New York Red Bulls manager Jesse Marsch says winning the Supporters' Shield as Major League Soccer's best regular season team has done nothing to diminish the chip on his players' shoulders.

The first-year coach, who replaced Mike Petke at the start of the campaign, believes his team heard the critics who questioned how the Red Bulls would fare after losing key Designated Players Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill in the offseason.

All that talk has motivated the players all year and continues to as they try to win the first MLS championship in the club's history, according to the coach.

"There has been a lot of talk about the chip on the shoulder and all that stuff," Marsch said. "I think this has been a unique story, this team and the way things have gone the last few months have been a unique story in this league.

"The more times I see Mike Petke's name in the press, the more I see Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, keep writing it guys, because our team still has a chip on their shoulders."