Two days before a top-of-the-table, the New York Red Bulls turned up the intensity in Thursday's training session at Montclair State University.
The Red Bulls MSU's turf field, getting ready for their battle against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday in their first game at Giants Stadium in nearly three weeks. The Red Bulls are fresh off a 1-2-0 road trip that included stops at Kansas City, Toronto and Washington, D.C.
"There were no excuses for playing the way we did," midfielder Dema Kovalenko said about the team's disappointing performances of late. "Three games on the road in eight days might take something out of you, but still, there are no excuses."
The Red Bulls engaged in what Kovalenko called a great week of training to prepare for the game that will determine first place in the Eastern Conference.
"There are no easy games in this league, whether it's home or away," he said. "It does feel good to be at home though."
And though the Red Bulls clearly were focused on righting the ship, the training session wasn't without its lighter moments as well.
Forward Juan Pablo Angel and midfielder Dave van den Bergh proved they should keep their day jobs in the field. The two played goalkeeper against each other, attempting punts back and forth. Angel demonstrated why he should be aiming for the net and not away from it after shanking punt after punt.
The Colombian also showed his fatherly side by making the team halt shooting practice to allow fitness coach Pierre Barrieu's son to walk by the net. Jozy Altidore made sure the rest of the team knew of Angel's kindness by calling him 'daddy.'
