As usual the Red Bulls were scarce at today’s MLS SuperDraft, their first-round pick traded away last year on draft day for Kenny Cooper – whom they’re reportedly peddling. They have far more foreign rumors than draft picks, linked with Fernando Cavenaghi, Pascal Chimbonda and Anibal Carvallo.
But the Post can confirm that the club has no interest in Argentine striker Cavenaghi. And interim coach Mike Petke insists the merry-go-round that’s been the Red Bulls roster and front office is just from a desire to win, one he shares. He said for the sake of stability, the team is going to make finding and developing young American players a priority.
“Listen, we all know how Red Bull has been. I love Red Bull; but we want to win,’’ said Petke. “The company wants to win. People might look and say there’s so much turnover and stuff. Well, I look at it as these guys wants to win.
“The Red Bull organization has been tremendous with us financially, the stadium they built, with the way we travel, the things they provide us with. The least we can do is win a damn championship for them, you know?’’
And as far as Petke is concerned, the way to do that is with a stable core of young, American players, be they drafted or homegrown. He said adding 22nmd overall pick Ian Christianson of Georgetown – the top-rated holding midfielder in today’s draft – is an example of that.
“Stability is very important. We’ve shown here today we’re putting stock in the draft,’’ said Petke. “Our first-round pick was traded away – not by anybody at that table – a while ago, OK?
“We put stock in young American players. I put stock in developing players. So I’m very keen in getting Christianson in and developing him, and next year NOT trading away our first round-pick and developing him, keeping him and looking for the future.’’
Soccer America named the Red Bulls as the country’s top youth club.
“We were just rated the best academy system in the country,’’ said Petke. “That tells me we have homegrown players coming through.’’
Which would include Christianson’s Hoya teammate, Brandon Allen, who was named the country’s top freshman.