The Red Bulls have the longest postseason winning streak in North American men's professional sports and MLS history.
However, they have yet to win an MLS Cup.
That's exactly why Emil Forsberg came to new york: To change that.
The Red Bulls' first top star in 10 years, the standout player for Sweden at the World Cup, spoke about his contributions to the team's success and their first league title in his first interview with the Post after coming to the United States. He said that was the reason he left RB. Germany's Leipzig is a sister club match within the state.
“That's the goal and that's why I come here. It's a challenge. You want to win something and you want to win even with a bad result,” Forsberg, 32, told the Post. “I did it in Leipzig. I came there, we went up, we [won] We won the Cup twice and the Super Cup. I have completed that journey, I know how much effort you have to put in for it. But that's why I came here. Because I really want to win with the New York Red Bulls.
“All the players are playing to win and we have to keep that in mind and push each other in every training to do what we are told and have fun together. Hmmm.…Everything is possible this year, so we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
The Red Bulls have gone 14 consecutive years without a title in the playoffs.
The past decade has seen a Moneyball-style youth movement, and Forsberg could be the linchpin of it.
The attacking midfielder reportedly earned an annual salary of $5.89 million on a three-year contract with an option for 2027, with a transfer fee of $3.3 million, according to Transfer Market. It's the Red Bulls' biggest investment since then.
He is also a well-known figure to them and knows them well.
During his nine years at Leipzig, he helped the club win promotion to the Bundesliga, recording more assists (69) and Champions League appearances (41) than anyone else in the club's history, and equaling the record for most Champions League goals (11).
“I felt really appreciated as always within Red Bull. And when this solution came up, for me it felt like a no-brainer. I really, really wanted to do it, so We showed that,” Forsberg told the Post. “I had a good talk with Jochen.” [Schneider, Red Bulls head of sport] We felt like this was going to be great because we want to get even better this year and have a great season.
“I have been at Leipzig for nine years, seen everything, done almost everything and felt ready for a change. And the challenge with Red Bull here in New York is great. We will push even further. I want to do even better than last year and the year before. That's why I came here. I love a challenge and the challenge is to come here and do it better. And that’s what I want to do.”
Forsberg spoke to Schneider, who was Leipzig's head of sport and internationalization, and Oliver Mintzlaff, Leipzig's former CEO who still holds a high position within Red Bull.
He spoke to Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz, a Bundesliga veteran who is expected to play with the pressing style he is accustomed to.
He reached out to former Leipzig teammates Tyler Adams and Kaden Clark to provide scouting reports from his time in New York.
In short, the move was not haphazard.
But from the time the option opened in September or October, Forsberg and his wife Shanga were sold.
“We are both very excited about the change and starting a new life in New York, New Jersey,” Forsberg told the Post. “We've been in Germany for nine years and we both immediately said this is a great opportunity. For me it's a change, both sportingly and for her lifestyle and everything else. That's it. And I don't have to speak German anymore, and that's a good thing.”
