The New York Red Bulls have the potential to do something truly special in the MLS this season and, despite all the other competitions set to happen in the coming weeks and months, their focus must remain on MLS play.
I write this as the New York Red Bulls are coming off arguably one of their worst performances of their 2018 season so far in any competition. But despite the poor play, they still have luck on their side. Their draw at home against the Philadelphia Union could have easily been a straight up loss.
But the Red Bulls are rolling through MLS matches this season and, even though they failed to score at home in their most recent match, they still managed to save points. Their defense remains impenetrable and the offense will get back into a groove.
Related Story: New York Red Bulls: Luis Robles deserves his moment
That said, the Red Bulls are about to lose some of their squad to the FIFA World Cup. Then they will also begin shifting their focus towards the Open Cup which starts in the coming week.
More from MLS Multiplex
- Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
- Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
- USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
- De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
- Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States
The World Cup is the biggest stage and their players are perfectly vindicated in going to play for their home countries in Russia. It is a burden every team must face and the Red Bulls will have enough time to work around it.
However, the Open Cup is a little more awkward. In particular, their matchup against NYCFC on June 6, falls smack in the middle of two difficult away matches in league play. The first is the New England Revolution in Gillette; the second sees the Red Bulls back on the road to face the Columbus Crew in Ohio.
All three of those games fall within a seven-day span.
The New York Red Bulls, as they should, will take every match and competition seriously. That said, although the Open Cup is a great tournament to win, the Red Bulls still need to maximize their league opportunities.
As nice as it would be to defeat NYCFC once more this season, it would be much to my chagrin if it ends up costing them points in the league because of fatigue, injury or fixture congestion.
The Red Bulls choke in the MLS Playoffs every time they make it. However, this team already went farther than most expected in the CCL. They have already won games that no one gave them a chance to win in MLS this year. This squad has the potential to continue to keep turning heads.
RBNY has already proved a lot. But they still have a lot more to prove. With the Open Cup falling right in the middle of a tight MLS points race, it is okay if they save their fresh legs for the MLS matches where they have a realistic chance to start pulling away.
I am not trying to say that the Open Cup is unimportant or invaluable to the club and the players. It is. But what I am saying is that the timing of it is rather ill and perhaps the resources of the team should be funneled away from it as a result.
Next: MLS: Top 5 goals of Week 13
The Red Bulls are a great team. They are a deep team. Could they succeed in the Open Cup and MLS? Sure they can. But it will be a difficult task and something may have to give.