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• Schwarz believes pressure will bring out the best in Red Bulls

  New York Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz says pressure is good for players as they prepare to face rivals New York City FC in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal.

  The Red Bulls beat defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew 1-0 in the first of their best-of-three series before edging them 5-4 on penalties in Game 2.

  They are playing in the semifinals for the first time since 2018, though it is the first time they are meeting their city rivals in the postseason in their history.

  Schwarz acknowledged there was a lot riding on this game but is sure the pressure can bring out the best in his team.

  "To feel the pressure as a player and head coach is good," he told reporters. "We need the pressure to bring our best performance and level.

  "Without pressure, it's not possible. Now we have this historic derby on Saturday and we're very excited.

  "Our main target is to win this game, but our focus is to get a result like we had against Columbus. The last three weeks have been looking at how we can create our best performance for Saturday."

  Meanwhile, NYCFC had to come from behind in round one after losing their first match to FC Cincinnati but won the second at home before going through with a 6-5 penalty shootout win in the decider.

  Head coach Nick Cushing is delighted to have home advantage for the semifinal tie but says he is not yet thinking about securing the same fate in the next round.

  "I've learned over my tenure here as assistant coach and as head coach that the next game is the most important part," Cushing said.

  "The whole focus is hosting a playoff semifinal at home. We're really proud that we've done everything to get to this opportunity, but there are many more challenges ahead, and we cannot look further than the first 10 minutes of the game, because that is our main focus.

  "And then, through there, we have a game plan and half-time. We're working through this game, and that is our whole focus."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  New York City FC – Alonzo Martinez

  Twelve of Alonzo Martinez's 17 goals this season (regular season and playoffs) have been scored in home matches, while Santiago Rodriguez has scored 11 of his 13 goals at home.

  Both players found the net in NYCFC's home win over Cincinnati in Game 2 of their first-round series.

  New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg

  Emil Forsberg became the 14th different Red Bulls player to record a goal and an assist in a single playoff match in Game 2 of New York's first-round series against Columbus Crew.

  No player has more than one such game in the team's postseason history.

  MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK CITY FC WIN

  This will be the first playoff meeting between New York City FC and the Red Bulls, but the fifth in knockout rounds in all competitions.

  The Red Bulls eliminated NYCFC in each of the previous four knockout round meetings, doing so in the US Open Cup three times and the Leagues Cup once.

  NYCFC has won five of their eight all-time home playoff matches, including the last three in a row. All three teams that defeated NYCFC on the road in the playoffs went on to reach the MLS Cup Final (Toronto FC in 2016 & 2019, Atlanta United in 2018).

  The Red Bulls' 1-0 win at Columbus in Game 1 on October 29 ended a six-match road losing streak in postseason play for the club. The Red Bulls have won multiple road playoff games in a single season twice before, doing so in 2008 and 2017.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  New York City FC – 46.5%

  Draw – 26.5%

  New York Red Bulls – 27%

• McKenna fired up for 'biggest game in world football' against Man United

  Kieran McKenna believes Ipswich Town's Premier League clash with Manchester United will be the "biggest game in world football" this weekend.

  United are in action under new manager Ruben Amorim for the first time since the Portuguese officially replaced Arne Slot as head coach.

  While plenty of focus is on the visitors at Portman Road, Ipswich are fired up after beating Tottenham 2-1 before the international break.

  That was Ipswich's first league win of the season – and their first in the Premier League in 22 years – and now attention turns to facing United.

  McKenna, who previously coached United, said at a fan event this week: "Sunday, what a game. It's one we're really, really looking forward to.

  "Not for the personal connection, but as manager of Ipswich Town, to be on that stage, it's what we've worked so hard for.

  "It's the biggest game in world football anywhere this weekend, the biggest game in the world in the biggest sport in the world and it's at Portman Road."

  Ipswich's surprise win at Tottenham last time out moved them up to 17th, while United are 13th after beating Leicester City 3-0 in Ruud van Nistelrooy's final game in caretaker charge.

  Amorim took his first training session on Monday, albeit with many first-team stars away on international duty, and the former Sporting CP boss believes his style of play will be clear to see from the off. 

  "I think you will see an idea," he told the club's website. "You could like it or not, I don't know, but you will see an idea. 
   
  "You will see a positioning. You will see something that we want to reach that kind of level. You will feel that. 
   
  "We have to know it's [only] two trainings before the first match. This is the best league in the world. But if I have to say something to you, [it's that] you will see an idea. This I can guarantee."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Ipswich Town - Liam Delap

  Delap scored what proved to be Ipswich's winner against Tottenham and has now netted six of his side's 12 Premier League goals this term.

  That makes the Manchester City academy product one of only three players to have scored at least half of his side's goals in the competition this season, along with Erling Haaland at City (55%) and Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest (53%).

  Manchester United - Alejandro Garnacho

  Garnacho was among the scorers against Leicester two weeks ago and has now been directly involved in 20 Premier League goals for United (13 goals and seven assists).

  The Argentina international is one of only two non-British players to reach that figure for United before turning 21, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (25 goals).

  MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN

  Ipswich are seeking back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since February 2022, with that run also beginning with a 2-1 victory against Tottenham.

  The Tractor Boys are the only side in the competition without a home win this season. Only five newly promoted clubs have failed to win any of their first six home matches, all of whom went back down.

  United have won 17 of their past 19 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents, meanwhile, including nine wins in a row in away fixtures.

  The Red Devils were 1-0 winners on their most recent league trip to Portman Road in April 2022, but only once have they won successive league games away to Ipswich.

  However, the Tractor Boys have lost four of their past five league matches against Man United, failing to score in each of those losses.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Ipswich Town - 22.2%

  Draw - 23%

  Manchester United - 54.8%

• Amorim told Europa League qualification is 'mandatory' in first Man Utd season

  Ruben Amorim must at least guide Manchester United back into the Europa League in his first season as the club's manager.

  That is the view of ex-Manchester City defender Danny Mills, whose former side were beaten 4-1 by Amorim and Sporting CP in the Champions League earlier this month.

  Amorim has been hired by Man Utd to replace Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked midway through his third season in charge at Old Trafford.

  Having taken charge of his final games in Lisbon, a spell which included that famous continental win over Man City, Amorim started his work at United during the international break.

  His first game at the helm comes this Sunday away at Ipswich Town and while Mills acknowledges the task of rebuilding United's team is a long-term project, he feels there is still a certain level of results Amorim needs to hit in the 2024-25 season.

  "Amorim needs to figure out which players fit his mould and buy into his project," former England international Mills said to Stats Perform.

  "That will take six months or so. Then he will need to move some players out and bring new ones in. 

  "This season, though, they still need success. European football – Europa League – is probably mandatory. They must avoid the Conference League. 

  "Without being disrespectful, third-tier European football isn’t good enough for Manchester United, so it has to be the Europa League or Champions League. 

  "The Europa League is very achievable and not making it would be a huge disappointment. 

  "There are still good players at the club and they have still got to aim for the Champions League, but [getting into the top four] will take good coaching, a big turnaround, and maybe a bit of luck."

   

  Amorim is the seventh different manager to take charge of the club since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. 

  The 39-year-old won three Portuguese league titles with Benfica as a player while he left Sporting as head coach after guiding them to two league titles and two Taca da Liga trophies.

  Sporting also started this season by winning all 11 league games under Amorim before his departure.

  "The appointment of Ruben Amorim is a good one," added Mills. "You have to look at the people involved [in the appointment] as well.

  "Dan Ashworth hasn’t made too many wrong decisions as a sporting or technical director. Throughout his career, at West Brom, England, Brighton, and Newcastle, his recruitment has been very good. 

  "Jason Wilcox, who sits under him, did incredibly well at Manchester City. He identified many young players who, if they didn’t become stars at City, went on to become stars elsewhere.

  "Recruitment will be handled well in terms of managers, coaches, and players, but that takes time and it’s going to take at least two or three transfer windows. 

  "I like that Amorim came in and said, ‘Right, that’s it. A new start’. He has moved away from the Ferguson era that people keep harping on about.

  "Ten-plus years ago, we knew how good Manchester United were, but football moves on. Liverpool went through a similar phase after their success in the 1980s."

   

  Amorim takes over at United with the club 13th in the Premier League with 15 points from 11 matches and having collected just one win from four matches in the Europa League. 

  Mills believes there is plenty for United fans to like about the new boss' approach on and off the pitch.

  "Football has evolved faster in the last 10 years than ever before and Amorim deals with the press well," he said.

  "When Sporting beat Manchester City, he admitted they played well but got a bit lucky. People appreciate that honesty. 

  "Fans and pundits are more knowledgeable now than ever before, thanks to the amount of football they consume and the opinions they hear, especially on social media."

   

  After facing Ipswich, Amorim's first two home games will see Man Utd take on Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League and Everton in the Premier League.

  He will then take the Red Devils to the Emirates Stadium for a huge clash against Arsenal on 4 December.

  United reached this season's Europa League by winning the FA Cup under Ten Hag and they have that potential path again this season, while they are also still in the EFL Cup, a competition in which they will play Tottenham in the quarter-finals.

  Winning the Europa League itself, meanwhile, would mean qualification to the Champions League.

  But while there are multiple routes open to Amorim in his bid to secure a continental spot, the Opta supercomputer does not like his chances of doing that through United's league placing.

  After their poor start to the season, United have just a 13.2% chance of finishing in the top six, and a 33.1% shot at reaching the top eight.

  As things stand, they are most likely to finish between ninth and 11th, meaning they are on track for their worst-ever Premier League finish unless Amorim can lead a rapid revival.