The Red Bulls, the first No. 7 seed to play for the championship, look to upset five-time MLS champions LA Galaxy on the road
CARSON, Calif — When Sandro Schwarz took over the New York Red Bulls in December, 2023, the German was tasked with changing both the mentality of the club and their performances on the pitch.
One year on from his arrival, he's led RBNY to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2008 – and is now one victory away from handing the Eastern Conference side their first league championship, despite the club being a founding member of the league at 1996.
"That we are in the final means a lot for us, for the whole club, for our atmosphere, for our philosophy, for identity and for the culture we want to create," the 46-year-old RBNY coach told GOAL in an exclusive interview ahead of Saturday's championship game against the LA Galaxy.
The No. 7 seed Red Bulls have stormed the MLS postseason in 2024, defeating reigning champions Columbus Crew in the opening round, and following with two more road victories over rivals New York City FC and then Orlando City in the Eastern Conference final. The Red Bulls are the first No. 7 seed to play for the championship after joining the 1998 Chicago Fire as the only teams to win three straight playoff matches on the road.
"We started the first round in Columbus, the first game, it was also not our main topic to talk about, playing on the road," the RBNY manager said. "It was also not when we played at NYCFC at Citi field or in Orlando. Our main part was 'OK, we want to win something for ourselves, we want to win something for the club, for our supporters in the stadium or on the screen,' and that's the same on Saturday. I'm sure we will have a lot of a lot of supporters on in red on Saturday, and that's our our main goal, for sure, we want to win a trophy, but to bring the trophy home for all these people who are supporting us, who's also helping us, that's great, and hopefully we can start very quick on.”
That will all be on display at 4 p.m. ET Saturday at Dignity Health sports Park in Carson, California, as the Red Bulls search for their first title — and LA, for their first in a decade. Some have called the Red Bulls' postseason success an "underdog" run, including club legend and Apple TV analyst Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Schwarz, however, has denounced that claim, telling the media Friday that "it's not the biggest surprise that we that we are sitting here together and that we are playing tomorrow." And to any who are surprised, well, that's on them, not the Red Bulls.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowIMGANEstablishing identity
Heading into the 2024 MLS season, the Red Bulls had been eliminated in Round One of the postseason for five consecutive seasons. Factor in that it's been 16 years since they last appeared in the league's championship game in 2008 – their only appearance since their founding in 1996 – and the club has been stagnating at a level they could never surpass.
That was until Schwarz' hiring in December 2023.
In 2024, he's taken them to new heights and developed them into one of the Eastern Conference' most fierce competitors, while establishing a new identity on and off the pitch for the NJ/NY club.
Most importantly, though, he's established a new approach within the club – one founded on compassion and relationships, along with vigor and drive.
"First of all, to meet all these people, that was the main part, and then to feel the culture," Schwarz says. "For me, the first step was to create, with all these people around me, an atmosphere where we feel comfortable and then starts the work. Then our rules, our routines, in our daily work every day. And that's necessary then to come to be successful… it starts, everything, to create the culture and identity."
Now, nearly one year on from his hiring, they're in MLS Cup 2024. But he's not looking ahead.
"To think about what can happen after the game, it makes no sense from my side," he said. "As a head coach, our main part, our main focus is what do we need to win the final on Saturday. But we know all the emotions with our supporters, all the emotions with our employers, with our whole staff, with the players."
AdvertisementIMGANCreating the bond
U.S. international and star fullback John Tolkin says Schwarz has connected with the players unlike any manager prior, describing the German as "unique." He says the bond between the roster and the 46-year-old manager is a key reason they've found themselves competing in this year's championship game.
"Maybe it's just his personality," the 2024 Paris Olympian for the USMNT said Thursday. "I don't really know how to explain it, though I think he is tough at times, but he's also very calming and supportive — it's a nice balance between the two. I think he's found the perfect balance coming into this postseason, and he's just a unique guy… we all love him, and I want to win for him. We support him and he's done such a good job this year."
Tolkin recorded the game-winning assist in the Conference finals, in which RBNY defeated Orlando City 1-0 courtesy of his laser pinpoint assist off a free kick to Andres Reyes on the far-post. In general, though, the homegrown left back has flourished under the German — along with many of their young domestic talents.
Part of that is Schwarz' coaching, but another major factor is how the German has created an XI built for moments like these, with the perfect balance of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance.
IMGANThe perfect balance
Ahead of the 2024 campaign, the club made a blockbuster signing, bringing in Sweden international and ex-RB Leipzig star Emil Forsberg, with the midfielder joining the club on a free transfer. Since his arrival, he's been the focal point of their roster, and a key component in their playoff push. In addition to the Swede, though, was the marquee summer signing of midfielder Felipe Carballo – who has created a complex double pivot in the center of the park alongside U.S youth international and RBNY homegrown Daniel Edelman.
The experienced duo, along with club stalwart Lewis Morgan and DP striker Dante Vanzeir, have balanced out their youthful roster with experience, leadership and grit to create an XI that is formidable.
"I think it's necessary to also have these homegrown players, these young guys with a lot of potential," Schwarz says. "So that's great to have these talents in your own academy to build up these guys, but on the other side, you need also a little bit of experience, especially now on Saturday in this final so you need, and also his experience, Emil Forsberg, Lewis, Dante, all these guys
"And at the end, it's a mix of the whole group. It's not only one player, it's not only Emil, it's not only the young player, the homegrown player, it’s the whole group, the whole team."
While the veterans brought into the club under Schwarz in 2024 have elevated them to new heights as a unit, they've also allowed the Red Bulls' local domestic talent to break through to new levels as well. Players such as Tolkin and Edelman, along with defenders Sean and Dylan Nealis as well as fellow homegrown midfielder Peter Stroud, have all taken the next step in 2024 – with the likes of Forsberg and Carballo allowing them to do so.
"It starts every time with the connection with the people to create this atmosphere," Schwarz said of his bond with the team. "And this is not all only for my character, it’s the whole stuff, it’s all assistant coaches, this is important."
IMGANAchieving the goal
Consider Forsberg fully bought in. He believes in the message from the Red Bulls and Schwarz.
“Now, we’re in the final and I’m not satisfied,” Forsberg said. “I think the way we approached this season, the way guys went in, everybody together, I think that’s a big key why we’re here now.”
The Swede, Schwarz and all of the Red Bulls seem calm and composed ahead of the match, even as the seek their first MLS Cup in the home stadium of the Galaxy, who are looking for their sixth MLS title. But don't confuse that with a lack of intensity or spirit.
“I came to win,” Forsberg said. “Nothing else. That’s the ultimate goal, to win. I came here to win. I can’t speak about what was before. But when I came, I had one clear goal and that was to win."