On the day coach Hans Backe’s Red Bulls flopped in their bid to virtually clinch a playoff berth, his new general manager offered him a vote of confidence only through the end of this season, which has just two games and the postseason remaining.
For next year, Jerome de Bontin’s pregame vote was an abstention that echoed even more ominously after yesterday’s 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire at Red Bull Arena.
Named Wednesday as the replacement for Erik Soler as GM, de Bontin deferred to a yet-unhired sporting director on Backe’s future. Speculation has arisen that Backe must win the MLS Cup to return next season.
“The world of soccer goes season by season,” de Bontin said. “Every great player and every great coach tends to wait until the end of the season to assess what comes next.
“Keep in mind that [global sports director] Gerard Houllier was hired in the spring, and Gerard came in with the responsibility of reorganizing all of the clubs of Red Bull. Gerard will at some point appoint a sports director to decide what direction to go next year.
“Unequivocally today we are behind Hans and we’re going to be with him through the end of the season. As to next season, we don’t know right now.’’
Prelims delivered, de Bontin then voted.
Backe is in his third season as coach of the Red Bulls, who are beginning to feel heat about never having won anything. Backe took over a team that finished last in 2009 to wind up first in the East in his first season.
But that was then. Yesterday, the Red Bulls fell to fourth in the East, although their playoff magic point number is four with Columbus and five with Houston. They lead the East in goals, the first tie-breaker, so a victory in their final two virtually puts them in the postseason.
Stuck on 53 points, the Red Bulls also failed to match the team record of 54 points (1.68 per game) in a 32-game season in 2000. They also had 51 (1.7) in a 30-game campaign in 2010.The opening deficit was merely delayed until the 65th minute, when Sherjill MacDonald darted behind Connor Lade for a breakaway goal. It was the 19th opening goal (6-9-4) the Red Bulls allowed, compared to 13 (9-0-4) scored. Defeat was assured when MacDonald converted on an apparent offside in the 78th.
For once, the Red Bulls survived without giving up an early opener in the scoreless, cornerless first half. Thierry Henry had the best chance 27 minutes in, his high in-front volley blocked out of nowhere by Chicago’s Arne Friedrich.