Sandro Schwarz has praised the New York Red Bulls' mentality and character as they prepare to welcome DC United to the Red Bull Arena this Sunday.
The Red Bulls maintained their three-match unbeaten run with an impressive 3-0 win over Toronto FC last weekend.
Schwarz's side sit third in the Eastern Conference, five points behind FC Cincinnati, having played a game more than Pat Noonan's side.
The New York side are without several of their star players due to international duty, but Schwarz was impressed with how his side rose to the occasion in their latest MLS fixture.
"It's great character from the whole team, it's great mentality," Schwarz said.
"We have seen since the first game and every training session that they are working very seriously and we need all the players, especially in this long season.
"It's good to see that everyone is making these steps and this is necesarry for us, not only to look for two or three players.
"We have to grow up as a team and it's good to see. We have missed important players for sure, but it's good to see as a group we are able to get points and it gives us a lot of confidence."
Meanwhile, DC United suffered a crushing defeat on home turf last time out, losing 4-1 to Houston Dynamo as Christian Benteke and Matai Akinmboni saw red and will miss the trip to New York.
Troy Lesesne's side are without a win in their last eight MLS fixtures, a run which has seen his team ship 20 goals in that time.
DC are currently one point ahead of bottom side Chicago Fire in the Western Conference table, level on points CF Montreal and New England Revolution, and know a victory is a must to get back to winning ways.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
NYRB – Elias Manoel
Elias Manoel’s 29th-minute opener for the Red Bulls on Saturday was the eighth goal scored from outside the box this season for the club, second most in MLS (Sporting Kansas City – 10).
Manoel (2) is the only Red Bulls player with multiple goals from outside the box this season.
DC United – Mateusz Klich
In the absence of top scorer Benteke, only two players have scored more than once this season, one of them being Mateusz Klich.
The experienced midfielder last found the back of the net against Toronto earlier this month, and his side will be hoping he can rediscover his goal-scoring touch this weekend.
MATCH PREDICTION: NYRB WIN
The Red Bulls have won their last four meetings against DC United, including a 4-1 away win on May 15. It’s their longest-ever winning streak against their opponents in all competitions and the longest in the rivalry since D.C. won five in a row in 2004.
Schwarz’s side continued their impressive home form, extending their unbeaten run to 12 games (W8 D4) in all competitions in their triumph over Toronto on Saturday.
DC, however, are enduring their longest winless run since a nine-match span between September and October 2020. The Eagles have failed to win in their last eight matches (D2 L6).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY –
NYRB – 61.3%
Draw – 20.4%
DC United – 18.3%
Douglas Luiz completes €50m Juventus transfer
Juventus have completed the signing of Brazil international Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa.
Luiz was a pivotal feature in Unai Emery's midfield last season, as Villa qualified for the Champions League.
However, the club required sales in order to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Villa have sold youngsters Tim Iroegbunam and Omari Kellyman to Everton and Chelsea respectively, with winger Lewis Dobbin signing from the Toffees and full-back Ian Maatsen joining from the Blues.
Luiz, though, was always likely to be the big sale Villa required to get over the line, and that deal, worth €50million (£42m) has now gone through.
The 26-year-old, who is on international duty with Brazil at the Copa America, has signed a five-year deal with Juve.
In return, Villa are expected to sign Juve youngsters Samuel Iling-Junior and midfielder Enzo Barrenechea in a separate deal worth up to £18.6m (€22m).
They have also been linked with a move for Luton Town's Ross Barkley, who played for the Villans in the 2020-21 season.
Over the past two league campaigns, Luiz has created the most chances (98), teed up the most shots from a set-piece (42), made the most interceptions (63) and tackles (130) of any player in Villa's squad.
Spalletti still searching for answers but will stay on as Italy coach
Luciano Spalletti has said Italian fans have not seen the best he can offer yet after it was confirmed he would remain as Azzurri coach.
And the former Napoli boss promised that he will continue to freshen up Italy's squad, adding he has not been given the answers he wanted from the selection he made for Euro 2024.
Italy put in a poor display as they lost 2-0 to Switzerland on Saturday, with the holders crashing out of the tournament having managed just one win from their four games.
But on Sunday, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina reiterated the organisation's backing of Spalletti, who replaced Roberto Mancini last year.
"We have nothing to hide, but we must continue to take responsibility," Gravina said, as quoted by Football Italia.
"There was a long chat with the coach yesterday and I think that it is unthinkable to solve the problems by abandoning a multi-year project after eight to nine months.
"Central to our project is a coach who has been here for nine to 10 months, who has not always had all the players available."
Spalletti's task will be to guide Italy to the 2026 World Cup, with the Azzurri having failed to qualify for the last two editions of that competition.
But the 65-year-old wants to do that by "rejuvenating" Italy's squad.
The Azzurri had the fifth-youngest squad at Euro 2024, with an average age of 26 years and 348 days when the tournament began.
"Yesterday's match took us back down to zero and we'll start again from there," he said.
"I will rejuvenate this squad and try to create a group. I wasn't given the answers I was looking for regarding leadership. The future will be younger with new energy and strength."
Spalletti added: "You haven't seen [the best of me] over these 10 months.
"I was told that I raised the intensity in training too much, that I told fairytales to motivate the players, but that's my life. You always need examples to follow otherwise there is no path to follow.
"I came in when there was an immediate urgency for results and given what was required, we were looking good up to a certain point. We were unable to grow in this mini-journey we took yesterday, we took a significant step backwards and that cannot be accepted. But we will start again from there. I know what to do and I will put it into practice."
Barcelona elect against keeping Joao Felix as Joao Cancelo returns to Man City
Barcelona have confirmed the departures of Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo.
Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid's record signing, joined Barca on loan last season, while Cancelo, his compatriot, joined from Manchester City on a similar deal.
Joao Felix played 44 times in all competitions for the Blaugrana. He scored 10 goals and provided six assists.
Reports this week suggested new Barca coach Hansi Flick was keen to keep hold of Joao Felix, but for now the attacker will return to his parent club.
Barca confirmed the news on Sunday, the final day of Joao Felix's loan contract.
Cancelo's departure was also announced. Reports suggest Barca are, as it stands, unwilling to meet City's asking price for the full-back.
Both he and Joao Felix are currently representing Portugal at Euro 2024.
Barca also announced that former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso would be leaving the club on the expiration of his deal.
The Blaugrana finished second in LaLiga in 2023-24.
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