Sandro Schwarz refused to be too downbeat about the New York Red Bulls' campaign so far, but is targeting a turnaround against CF Montreal.

The Red Bulls, runners-up to the LA Galaxy in MLS Cup last year, have collected 12 points from their opening nine games this season.

They sit ninth in the Eastern Conference, on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to D.C. United last time out.

And while Schwarz was left bitterly disappointed by the nature of that loss, he feels the Red Bulls have a great chance to get back to winning ways against Montreal, who are rooted to the bottom of the East with just three points.

He said: "We want to win this game, we want to bring our best, give our best on the field, this is our main aim and focus for sure.

"The days after the D.C. United game were tough – we’ve talked a lot this week with the players. But I’m convinced in the group that we have the qualities.

"We were very frustrated of course, but now we have the next opportunity. That’s our life. That’s soccer.

"It’s great to have the chance every week to do something better, which is what we have to do.

"We have 12 points after nine games, that’s okay. For sure, we want to have more points. We want to be better in some moments. This is a chance to do that."

Schwarz also put the pressure on his team to improve defensively.

"It has not been up to standard," said the Red Bulls boss, whose side have shipped 10 MLS goals in 2025.

"For me it is not a question about the structure. Now we have to make a clear decision on who is playing on Saturday."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New York Red Bulls - Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting

Choupo-Moting scored the Red Bulls’ lone goal in their defeat to D.C. United last week.

The former Bayern Munich forward has scored four times in his last six matches, including scoring in each of his last two matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

CF Montreal - Prince Owusu

Montreal have scored only four MLS goals this season, and Owusu has netted two of those.

The Canadian club have not found the net since Owusu's goal against the Columbus Crew on April 6. Montreal have only scored two goals across their last eight league games.

MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN

Montreal are the first team in MLS history to not hold a lead at any point in their first nine matches of a season.

The last team to go 10 or more consecutive matches without holding a lead at any point in a season was Chivas USA (11 straight) in 2014.

Montreal have three points through nine matches this season, tied for the third fewest after nine matches of a season in MLS history.

The Red Bulls’ five-match home unbeaten run ended last week. New York have lost consecutive home matches in all competitions just once since the start of the 2023 season, losing their last two home matches of the 2024 regular season.

The 14 meetings between the Red Bulls and Montreal since July 2017 have been split, with each side winning six times and drawing two. The two draws came in the last two meetings between the sides, both in the 2024 season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York Red Bulls - 57%

Montreal - 20.7%

Draw - 22.3%