The Red Bulls have seven games left in their regular-season, five at home. But coach Hans Backe says the next three – crammed into a busy week – will go a long way toward deciding their postseason fate.
“The last week before the break, we were up-and-down…I still think it will help us going into the last seven games being fresh,” Backe said yesterday, as the Red Bulls returned from an eight-day layoff.
“If you just look at the standings, every point is crucial. The teams have to play each other. We’re going in now (against) Columbus and Kansas the two next games. The next week, the busy one with the midweek game can decide everything for us if we have a good one.’’
The Red Bulls come out of the international break 13-7-7 with 46 points, four points behind Eastern Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City. They host Columbus next Saturday Sept. 15, then host Sporting KC Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena, a huge lift since they’re one of just two MLS teams unbeaten at home.
Then they play Saturday Sept. 22 at New England.
*** Backe has steadfastly insisted he wants to settle on a first-choice back four with four or five games left in the regular-season, so they can get their chemistry and communication down pat before the playoffs start. But he says there are still at least a half-dozen players in the mix, at a number of positions.
He praised Wilman Conde’s work at left back, a position he’s presumably been unfamiliar with – at least, in a back four as opposed to a back three.
“Wilman has played phenomenal two games as a left back. (He) surprised me, because I don’t know if he’s played there before. But Kansas and DC, he’s been great, defending-wise, attacking-wise, did his job,’’ said Backe.
“(Markus) Holgersson, (Heath) Pearce has played most of the games now as center backs. Connor (Lade) playing as a sometimes wide left (or) right fullback, he’s very versatile. (Brandon) Barklage is back; he’ll pick up the fight of course. Roy (Miller) is with the Costa Rican national team.”
And, at least for the moment, Rafa Marquez is back with this team. The oft-injured Mexican practiced on a limited basis yesterday, with an eye toward a full return to training early next week and a possible return on Sept. 15.
“He will join in normally for the first 30 minutes now the first three days, see how it works. Hopefully, he could join in then on Tuesday, hopefully, if everything works well for a full session,’’ Backe said of Marquez, who hasn’t started since July 15 and hasn’t played at all since an Aug. 10 cameo appearance.