Troy Lesesne sends message to RBNY supporters after difficult 2023
- Red Bulls fired head coach Gerhard Struber in May after winning one of first 11 games
- Lesesne has kept Red Bulls in the hunt for the postseason
- New York take on Nashville SC on Decision Day
New York Red Bulls interim head coach Troy Lesesne thanked the club's supporters after their 3-0 win over Toronto FC.
Although Red Bulls appear to be finishing the 2023 campaign on a positive note with three wins from their last four games, there's no getting away from the fact that one of MLS' original teams has endured a pretty dismal season.
One win from the club's first 11 games marked a new low for the club, with Gerhard Struber subsequently parting ways in favour of appointing Lesesne as interim.
Lesesne guided Red Bulls to a four-game unbeaten run in MLS and US Open Cup after taking over in May, and months later the club can still make the playoffs - something that was probably deemed impossible a few months ago.
"I'd really like to thank our supporters," Lesesne said after the win. "You know, tonight was our last regular season home match. And we want to recognize them and all the support that they've given us this year, through again, maybe the most difficult season in Red Bulls history in the last 10-12 years.
"But I also want to say that hopefully we're going to provide another home match for them ,and that could look like us potentially hosting a play-in match. It could look like if we progress in the first round, it's a home and away fixture. So, our goal is that we're not done yet. We want to provide another home match."
Red Bulls will have to dig deep if they are to punch their ticket to the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, as they'll have to get through Nashville SC to qualify on Decision Day, October 21. Chicago Fire, Charlotte and New York City FC are also in the running to overtake CF Montreal, who sit in eighth place with 41 points ahead of their final regular season game against Columbus Crew.
"We’re going to a tough place in Nashville, but we’re up for it, think we’ve shown obviously it’s been a crazy year, but we’ve shown we can compete with any team in this league," forward Tom Barlow said. "When we’re doing our job, we’re together, and the pressure is good, we can beat anybody, so that’s our mentality."
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