On Wednesday night, the New York Red Bulls will play their first competitive match of 2019. Chris Armas spoke to the media from the Dominican Republic after an off-season full of new signings and re-signings.

The Red Bulls face Atletico Pantoja in the CCL opener. Pantoja enter the tournament after winning the 2018 Carribean Championship. Despite a fortunate draw for the Red Bulls, Atletico Pantoja poses a different test for Chris Armas’ side.

Concacaf Champions League

When asked on his emotions heading into Concacaf Champions League and preparation ahead of Atletico Pantoja, Armas was excited, “We’ve gotten guys healthy, close to game fitness, on the same page in many ways. Some good games, gotten a lot of guys good minutes so as a team we’ve taken steps forward”.

Looking at the opponent for Wednesday, Armas voiced uncertainty, “In terms of the opposition, if the goal was to figure out exactly what to expect from the coach and those players, then yeah we haven’t done so well. It is challenging. We know how the coach (Lenin Bastidas) and his previous clubs played, their style of play and things he emphasized so the staff put together a great scouting report on the opposition so the things we can control there, we have done a fine job. “

Playing in Concacaf Champions League always poses various different sets of challenges. It’s a part of what makes the competition frustrating and difficult to win for MLS sides.

The Red Bulls will take on Atletico Pantoja at the Olympic Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo, DR. Before heading to the Dominican Republic, Armas says he’s seen video of the stadium. “We’re heading there in a little while. It looked fairly good but in that we know that it’s not going to be Red Bull Arena. Not as even, the ball never really settles down, the grass will probably be longer”.

Armas also added that they don’t think the field is that wide. Around the playing surface is an Olympic size track which may have an effect on the size of the pitch.

Mathias Jorgensen signing

On February 12th, the New York Red Bulls announced the signing of 18 year-old forward, Mathias Jorgensen. Jorgensen joined the team for a reported fee of $2 million dollars from Danish club, Odense Boldklub. Jorgensen won’t be available for tomorrow’s match against Atletico Pantoja, but Armas seems confident he will join the team soon. “We’ve tried to expedite every step of the process, any day now he is having his appointment for the Visa and all the legal work for him to get over here. They’re thinking next week.”

With a compact schedule over the next month, the Red Bulls will need a wide array of options on the front line. Armas said, “The goal is to get him here as quick as possible and with the big picture in mind to make sure we move him along in the right way. If the right way is 3 days, then that’s what it will be”.

“We have to see him with our team, how he fits in, do we start to really look at two forwards, is he a wider guy, as we rotate things can he play by himself up top? ”

Where Jorgensen fits in best within the Red Bulls XI, remains to be seen. As Bradley Wright-Phillips turns 34 this season, many saw the Dane as a a long-term replacement or understudy for Wright-Phillips.

Armas was asked about that, though he says the move wasn’t made to replace Wright-Phillips long-term . “In that position we have Brian White, Tom Barlow, having another piece up there was important. Factoring in Brad’s age, that wasn’t the top reason to look for another striker.

After another impressive year in 2018 for Bradley Wright-Phillips, Armas lauded the club’s leading scorer, “The production hasn’t slowed down, his durability hasn’t slowed, in my opinion he’s never looked more explosive honestly. He’s fit. You’ll see tomorrow that hasn’t been a concern, we’re always projecting out in every position, all the time. Denis Hamlett has done a great job on focusing at the bigger picture, from an overarching view.”

Resigning Parker & Long

Following the 2018 season, the New York Red Bulls took major steps towards locking up two key parts of 2018’s best defense. Both Tim Parker and Aaron Long signed new deals that will see them become two of the best paid American center backs in all of MLS.

Armas is excited to have both players back, “With Aaron and Tim, a solid partnership, a great understanding, two guys that understand the way we play and are built for the way we play. They have shown they can work together, and what that means for the team. So to lock those two guys up, it’s a big step and a big statement for our club.

Aaron Long was part of Red Bulls II’s 2016 USL Cup winning squad and since then has rifled up the club’s depth chart. Chris Armas touted the system that helped get Long to this point, “I think it’s another example of a success story of our USL team and our club. The system works. Developing, identifying and nurturing players, and then how they grow within our system and improve within our system”.

Sean Nealis signing

Backing up Aaron Long and Tim Parker will be another local player by the name of Sean Nealis. The Hofstra product was selected in the 2nd round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and on Sunday signed an MLS contract with the Red Bulls. Armas detailed a couple of the mental qualities Nealis’ possesses, “He showed right away that every little thing we threw at him, he took it in and he’s thinking about it and he’s trying to apply it. His attitude was the starting point”.

In comparison to Long and Parker, Nealis is not too far behind, Armas says, “his top speeds are up there with Aaron and Tim. He can run. Thats impressive because those other guys are two of the fastest on the team. We call him a philosophy player because he’s fearless, he’s not afraid to step to plays”, also adding, “Those are the guys we love to work with, and we think he can grow in this system”.

Update on Kemar Lawrence

Today, we found out a little more on Kemar Lawrence’s injury that kept him out of the second leg of the 2018 Eastern Conference Final. Armas says, “It was a knee injury. MCL. Typical time is to take 8-10 weeks. Nothing to rush that, nothing to speed it up. Didn’t require any surgery, just needed some time to strengthen”.

As for his availability on Wednesday night, Armas simultaneously reiterated their confidence in Lawrence’s health, while stressing caution. “He’s’ strong, he’s tackling. Kemar is back”.

“We’re just managing work loads and bringing him along the right way from a fitness standpoint and thinking about the big picture. We don’t want to push him too fast for 90 minutes. Kemar is ready to go, he will be used off the bench. He will be getting some starts in the very near future but the field (playing surface) has nothing to do with the decision”.

On Wednesday February 20th, kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET vs Atletico Pantoja. Coverage will stream on Yahoo Sports and Univision Deportes.



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