The last time the Red Bulls faced Chivas USA, they lost 2-0 on Aug. 15 at Giants Stadium, and saw beleaguered coach Juan Carlos Osorio quit just days later. Tomorrow’s rematch (10:30 p.m., FSC) will be a test of just how far they’ve come since interim Richie Williams took over.
After going just 2-16-4 for 10 points under Osorio, they’re 2-1-1 for seven points with Williams, and they should get Juan Pablo Angel back from his ankle injury. But after playing their last five at home, they’re going to head off on a brutal three-game road swing that takes them from the Home Depot Center tonight to San Jose next Saturday and at Real Salt Lake Oct. 14.
“The mentality of the team is different we feel better maybe we believer more in ourselves and this is important. This is most important,’’ said midfielder Albert Celades, who should be back from his calf injury. “I don’t want to say it’s better with Richie, because Juan Carlos, I have much respect for him and he worked a lot for us. But the results were very bad.
“With Richie, the first two games we won, and of course when you win, you get a lift. You know it is a possibility (to win). You feel better. Now the situation is like this. Since Richie is here, the four games we are 2-1-1 and of course the mentality is better, the confidence is better for everybody.’’
This is actually Williams’ second stint as interim, having served as a bridge from Mo Johnston to Bruce Arena back in 2006. He’s 6-4-2 in all competitions, and is acquitting himself well for the head job next year.
Williams has established a team identity and consistent 4-4-2 formation after all of Osorio’s tinkering and juggling. He’s got them defending as a unit, and also pushed Celades from a holding role into a playmaker’s role, and the former Barcelona and Real Madrid man has flourished.
In short, the Red Bulls are convinced that they’re a different team than the one that got outclassed on their home field by this Chivas team last month.
“I feel different, because it is for the mentality,’’ Celades said. “The team…after Chivas, it was the last game for Juan Carlos. After Chivas, we did two consecutive victory, and this is very important for us because the losing was very bad, too many losses.
“When you find two consecutive wins, for us we were very happy because we worked very hard altogether and the results weren’t right, but when you have two wins like this the mentality is different, you believe in yourself more and everybody is more happy. It is normal.’’
That belief should be buoyed by the return of Angel, who missed consecutive games with an ankle sprain. And just as backup John Wolyniec _ who scored the equalizer in last Friday’s 1-1 draw with New England _ goes out with his own ankle injury, Angel returns to the lineup.
“That’s what I’m hoping. That’s why I’ve been training just to get a full week under my belt and see how it goes,’’ said Angel, whose 41 goals as a Red Bull are just one shy of Clint Mathis’ club record in all competitions. “Right now obviously we have John out too, which makes it a little bit more complicated in terms of players available in that position.’’
Do you think their resurgence is a result of Williams or their homestand? Figure they can keep up their improved play away from the Swamp? Feel a great road swing can help Williams’ cause for 2010, or is Austria dead set on a big name coach like Carlos Queiroz? Holla at us….
