So what are you going to be doing for Thanksgiving, my friend? Nothing special. Nothing special, to be honest. Wait, none of the players have invited you to the house or what? What are we doing? No, no, no. We have to prepare. We have to prepare our game on Saturday.
Welcome back, everybody, to another episode of Offside with me, Taylor Twelman. We're in the final act of the season, and today we're talking to two of the managers who have been behind some of this year's postseason chaos. First up, the veteran. The Seattle Sounders, Brian Schmetzer. Fresh off a stoppage time upset against the Western Conference 1 seed, LAFC.
Then I'll be joined by the New York Red Bulls head coach, Sanjo Schwartz, who emerged victorious in the first ever playoff Hudson River Derby. An absolute laser and the Red Bulls have the lead. Stick around to hear how fans in New York experienced that game. That was a rough one, lads. This is passion. This is what it looks like. In the other two conference semifinals, Orlando City poured cold water on Atlanta United's playoff run.
One saddle for the Lions. And the LA Galaxy continued to blow their competition out of the water, putting six goals past Minnesota United. And guess what? It should have been more. The ball in behind. Peck trying to come inside. Peck for the... After the blood, sweat, and tears of last weekend, there are four clubs left chasing the title. All worthy. All playing to their strengths. All of them geared up for what should be an unforgettable conference final.
Major League Soccer Super Saturday kicks off for the showdown of the Eastern Conference underdogs. Orlando City grind-out game against the tenacious, whatever-it-takes style of the New York Red Bulls. Then later that night, the marquee matchup. A clash of the opposites. The Galaxy's electrifying attack goes toe-to-toe with Stephen Fry in Seattle's best MLS defense. Catch both of these matches with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. And by the way, you'll be able to watch the finale, MLS Cup, for free.
If you predicted that these would be the four teams left standing at the beginning of the season, not a single soul would have believed you. The 2024 MLS Cup playoffs have been upset after upset with just one giant left. standing. And it's not the one you thought. It's the LA Galaxy. Who knows what will happen next? First, we go out west. Seattle Sounders manager Brian Schmetzer came on this program seven months ago to talk about his team's improbable run to an MLS Cup eight years ago.
2016. In the middle of that season, the team fired their coach and Brian got promoted to interim manager. After that, Seattle turned it around, and they beat Toronto in one of the greatest comeback seasons this league has ever seen. Earlier this year, Brian told me this about the MLS playoffs. It is hard to win championships in our league, but it's not impossible. It is not impossible. Team that gets hot in the playoffs.
They're going to go. They're going to play well. They're going to believe. You get that belief in your team. We had a really good roster. They just needed to bring it all together, and they needed to believe that they could win. The irony is, back in April, when he said all of this, the 2024 Seattle Sounders had just one win in 10 games. Many Seattle fans.
have headed for the exits, and there is the final whistle from Ramin Tuchon. All the way back to 2016, the last time Vancouver claimed to win in MLS play here in Seattle. At that point, it looked like it might be tough to repeat their playoff success from the year before, when they got to the conference finals. But Brian, he believed.
Does 2024 Seattle Sounders believe that they can do this the way 2016 did? Well, the coach does. I think so. Yeah. The team's good. We're trying to find a solution. We're trying to find some belief. Since we talked, Brian and the Sounders found some solutions and some of that belief, and they turned their season around, and they ended up fourth in the West, and they just upset.
their bogey team in the conference semis they have slayed their demon they have defeated So we had to get Brian back on the show to hear the story. of how they did it. And now, what comes next? So, buddy, we had you on the show in April. Seattle had one win in your opening 10 games. Are you a little surprised that we're here talking before the conference final? In some ways, yeah. I mean, I'm a realist in many ways. I mean, obviously, you always hope for the best.
You hope that your team can come together. But we had some pretty big question marks to answer, some challenges to overcome. Did I have belief that we could do it? Sure. Did I have the confidence? Yeah, we started to work on it. And then all of a sudden, after League's Cup. Taylor, when we started to win some of those games and Jordan and Albert were finding their form and defensively we got better.
You know, then, yeah, ask me before the playoffs started, and I would have told you nobody wants to play against us. Yeah, because if you actually look at it, Brian, that's why I brought it up. Since June 15th, you guys have been the best team in Major League Soccer regarding points.
wins all of that better than miami better than columbus better than orlando and the reason why i bring that part up is Is there one move, one decision, one game, one moment, however you want to describe it, where all of a sudden you did something or the team did something and you looked at your staff and said, we may have something here. I think it was a combination of a couple of different milestones in this season. Look, it was hard. Now, two years in a row, we had to retire Nico.
previous year, Raul coming out of contract, his last year. Those were, you know, real challenging moments for us as a team, as a coaching staff, as individuals, you know, the players and myself. And I think once we work some of those through with Raul, he has been a great pro. He's, you know, helped his teammates off the field that a lot of people don't see. Solidifying that.
lineup with Jordan up top. I think that was another critical decision that we had to make. And when we made it, I think it worked. Obviously, the results have followed. I think there's been a... overriding belief by this squad. Now, maybe... You guys, the news people out there, maybe our fans even that were disgruntled, maybe even some people internally might not have had the belief that this team is as good as it is. Yep.
But I'm telling you one thing, Taylor, the players have not wavered one bit. You talk to Christian, you talk to Jordan, you talk to Steph, you talk to JP, you talk to anybody. They're going to tell you that they think, they think, they believe that they're a good team.
I think they're a good team. It's interesting though, Brian, it's a much different team than you've ever had because for lack of a better way to put it, and I'm not downgrading your attacking players, but it's not at the level that it was. Even in 16, 17, 18, 21, 19, whatever year you want to look at it, this team is built from the back front. I'm not saying you were not good defensively in years past, but you are really good defensively now.
How has that been as a manager? Because that's had to be a little bit of a transformation for you, no? Well, no, look, I'm a believer. I'm a hate to lose guy. And I believe the defense wins championships. So those two things, you know, they mix together at times. Look, you're right. I mean, let's put the cards on the table.
In 16, we had a lot of really tremendous, talented players, a lot of veteran players. 19, Nico and Raul were in their prime. We've had Clint. We've had Oba. We've had good attacking talent. this club and yeah last couple years we've struggled a little bit to find a real consistent goal threat on you know on different positions different you know areas of the field
And so, yes, by default, we've had to figure out a way to win games. And so, you know, I've always made all the attackers defend. Even Raul, when he got here. Clint, in his own way, had to defend in certain areas of the field. It's obviously different. But when you put Jordan up front, what people don't see, maybe, is in the 118th minute of the game. Uh, he's sprinting back, chasing a guy down into the corner and then. Yep.
About 30 seconds later, he's pressing Lloris, the highest guy up on the field, to try and put pressure higher up the field so he couldn't dump it on top of us. So Jordan does a lot of work up front. And then, you know, Albert does his kind of defending. You know, Rothrock did a great job to kind of start us on this run. He's an honest guy. You know, Obed and Christian have so much range defensively. Yeah, they were brilliant the other night. Yeah.
Let's look at that LAFC win. I am on the record saying 2024 is a bigger surprise win than 2019. Would you agree with me? Yes, and people ask me upon reflection which was the more satisfying win. And I'm kind of like going like, well, I mean, they're both kind of satisfying, but one's a semifinal, the other one's a conference final, put us in the MLS Cup. So there's a little bit of nuance there. But, you know, Taylor, I'm extremely proud of the guys.
for the game on Saturday night. Absolutely. I mean, they put it in. There were guys that played above their level. We had asked them, we had demanded that they were going to outwork LAFC. The duels that we won in the game, you know, we didn't beat ourselves too badly. I mean, look, LAFC had some chances. I mean, you got to give them credit.
You know, they maybe should have got a second goal, but, you know, that's sports. But our guys dug deep. Our guys had the strong mentality with Yaimar coming out of the field, you know, Reid with an injury. I know. You know, being able to sub on JP and Raul in the second half of extra time. I mean, the whole team put it in that game.
So this time last year, I had to go through my notes. You came on this podcast and you asked me a question. Do you remember what the question was? No, my memory is terrible. You said, hey, Taylor, answer me this. How come Stephen Fry's never won goalkeeper of the year? And I went back. Brian, I went back and listened to it. I didn't have an answer. And by the way, I don't have an answer now.
I know you haven't listened to the broadcast. I'm going to tell you what I said. I think he's the best goalie in MLS playoff history. And the reason why is I don't think people fully understand. How many little saves that accumulate that turn into Saturday night beating LAFC, MLS Cup in 16, CONCACAF Champions League, whatever it may be. Where does Saturday rank in Stephen Fry's analog under you as a coach? Well, 16.
the save, you know, is the best. So good. I don't think any other goalkeeper makes that save. But in Saturday's game, he made all... the saves that he had to make. He came up with a couple exceptional ones, you know, the little kick save when it deflected. You know, I forget who shot Bogus or something. It came off, but Bogus was inside our 18-yard box. The last, you know...
Overhead kick by Aaron Long that could have snuck in the corner and Aaron Long would have been the hero. And then Hollingshead blasts from an angle where he crashes into the post because... He might not have known that Ryan was going to shoot or whatever, but his footwork, he gets over. He sacrifices his body and keeps us in the game. I mean, he's kept us in more games than I can count and remember.
And I'm glad you said that on air. Thank you. Because I said it in my stuff earlier in the week or after the game, it was, look, people don't have to jump on my bandwagon or your bandwagon, but my opinion. Best shot stopper in the league, bar none. Big picture. I'm stunned at the way the playoffs have unfolded. And I'm just curious from your perspective, when you look at Miami, Cincinnati, Columbus.
all out. Now you look at LAFC, Curtis, you look at the top nine, 10 teams, only three or four of those remain. Does that surprise you at all? Well, not really. I mean, look, it's... It's MLS. A lot of crazy things happen in our league. It's playoffs. The way the Americans set up the playoffs in any sport. I guess if you have best of seven series and best of five series in other sports, maybe the favorite comes out on top more often. But in these winner-take-all, one-game series, now, look.
Atlantis did a great job, credit to everybody down there, to knock off Miami. I think that was the biggest shock of the entire postseason. But yeah, we were shocked that Columbus was out. We wish Minnesota could have put an upset there, then we would have had the home game. But it's crazy sometimes, but it's pro sports. The best team's not always going to win.
No, the best team's not always going to win and the highest scoring team is not always going to win. You knocked out the third highest scoring team in the West and guess what your gift is? The unstoppable force versus the immovable object in the sense of where the galaxy are. Brian, our listeners aren't going to know this. You played the Galaxy three times. You held them scoreless in all three games.
I think they're one of the best teams to watch. You know me, neutral from the outside because they've got multiple players that can do multiple things. However... You guys are very good at just staying who you are and making life difficult. Initial thoughts going into the game Saturday. Yeah. Peck actually in the leaks cup game, Peck scored a goal late in that game. So they did get one on us. Okay. But yes, look.
We play a little bit different than Colorado, a little bit different than Minnesota. Although, you know, look, if we play a back line of five. We're not going to have as high a line as Minnesota. I think they were playing with fire. I mean, we're a little more conservative in that way. We've played them tough because, look, there's a little bit of a history there. Rivalry, you know, big teams from 2000.
and nine obviously the galaxy having five championships and all of that so there's some history there's there's a good matchup for us in the sense that you know they have a ton of attacking players okay, we're a good defensive team, but our focus starting today at training today was, hey, we're going to try and actually possess the ball because we know they're a good possession team. We're going to try and...
cut the head off the snake, Ricky Pugue, make sure that we make him pass the ball to someone else. And then we're actually going to try and score some goals more than... an own goal and a set piece goal because that's the one place where LA, they've had struggles defensively. Last thing I'll say on that is the set pieces.
He got up 2-0 in the first 10 minutes of the last game we played him. So a little bit of extra work this week on our set pieces to make sure that we take care of that, check that box. I think the psychological part of things is... We've had a couple of good games against them. We know we're away from home. So we'll play our normal away from home tactics. And I think we got a good chance because they believe they can win. What's your favorite Thanksgiving dish before I let you go? Uh...
Well, I mean, I like everything. No, no, no, no, no. Don't sit on the fence. You've never sat on the fence with me. Now you're going to sit on the fence? Well, I say it because here's what I'm in charge of. So I'm in charge of the turkey. I make a really good gravy. I'm doing the stuffing and then I'm doing the carrots. So those four things, that's my contribution to the Thanksgiving meal. And I like...
Turkey and gravy, it's good. Mashed potatoes, my wife. So you only eat anything that you participate in. So if I showed up at your Thanksgiving with a great green bean casserole, you'd look at me and be like, it's not good enough. No, I would be happy to invite you. to Seattle, but you might be busy. You're a busy guy. I'll see you Saturday, buddy. Happy Thanksgiving. Take care. See ya.
I'm going to tell you one thing. It did not seem like the New York Red Bulls were ready for the playoffs. They entered the postseason with just two wins in their last 10 games. And then the Red Bulls upset last year's MLS champs. columbus crew a homegrown who grew up about 30 miles away from where he's about to take this kick what a
series from Red Bulls. They have been outstanding. I don't think anybody gave them any hope when they found out that they were playing Columbus but they had belief, they had character, they had commitment, they had determination and they are through. What a performance once again from Red Bulls. And then New York City FC pulled off an upset of their own against last season's Supporters' Shield winners, FC Cincinnati. And finally!
NYCFC, the sixth seed, upsets the three, and NYCFC back in the postseason and back making playoff magic once again. That set up, the first ever. playoff edition of the Hudson River Derby. They traveled across the Hudson for the first ever. New York Derby playoff game. And tonight, Carlos Coronel, Emil Forsberg, and the Red Bulls are the kings of Queens. And now the Red Bulls, who have been in this league since 1996.
and have never won MLS Cup, are back in the conference finals for the first time in six years. This is the team's first year with manager Sandro Schwartz. Sandro spent his entire playing career in his home country of Germany, and this is his first time working in the United States. So today... We're going to hear from Sandro about his coaching philosophy, how he's preparing the team for their next big game, and what does he know about Thanksgiving.
First off, Sandro, welcome to the show. The German in you probably has no idea what... thanksgiving is what are you going to be doing for thanksgiving oh that's okay hey we start very well this podcast great yes So what are you going to be doing for Thanksgiving, my friend? Nothing special. Nothing special, to be honest. Wait, none of the players have invited you to the house? No, no, no. What are we doing? We have to prepare. We have to prepare our game on Saturday.
I would say in the morning is training session, then we analyze for our match plans or prepare everything. Then I have some individual conversations, individual videos with some guys. And that will be my Thursday. Great. That will be your Thursday. Meanwhile, I will be completely stuffed on the couch drinking. So anyways, I look forward to watching your game on Saturday. Before we get into this, Sandro. Maybe we can change a little bit. Thank you.
Before we get into this, I think it's important for our Apple listeners to know who you are. You were born in Mainz, Germany. You had a 12-year career as a midfielder in Germany, so I'm going to put you on the spot. Come on. What? kind of player was Sandro Schwartz? Oh, that's the next great question. I love it here. So, yeah, I was number six. So, number six central defender.
player so in the midfield and i would say I was most of the time responsible for the build-up situation to read which structure we can build up and the second part was I was not so fast, to be honest. So it was for me very, very important that we stay very compact in our oppressing behavior to come in the duel. So this is, I would say, a short description of my... quality as a player.
Sanjo, I played in Germany for about three years and I probably did the lactate test about a hundred times. It is my least favorite thing in the world. Would you agree with me on that? Yeah, I agree. I agree. I did it also many times. It's tough, the pre-season in summer and then sometimes also in winter to have these lactates. It was also not my, I would say, my best part in the pre-season or in the whole of season.
And for our Apple listeners, they would take blood out of your ear and test all the little nutrients and how quickly you had lactic acid in your body. And needless to say, the two gentlemen talking right now had a lot of lactic acid. in their body very quickly yeah yeah that's yeah and we need this as well for saturday um so to be to be in a in a very good spot and um yeah but it was very special in germany to do that and
I'm very happy that we can find also another test to get results for the endurance and something like that. I'm glad you brought it up. Let's get into it. Playoff journey. Sanjo, I'm going to start very simple. You only won three of what? Your last 16, 17 games in MLS. Did you have any confidence that this group could do this in that moment when you started the playoffs? For sure we had not our best moment, yeah.
I agree at the end of the season, it was tough and we didn't play so well. And the second half from the Columbus game, the last game in the regular season, this was for us very, very important too. to get our confidence and especially then also for the first playoff round against Columbus. And I would say that was for us very important to create these moments, especially in the second half. And then, yeah, then the playoff starts and everyone told me, everyone told me.
with this experience of playoffs told me it's a new competition and I was a little bit Yes, it is. And when the first time some players came to me and talked about it's a new competition, I was a little bit like, guys, come on, we are playing every week. I don't know if we have now the feeling for the new competition. We have to do it now.
in our regular season but at the end so we were directly ready with the kickoff in columbus in the first dwells in our passing our transition moments and then yeah to keep this level is now our our job especially for Saturday. I thought it was very interesting because in August, you said Columbus was the best team in the league for you. And your direct quote is Columbus is the best team individually and collectively.
How did you prepare that group for that kind of, for lack of a better word, duel against that kind of team? A big advantage, what I said, is that we played the last game against them. And then also to have two weeks' time to prepare.
and to prepare also from the mental side to see okay now it starts a new competition and we changed a little bit and this was for us very important the training session was directly very well also in our changing structure and i would say this was a main part and then to get this feeling in the games and we scored them to the right moments in the first game and i would say but for me columbus is especially with the ball very well and for us was important okay
We need our highest quality, our highest level of energy, of intensity against the ball. And when we can create these moments, I'm sure then we can also get the confidence with the ball. Is it fair for me to say that right now you guys are in your best form defensively with your shape, with your understanding of all the little things that you have to do?
considering you beat columbus then you now beat you beat new york city same thing sanjo it just feels like you're very difficult to play against right now in the moment i would say yes but at the end we have to to show this every day so every day that's the key and when we start tomorrow our training session on thursday on thanksgiving so yeah this is this is what we have to
to be ready every day. So we know the last weeks, the last couple of weeks, and this is exactly what you are saying, it was not so easy. to to create chances against us and in our pressing but we have to show this maybe we have to change on saturday also a little bit depends on the structure of orlando but this is what we have to show every day and to keep this level, to keep this quality.
How did you go into the New York City game knowing that you had lost to them twice on the season? It's on a baseball field. The field's different. What did you change that worked in your favor? First of all, we talked also very open about...
these two games that we lost yeah but it was not then that we create this atmosphere okay now we have to win because we lost these two games in the in the regular season no we analyzed this very serious And for us was more important, okay, what do we need for getting a better result? Our clear direction and our focus was only, okay, this Hudson River Derby playoff semifinal. So what do we need now in this game to create our moments?
One of my favorite things about the Red Bulls is their commitment to the academy, their commitment to the homegrowns. You were born in Mainz, Germany. You went through their academy. You went to the senior team. You then began your managerial career there. Sandro, how important is that to connect with your community? We see it all over the world, but I feel like the Red Bulls are doing it at a higher rate than most teams because the style and the system rely on multiple players being able to.
play that way. It's very important. It's very important. it's not only the style of play more the identity and that that is for me more important than we are all only talking about pressing about ball positions and that means For sure, to have a very good connection and to have a lot of conversations about how we want to play. Yes, but this is the identity. And then if everyone has this feeling, okay, the door is open.
for the players. And I have to show it. Every training session in the academy, in the second team, that's a very, very good thing, what we have in our company and also in our club. Let's look forward. Orlando City. They're a difficult team to play against. They have found their way at the end of the year. Oscar Pereira builds them of being very difficult to play against.
How do you prepare in a game against them where they're not going to give away too much? Yeah, it's how we did it in the last, in the whole season to prepare all phases of the game. So that means... in our defense behavior, our structure, how we start our pressing, when is the right trigger to start the pressing. how they want to build up with two centre-backs, three centre-backs, what is the position from full-back, sixth position.
And then on the other side, when we win the ball, what happened? Where can we find our space and our transition moments? But a lot of respect, especially what they are doing the last month since summer. they got the results in the regular season and now they continue as well in the playoffs. I think it's interesting earlier in our conversation, you talked about just keying on a few things.
I feel like when you guys turn the team over and immediately get the game in transition with either Morgan, Van Zier, Forsberg, that's where you're going to be most impactful on the road. Is that a fair assessment or am I missing? No, no, that's fair. That's fair because we have a lot of quality, especially when we win the ball in these moments and we have quality in intensive runs. We have quality then also with our speed.
But I think on Saturday, to be honest, I think it could be that we have in some moments more the ball than the last games against NYCFC and Columbus, I think. And are you okay being comfortable in that spot? Because I think your team this year versus Red Bull teams in the past, even if the numbers tell you something different, the eye test will tell you you guys aren't uncomfortable with the ball.
And to be honest, I love it to have the ball. It's not, it seems sometimes because we are pressing and intensive, but I love it on the other side to have the ball. And when we analyze our game, for example. And our development as well. And we had very good moments with the ball. And against NYFC, for example, especially the second half, it was not so good enough with the ball, to be honest, and in transitions and also in build-up. And I think...
It's necessary to get on Saturday a better level in some important moments with the ball. Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. And I think that's where Forsberg is the huge upgrade for so many players in this. It's interesting. In August, Sandro, you said we want to write our own story. I said it, really. Yes, you did. In August, what did you mean by that? Because now in November, I know what that means. I know that means winning MLS Cup. But in August, what did that mean?
When I said this in August about to write our own story, it's not to think what happened at the end with the title or something like that, for sure. We are working every day to win games, to create our atmosphere. And for sure, we are here to write our story, but it starts every time with work, with hard working, and then to create our emotions. And I'm sure.
When I said this on August, it was more my intention to think about, okay, we are here and not to working like usual to come and to make our job, not to create our moments. I'm saying every time when the last day is coming. And that's in life. But when the last day is coming, and I go out from the door, and then all these people, when they are saying, hey, this character, this head coach, he was sometimes a little bit crazy, but he did everything.
From my side, he did everything for the whole group, for the whole staff. And then I'm the happiest guy of the world, to be honest. Sanjo, first off, you're German, so you're crazy no matter what. And we all know that. So everyone knows that in this country. But I find it funny that you said that because now one of my producers is going to join the show because we went to the game.
this past weekend, and we actually grabbed some sound bites from the fans talking about watching your team. So Isabel's going to come on here. She's going to play the sound for you. And then I want you to react to the sound after that. But I found it very interesting that you just said when people talk about me in this, well, guess what? We've got a couple of soundbites for you. So Isabel, go ahead.
How are you so fantastic? How are you so amazing? How are you so great? Beautiful tactics, beautiful style of play. I love you. I love him. I love him. Keep doing what you're doing. And we'll get it. We'll get it, yeah. Just keep doing what you're doing. I mean, Sandro, it sounds to me like Red Bull fans, there's a belief that you have a little bit something different than the managers before you. Could be. I don't want to compare.
uh the managers before but that's the reason why i'm here every day and to come here to wake up and to to make people happy and this is that's that's the reason and to see the smile in the face and especially the last three, four weeks. And when we talked about to write our own story, our own history.
that's for me everything that's that's more more more than to get three points or to get the title or something like that or to work for money or something everything is important in life for sure but To create these emotional moments together with the staff, with the players, with coaching staff, with the supporters in the stadium, with our employers. That's great. And I need also...
To be the best part from my side, I need also this feeling, to be honest. I can't do my job to come here and to think, okay, come, it's only a job. I need also this feeling also from the people around me. Well, the Red Bull fans can taste it. 16 years ago, they were in MLS Cup against the Columbus Crew in 2008. They can taste it. You got them there. The last thing I'm going to leave you with since Thanksgiving here is on Thursday.
You're not home. What's the one thing you miss about Germany? And if you say schnitzel, I will kiss you through this podcast. For our listeners, I miss Wiener schnitzel more than anything about Germany. little bit of the Kartoffel Salad, the potato salad, I like as well. But Sanjo, what do you miss most about Germany? Yeah, for sure. Parents, parents and also best friends. On the other side, that's a part of my life.
My family is here. That's great. And I love it to be here as well. And on Christmas, I will be back in Germany. And maybe you may have a little bit of a gift. Who knows? Maybe you take the MLS Cup trophy to Germany. We will see. We will see. We will see. Feel gluck, mein Freund. Feel gluck. Dankeschön. Dankeschön. Thank you.
Like we've said, this was the first playoff edition of the Hudson River Derby. A couple of the offside producers live in New York City, so they made the trip out to Citi Field in Queens, right next to where Citi is building their brand new stadium. They talked to fans of both teams to see how they were feeling before and after. Take a listen. I think it's arguably our most important game since the 2021 MLS Cup Final. I've been a Red Bulls fan since 2007. I'm nervous, man. I've been here before.
You know, sometimes it hasn't worked out, so I guess we'll see. You always want to be your rival in any game, but to be playing them in the conference semifinal is unbelievable. It's going to be bragging rights for a long time, so I... I don't even want to think about a world where City's not in the conference final. They've been looking good. Came out really strong against Columbus, so I feel like got a good shot here tonight. I think City's poised to take this.
And so I'm here to turn them on, along with my kids. I was a part of the founding fan base at Yankee Stadium. I just want us to win. I mean, it's not like I have any beef against NYCFC at all. We live in Brooklyn, you know, but we're the original New York team. What can you say? I think the New City is going to win. They'll win 3-2. I think they can make it to the championship game. Yeah, I think they go all the way.
You can never be confident of a victory as a Red Bull fan. We squeak into the playoffs. Sometimes we do very well. We get strongly into playoffs and then we lose. That's our thing, man. This is the year that's going to be different. Cornell to send this ball long in the direction of Forsberg making a run. This is brought down. Carbagio with a shot. Go! An absolute laser, and the Red Bulls have the lead.
Signal by Forsberg. That's Morgan going up for it, and this ball is in the back of the net. The Red Bulls are celebrating, and yes, it will count. Should just about do it. Tonight, Carlos Coronel, Emil Forsberg, and the Red Bulls are the kings of Queens. They're going to a conference final for the first time since 2018. Hey guys, hey, that was a rough one lads Cool like mule kick to the testicles cool. Oh, man, the weather went wrong man. It's too cold me personally
We played well. We tried. I mean, we already have the Cups. I mean, whatever. It is what it is. It is what it is. We'll be MLS Cup champions next year. So I'm one of the Capos in the South Ward at Red Bull Arena. I've been going to the game since 2011, so I've been growing up with the team. Had to show out. I think we scored goals, and that's the biggest thing. We put the message out that we don't care about your 2021 title.
Because we have heart, we have passion, we have fans that's been here since 96, fans that's been here since 2010. You guys just came in and you guys don't stick around, but we do. And this is passion. This is what it looks like. That's it for this week. Thanks to Sandro and Brian for jumping on. I want to hear your thoughts on the playoffs up to this point. Give me your reactions, your predictions, your greatest hopes and dreams, or your failures.
Write in at OffsidePodWithTaylor at gmail.com. Call us at 646-571-8496. And for more of my reactions to the playoffs, find my Twelman's takes on Instagram at X, at Taylor Twelman, and MLS YouTube. And if you're looking for a fun listen on your holiday travels, check out last week's episode. It's all about the psychology of the penalty kick. We've got a goalie, a taker, and even a doctor. It's the perfect way to get ready for the games this weekend. Be safe, everybody, and happy Thanksgiving.
Offside with Taylor Twelman is a Major League Soccer podcast produced by Apple TV and Rain Delay Media. Our executive producers are Peter Moses and John Yales. Isabel Angel is our editor. Michael Janot is our engineer. Jonah Buchanan and Iggy Monda are our producers. Thanks, boys, for braving the cold this weekend at Citi Field to talk to the fans. Music was composed by Brian Decker, and I am your host. Taylor Twelman. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. Wiener Schnitzel. Wiener Schnitzel.