expected to be roughly $100,000 in salary cap allocation funds for qualification — which the Red Bulls achieved by virtue of winning the Supporters’ Shield in the MLS — and $200,000 for reaching the quarterfinals.
Considering the Red Bulls will be vying on three different fronts for the first time since qualifying for the 2009 Champions League, the salary cap relief will be much-needed.
“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle here,’’ sporting director Andy Roxburgh said. “You can’t just add pieces because you fancy.’’
It’s been reported U.S. Soccer would strip the U.S. Open Cup winner’s traditional berth into the Champions League, and WorldSoccerTalk reported the New York Cosmos are pushing CONCACAF to let them into the event due to their victory in the Soccer Bowl. Neither scenario seems likely.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, MLS is strongly considering taking the berth awarded to the losing MLS Cup finalist and giving it to the regular-season conference champion that does not win the Supporters’ Shield. This would have to be voted on by the competition committee after the MLS Cup, and ultimately would have to be rubber-stamped by U.S. Soccer.
Either way, the Red Bulls will be part of the next competition, and will have added funds to bolster a team centered around Thierry Henry. The French captain confirmed he has another year on his contract, though Roxburgh has been noncommittal about whether he’ll add a third Designated Player to join Henry and Tim Cahill or spread the Red Bulls’ money out more evenly.
“My mind is totally open. We’re looking at our own squad,’’ said Roxburgh, adding the team’s playoff fortunes would play a role in that determination.
The Red Bulls were knocked off at home by Houston in the Eastern Conference semis.
“If there’s somebody we think will obviously make this a better team, we’d got to the owner and discuss that,” Roxburgh said. “To me it’s not ‘DP or not DP.’ We’re looking to see are there players there that could add a dimension to the team to make us even more effective.
“But right now there are a number of players out there recommended to us, but it’s purely a thought process, trying to stay open-minded about it. The minute we come to a conclusion, we’ll have to act because a few of them are out of contract and have a lot of options.’’