After mustering just three road wins all last year, th💦e Red Bulls already have matched that total barely halfway through the season. And they aim to surpass it Saturday at expansion Minnesota U🍸nited (4 p.m., ESPN).
Despite early-season struggles, the Red Bulls (9-8-2) have won four straight gam⛄es overall, and back-to-back league road contests by an aggregate score of 5-2 to climb up to fifth in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the expansion Minnesota United (5-11-4) is in the Western Conference cellar and winless in its last three home games at TCF Bank Stadium.
“We have to understand taking this team lightly will put us in big, big trouble,’’ Red Bulls ♚coach Jesse Marsch said. “So we took a little bit of extra time in video to make sure that we look at things carefully and help the team understand exactly who they are, and that more than anything we go there [and] we understand the type of fight we’re in for, and to be up for the challenge.”
Tyler Adams (cramps) and Connor Lade (muscle s🔯pasm) are both fine, and Michael Murillo is back with the Red Bulls after CONCACAF Gold Cup duty with Panama. With the Red B🐻ulls switching to a 3-6-1 formation for Wednesday’s 5-1 win over San Jose. In the game, Sacha Kljestan notched his 42nd career assist to tie Thierry Henry’s club record.
“They changed their team [Wednesday], which was quite unusual because they normally don’t,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said. “They’ve ha🦩d the same formation, and the same people in the same spots for the last 2 ½ years really. For me, over the last two years, [they have] been the best footballing team in MLS.”
The Red Bulls made a deal with Minnesota recently, trading for the discovery rights to Muhamed Keita. And Metro reported that the 26-year-old speedster is expected to sign over the weekend. Keita can play wide, in central midfield or even as a forward. He last played for Lech Poznan in Poland, ✤but the connection may have come from his time with Stabaek in Norw✅ay.
With Stabaek, Keita played for Bob Bradley. Marsch played under Brad🅘ley at Chivas USA and was his assi🦂stant on the U.S. National Team.
Despite reports Thursday morning that Fidel Escobar had flown to New York and was “hours away” from a deal with🐓 the Red Bulls, league source said nothing is imminent on that front.