When Emil Forsberg came to New York, he had one main goal in mind for his first season with the Red Bulls.
“I came here to win,” Forsberg told The Post in a sit-down at the Red Bulls practice facility this week.
With the Red Bulls on the precipice of winning the club’s first MLS Cup in its 28 years of existence, it’s safe to say the Swedish international lived up to what he’s hoped to do in Major League Soccer.
Forsberg made the jump to the United States after playing 10 seasons for RB Leipzig — a sister club of the Red Bulls — in Germany’s Bundesliga, and on and off the field, he has proven to be a difference-maker for the club.
On the field, Forsberg’s wizardry and skill set are hard to miss. He scored nine goals during the regular season and added four assists, while also scoring a goal in the second playoff game against Columbus.
Former Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles noted the difference Forsberg makes when he’s on the field, especially for fellow stars Dante Vanzeir and Lewis Morgan.
“They’re a different team when Emil Forsberg is in there,’’ Robles told The Post. “There’s something about his genius on the field that allows Vanzeir and Lewis Morgan to become unlocked. That’s what we’re seeing here. Emil just makes the offense so much better.’’
The Red Bulls’ biggest struggles during the season came when Forsberg was sidelined with a lower-leg issue, which kept him off the pitch for nearly four months and saw the team drop to seventh in the Eastern Conference. His return in late October coincided with the team’s surprising run in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Forsberg was quick to deflect just how much of an impact he’s had, crediting his teammates for “chipping in the right way.”
“I’ve just been myself and trying to push the guys, and like everybody else, just having fun, being relaxed,” the Swede said. “[Just] trying to bring that relaxing, comfortable and convincing feeling that we’re going to win this with me. I think the guys have been doing it as well.”
As humble as Forsberg would like to be, it’s hard to deny his confidence in the team has been infectious among those inside the locker room.
Prior to the start of the Red Bulls’ unlikely playoff run, Forsberg declared, “Why can’t we?” right before the start of their series with the reigning league champion Columbus Crew.
The rallying cry worked as the Red Bulls toppled Columbus in two games and upset New York City FC then Orlando City SC in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“He’s not only a great player, but he’s also a great person,” head coach Sandro Schwarz said. “He leads the team off the field, in the locker room and, this is important, with his experience. He feels the responsibility for the team. Not only for himself but also the responsibility for young players, for experienced players.”
While the rest of the soccer world has looked at the Red Bulls’ run as a surprise, the players don’t want to hear about any Cinderella story.
The Red Bulls are the lowest seed to reach the MLS Cup Final and had to go through some of the East’s toughest squads to make their second championship game appearance in franchise history.
Still, none of that seems to have reached inside the locker room.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise. I mean, I know people will think of it as, but not us,” midfielder Peter Stroud responded when asked about it.
The Red Bulls have had a number of high-profile international stars on their team over the years, including Bradley Wright-Phillips and Thierry Henry. But the team has yet to get over that final hump.
Forsberg has the chance Saturday against the Los Angeles Galaxy to be the one to finally push the Red Bulls to the pinnacle and capture the elusive championship they have been chasing for nearly three decades.
“I can’t say it wouldn’t be amazing, but I didn’t come here to prove myself,” he said, explaining his goal was to help the club win and help his teammates improve. “We’re almost there. I’m so proud of the guys and of our journey this year. It’s been ups and downs, but I think in the end, we deserve to be in the final.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
