THE BACK IS BETTER Angel: K.C. game was the best I felt
Juan Pablo Angel said "the last game we played was probably the best that I have felt, which is a little bit encouraging for me." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel said that is back is feeling better.
In fact, Angel said that the back felt the best this season in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards, since ncurring a nerve-related injury to his lower back earlier this season.
"Right from the beginning I have been experiencing this problem with my back and my hamstring," he said during a conference call Thursday. "Probably the last game we played was probably the best that I have felt, which is a little bit encouraging for me because I am thinking that I am going now in the right direction trying to get pain free for the rest of the season."
Angel, who set up Danleigh Borman's equalizing goal in the 1-1 draw with Kansas City, has found the back of the net only once this season.
"Ideally I would like to score some more goals," he said.
There is a decent chance that team captain and veteran midfield Claudio Reyna will return against the Chicago Fire for Sunday's 3 p.m. encounter at Giants Stadium. Angel said he is looking forward to Reyna in the lineup. Reyna has missed the last two games with a left calf strain.
"I feel much more comfortable with Claudio in the midfield," Angel said. "It gives me the freedom to go forward."
Despite their 3-1-3 record, the Red Bulls aren't seeeing many attendance records this season. As it turns out, they are averaging 13,494 over four home games, which ranks them only ninth in the 14-team MLS.
"I am used to playing in front of big crowds all over the world," Angel said. "For me is doesn’t really make any difference. I think it would be better to have Giants Stadium full, like when the Galaxy came last year. That is the atmosphere that you are looking for.
"I think the best example is when we played Toronto which I think is the best field in terms of atmosphere in this league, and a week later when we played in Los Angeles against the Galaxy, the stadium was full. That the type of atmosphere you are looking for."
Angel praised former Mexican international and midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who will lead Chicago into Giants Stadium Sunday, but felt the Fire is far from a one-man team.
To be honest, I don’t look at Blanco as an individual," he said. "I think he has the ability to perform well when the team does it for him to. He has the ability, obviously, to change things around because he is a quality player, but it is not just about Cuauhtemoc Blanco. I think Chicago is playing well because they are solid and they are giving him the freedom to play well. I am not worried just about him, but the whole team. He has a particular style that has been doing the job for him over the years."
