Schwarz Focused on Performance on the Road

New York Red Bulls know the numbers and know that they have only one win away from Sports Illustrated Stadium in 2025. Even more important, the club knows that the playoff race will depend on how they perform in their final six games in order to keep their 15 playoff streak going. In their way stands Charlotte FC, a team that Red Bulls defeated earlier in the campaign and now has less fire power following the sale of Patrick Agyemang.

“We know all the numbers, the stats, the situation,” said Schwarz when answering questions about the team’s road record. “The main focus for me, as usual, is our performance, our style of play. That is what we have to prepare and from the mental side as well.”

It is a Jekyll-and-Hyde situation for Red Bulls as their results at home have been some of the best in the league, including victories over top teams like Nashville SC. However, the margins have not been in their favor away from Harrison, NJ. Goals have been difficult to come by and unfortunate circumstances have seen the club leave with less points that many feel they deserve.

For Charlotte, their playoff hopes hang in the balance. A loss would see Red Bulls climb to 42 points, hot at their heels while NYCFC is already level on points with games in hand. The result is equally as important for head coach Dean Smith. A fact, when combined with New York’s road record, he will hope to take advantage of on Sunday night.

“When you’re looking at the table, you see all the points in our home stadium and on the road not so many points,” said Schwarz. “In our daily work, our focus is on performance behavior, and for Sunday, to prepare for everything so that we are ready.”

Red Bulls travel to Bank of America Stadium to play Sunday night against Charlotte FC. Afterwards the team will return home to play Columbus Crew SC next Saturday.