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%
Gyokeres rated above Haaland by Sporting captain Hjulmand
Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand hailed his team-mate Viktor Gyokeres as a superior striker to Erling Haaland ahead of Tuesday's clash with Manchester City.
Sporting, who will lose head coach Ruben Amorim to Manchester United next week, face the Red Devils' fierce rivals in their fourth Champions League game of the season.
That contest will pit two in-form Scandinavian strikers against one another as Sweden international Gyokeres takes on Norway superstar Haaland.
Gyokeres has been a revelation since swapping Coventry City for Sporting last season, scoring 34 goals in the Portuguese top flight this calendar year.
That is more than double the figure managed by the competition's next-most prolific player, with Porto's Galeno netting 16 times.
Gyokeres' haul has come from an expected goals (xG) figure of 28.17, while his shot conversion rate of 27.9% also dwarfs that of nearest rival Galeno (19.5%) and he has scored 31 of 47 big chances in 2024.
His 61.2% big-chance conversion rate is the second-best of any player in Europe's top 10 leagues, behind Jan Kliment, who has managed a 75% ratio for Czech side Sigma Olomouc.
As Gyokeres prepares to do battle with Haaland, who has 11 goals in 10 Premier League games this term, he has received a glowing endorsement from his skipper.
Asked which striker was the better player at Monday's pre-match press conference, Hjulmand said: "Gyokeres, because he plays for Sporting."
Outgoing boss Amorim, meanwhile, knows Sporting's financial position means they will one day cash in on the Swede, who has been linked with several Premier League clubs.
"I don't know Sporting's plans, but if the right offer arrives they will have to sell," Amorim said on Monday.
"He is an athlete who is at his peak and can give a lot, both in terms of money to his club, and income to the future club".
Gyokeres already has 16 league goals for Sporting this season, the most of any player in Europe's top 10 leagues ahead of Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, who has 14.
Haaland is tied for third place, alongside Bayern Munich's Harry Kane and Atalanta's Mateo Retegui.
Gyokeres has also been directly involved in 10 goals in 12 appearances for Sporting in European competitions (seven goals, three assists), scoring on all four of his European starts at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
He still has some way to go to match the Champions League exploits of Haaland, though.
The City talisman has been directly involved in 49 goals in 42 appearances in the competition (44 goals, five assists).
If he scores or assists on Tuesday, he will become the fastest player to 50 goal contributions in the competition's history (43), overtaking Ruud van Nistelrooy for fewest appearances to reach that figure (45).
Arsenal sporting director Edu steps down
Arsenal have confirmed Edu has resigned from his role as the club's sporting director.
Edu, a former Arsenal player who was part of the "Invincibles" squad in the 2003-04 season, has been involved in the behind-the-scenes running of the Gunners since July 2019.
He first returned to the club as technical director, and was promoted to sporting director in November 2022.
Edu has played a key role in supporting Mikel Arteta, and helping the Spaniard transform the Gunners into Premier League title contenders.
Reports emerged on Monday, however, that the Brazilian was quitting his role, with speculation mounting that he will be joining Evangelos Marinakis' footballing organisation - the Greek magnate owns Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos.
"This was an incredibly hard decision to make," Edu said in a statement released on Arsenal's website.
"Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history. It has been a special journey.
"I've loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.
"Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best."
The news comes after Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United on Saturday to leave them seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal face Inter in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Amorim: Man Utd will think 'new Alex Ferguson has arrived' if Sporting beat Man City
Ruben Amorim joked Manchester United fans will think he is the next Alex Ferguson if Sporting CP manage to beat Manchester City in the Champions League.
The head coach has agreed to join the Red Devils and will take charge from November 11 after signing a contract with the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Before then, he has two games left in charge of Sporting, starting with their Champions League match against Pep Guardiola's men on Tuesday.
Sporting have made a perfect start to the Primeira Liga, winning all 10 of their games, and have made an unbeaten start in Europe, but Amorim is prepared to come under more scrutiny while on the touchline against City.
"Winning tomorrow would be brilliant. Would I be a hero at Manchester United before I land? I don't think about that, my focus is on winning the game for Sporting," Amorim told a press conference.
"The inferences that people will draw from this game are not important to me because they can be misleading. If the result was very negative, expectations will be lowered, and I don't think that is a bad starting point when I start at United.
"If we win tomorrow, they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived and that will be very difficult to maintain. What interests me is to win tomorrow, to have a farewell at Alvalade, then win in Braga and then start in Manchester.
"It can increase or decrease expectations. I don't know what is better. I want to leave the fans and the players happy and confident and qualify the team for the play-offs."
Sporting won their first European meeting with City in March 2012 in the Europa League, but are winless in their last three against them (D1 L2).
However, they are unbeaten in their first three Champions League games so far this season, and if they avoid defeat on Tuesday, they will equal their longest-ever unbeaten run in the competition (four between September 1982 and March 1983).
The 39-year-old boasts the best win ratio of any Sporting coach on record in the Primeira Liga, winning 120 of his 156 such games in charge (76.92%), but captain Morten Hjulmand said the team are ready to prove they do not need Amorim, who agreed with the sentiment.
"Yes, [Sporting is prepared for his departure]. You heard Hjulmand say that they no longer need the coach," he added.
"They are very mature; they understand the game very well. They are prepared, it won't make any difference in the end.
"There is a change, of course, but the team is prepared and has enough maturity to move forward."
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