Red Bulls coach slams MLS over schedule amid string of injuries

New York Post

19 hours ago

Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz slammed Major League Soccer Wednesday night for the way it has handled its scheduling following his team's 1-1 draw against Toronto, which led to three players leaving with injuries.
Star forward Lewis Morgan, defender Raheem Edwards and forward Wiktor Bogacz all exited the match with injuries in the Red Bulls' first match in 11 days, because of a break in the MLS schedule for the Club World Cup, which began earlier this month.
Schwarz frustratedly told reporters that the injuries 'were not the biggest surprise.'
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Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The issue at hand was the rule in the CBA that players had to be given five days off away from the team completely and then the schedulemakers had the Red Bulls playing Toronto on Wednesday.
'I'd love to speak to the guy who is responsible for that rule,' Schwarz said. 'Everyone knows that you need good preparation. The rule — five day break off and then directly start five days later, it's not possible [to prepare correctly]. For me, it's a new experience, for everyone it's a new experience and I think that it's not the best idea to be honest.'
4 Red Bulls midfielder Lewis Morgan runs with the ball during the MLS regular season match held at Citi Field in Corona, N.Y., on May 18, 2024.
Stefan Jeremiah for New York Post
He added later: 'We are not allowed to control the guys during this break, and then they directly have to be ready in the middle of the season? Come on. This is unbelievable.'
Schwarz is currently in the middle of his second season as Red Bulls head coach and prior to that had spent his playing and coaching career in Europe.
And the extensive break and then a quick return to action with two games in the span of four days, which was not enough time to prepare properly in Schwarz's eyes.
'Normally, you need 10 days or two weeks for the next game,' he said about the break.
4 Referee Christopher Calderon talks with Red Bulls defender Raheem Edwards after a play as defender Tim Parker looks on in the second half against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Morgan left the game with a quad injury in the 24th minute in a game that was just his second appearance after leaving February's season opener and undergoing knee surgery shortly after.
Edwards exited in the 58th minute after going down clutching his left hamstring and Bogacz suffered a concussion a little less than 10 minutes later.
4 Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz watches from the sideline as they take on the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
David Butler II-Imagn Images
The status of all three players is not known and Schwarz won't speak to the media again until Friday ahead of their match against Minnesota.
Though the Red Bulls did announce on Thursday separate injury news related to midfielder Cam Harper.
The club announced that Harper had undergone surgery on Tuesday after suffering a right knee injury in the Red Bulls' match against Austin FC on June 14 and would be out indefinitely.