The Chicago Fire have been one of the best teams in the league at home this season -- 10-2-1 at Toyota Park -- so facing them at home will be a "big task," according to New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.
"They have been very good at home this year," Robles said. "We saw their record. They have the most wins at home in the league and once this team scores first they are also very hard to beat."
The Fire's 10 wins at home ties them with three other Eastern Conference teams -- Toronto, New York City and Columbus -- for most in 2017.
"We know that they have very good players and some difference makers that can cause us fits," Robles said. "Nonetheless I think it is going to be about how well we come into the game mentally, and if we can execute our tactics, because I am at a point right now where I feel confident in our ability to get results, but a lot of that confidence comes from what our mentality is like going into that game."
That the Red Bulls will have to enter the game with a locked-in mindset was also apparent to captain Sacha Kljestan, who noted a similar need following the team's recent draw with FC Dallas.
"Someone needs to set the tone with the first tackle, the first 50-50 ball, push the game up in their end," Kljestan said. "Put the game on our terms right from the beginning."
