One of Gerhard Struber’s steady forces on the pitch, Carlos Coronel reflects on the preseason and his future with the New York Red Bulls.
He is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS, and in his third season with the New York Red Bulls, Carlos Coronel became one of the leaders in the locker room and a fan favorite. At 26, the Brazilian registered 22 clean sheets in 72 games wearing the Red Bulls jersey.
Even with good numbers playing in his favor, Coronel is the type of player that keeps his mind on his team and not on his success. “I am not focused on MVP. I am focused on my team and want to bring my team to t the highest. So, my focus is my team first, not the MVP,”, says the Brazilian.
For 2023, the New York Red Bulls divided its preseason into New Jersey, Florida, and California. The results couldn’t be better, as the team won all six friendly matches, scoring seven and only allowing one goal. Carlos Coronel admitted that the group expectation is high: “The preparation was excellent. We had an outstanding preseason, challenging games, and high-level opponents in the preseason. We scored in all six games and conceded only one goal, so the expectation is high. I can promise the fans to work hard and dedicate myself to every game to achieve achievements this year.”
Carlos Coronel makes a save during the win over Charlotte FC in October 2022. (Twitter New York Red Bulls)
Interest from across the Atlantic
Carlos Coronel admits that the rumors during the past transfer window connecting him to the Austrian Strum Graz were true, stating his interest in playing in the UEFA Champions League but guarantees his focus is on the New York Red Bulls, at least for now.
“I could return to Europe; there was this contact with Sturm Graz. In the end, it was not feasible for the club to release me for internal reasons between clubs Sturm Graz and the (New York) Red Bulls did not reach an agreement. Still, of course, my interest and my personal goal are to go back to Europe and play in the UEFA Champions League, one of the five biggest leagues in Europe, but today I see myself here, so I will do my best for the club to achieve its goals this year”.
(Cover: Twitter New York Red Bulls)
