photo by Adam Hunger/USA Today Sports

By FRANCO PANIZO

HARRISON, N.J. — If there is one player that could make the New York Red Bulls reconsider their high-pressing style, it might be Andrea Pirlo. The legendary Italian has an uncanny ability to sit deep and ping accurate passes into the paths of wide-eyed forwards.

No dice.

When the Red Bulls welcome crosstown rival New York City FC to Red Bull Arena for their third and final meeting of the regular season on Sunday night, they will do so with largely the same strategy that they have deployed throughout the course of the year. Jesse Marsch’s side intends to continue to deploy its trademark high press despite the fact that NYCFC has added gifted veteran midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard to the fold in recent weeks.

That may seem a tricky proposition for the Red Bulls, especially since Pirlo has the knowledge and skill to unlock a defense with one pass, but they have no qualms in stating that they are focusing on themselves more so than the rival.

“I kind of always go back to what are we going to be about, not what the opposing team is going to be about,” said Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan. “For us, (it’s) the same thing. We’re going to try and put them under pressure, we’re going to try to play in their end, we’re going to try to create turnovers and create chances off those turnovers.

“The same thing goes no matter who’s on the field. It’s still 11 against 11 between four white lines.”

For better or worse, the Red Bulls’ MO this season has been just that: staying aggressive. Even when the club could have tried to change things up amid a stretch of poor results, Marsch’s side kept working at this high-press system.

The strategic approach has not only left the Red Bulls in a good position in the Eastern Conference with almost three months left in the MLS campaign, but also already given them the season series vs. NYCFC. The Red Bulls have been victorious in each of the previous two meetings vs. the expansion club, winning at home in early May with 10 men and then on the road in late June thanks to a strong second-half showing.

This match against NYCFC – like the pair before it – figures to provide a different set of challenges for the Red Bulls, however. The additions of Lampard and Pirlo add other dimensions to NYCFC’s attack, which also includes star striker David Villa.

Still, the Red Bulls are not overly concerned.

“I’m sure they’re going to add a lot of quality to their team, but I think it’s about us again this weekend,” said Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella. “It’s about how we can implement what we want to do: high energy, high pressure. I have so much confidence in myself and the guys and the troops, and I think we’ll be hard to deal with.”

While the Red Bulls are more concentrated on their approach than that of the opponent, they still have done their share of preparing for Pirlo and Lampard. The sample size of how the the Italian and Englishman fit in NYCFC’s scheme is small of course given that they only recently began playing for the club, but Marsch stated Saturday that the Red Bulls have had to adjust little things in their own gameplan to prepare for the duo.

“I think it’s important for us with the way we press to also make sure that we focus in on the time and space that we close in on Pirlo with,” said Marsch. “I think he’s very good at – even when you do make it hard on him – finding a little bit of room and he only needs a little bit of room to set up his right (foot) to start delivering passes that can penetrate.

“The combination of getting around him, making it hard, and then also when he does have time and space making sure that our back line drops and he doesn’t just drop balls in behind for guys to run in on. That’ll be a big part of that.”

“Lampard’s greatest quality over the years has been around the goal he’s aggressive to hit shots, he’s good at coming in late in terms of being in the box, and he’s got an eye for slipping balls and finishing plays. Doing a good job with him in the final third (will be important).”

If the Red Bulls can negate Lampard and Pirlo and pull out another win to complete the season sweep, the club will have every right to boast about their accomplishment. That may not sit well with NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis – who earlier this week labeled comments made by the Red Bulls after their last meeting in June as “crass” – but comes with the territory of playing these derby games.

As for those remarks by Kreis? They do not appear to be striking a nerve as far as the Red Bulls are concerned.

“Whatever,” said Kljestan. “I guess we’ll see what happens (Sunday) and then let’s all talk again (Sunday) night.”