Mike Petke has watched the tape of the New York Red Bulls’ 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, and he refuses to blame Roy Miller for the defeat.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call two days after his Red Bulls suffered a late collapse in San Jose, Petke discussed New York’s first loss of the season by saying that it was a result of the team’s failure and not Miller’s string of mental mistakes in the waning minutes.
“This is not about Roy Miller, this game the other night,” Petke said. “I’ve watched the game tape already twice. Yes, he was unfortunate to be in certain situations that resulted in goals but it’s not about one player and placing blame on their shoulders.
“We’re a team from the goalkeeper up to forward and all the guys sitting on the bench and the staff. We’re a team. We win together and lose together and it’s not a cliché. It’s absolutely true. Not one player on the way back here was pointing their fingers to Roy or any specific person.”
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Miler was marking Adam Jahn when the San Jose striker scored the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute, and then the Costa Rican international was whistled for a handball that set up San Jose’s potential game-winning penalty kick. Quakes star Chris Wondolowski had his ensuing shot saved by goalkeeper Luis Robles, but Miller was whistled for encroachment in the box (above), and Wondolowski buried his second chance for the win.
Petke, however, pointed to other aspects of the game that resulted in New York not picking up their first three points of the season this past Sunday, including the team’s lack of possession.
“People who know the game should analyze our game and talk about little things about our inability to build out of the back at times, to get the ball, to open up and receive the ball,” Petke said. “Those things go overlooked because nothing has transpired from them that’s grand and big, so [losing is] not about individual plays or one individual person.”
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com.
