MATT KREMKAU - EMPIRE OF SOCCER

by ANTHONY J. MERCED

After some soul-searching following New York Red Bulls’ 3-1 aggregate defeat to the Montreal Impact In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, head coach Jesse Marsch can look back at the 2016 season in a positive light.

“Yes, the season was a success,” said Marsch emphatically during a team press conference. “There’s a number of accolades and accomplishments. First, getting through the Champions League for the first time was big, going 20 games unbeaten, being one of the top attacking teams, top entertaining teams for our fans, being great at home, setting a record for home wins, winning the east.”

Marsch had a long lists of accomplishments to mark his assessment of the season and that’s before pointing out the individual dominance of players like Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Both led the league in assists and goals respectively, contributing to the team’s overall win-loss record in 2016.

“There’s a lot to be proud of,” added Sporting Director Ali Curtis at the conference. “At the end of the day we’re all disappointed that we weren’t able to deliver an MLS Cup to the fans and to the community but we’ll be right back at it in terms of this team. We’re going to be better.”

That faith in improvement comes from the success of the USL team, New York Red Bull II. As 2016 USL Champions, the MLS reserve side showed just how strong the team’s academy system is. Forward Brandon Allen finished second in the Golden Boot race and won Rookie of the year while Aaron Long won league defender of the year honors.

With the potential of turnover each season, these names could become familiar faces on the MLS roster.

“We think very highly of the players down there,” said Marsch. “Now when we’re thinking of retooling and pushing for next year, there’s obviously very established players on our team that we think are very high quality but the challenge will be what is the balance for next year and how do we keep hunger and drive and you and continue to invest in everything that we’ve done here.”