Lewis Morgan aims high with New York Red Bulls: “I want to win everything”

For both Lewis Morgan and the New York Red Bulls, it’s easy to pin-point when their impressive 2024 campaign really got going.

Back in March the Red Bulls put in a statement performance against Inter Miami, running out 4-0 winners against the preseason favourites. Previously deployed on the wing, Morgan played as a striker against his former team and repaid the faith of new head coach Sandro Schwartz, hitting a brilliant hat-trick.

Speaking exclusively to AS USA, Morgan cites that Inter Miami match as a key point in his development: “I think if I didn’t have that game, I would have maybe been playing as a No. 10, playing as a forward, and moving around. But having such a high impact game at the start of the year it was like, ‘Okay, that’s the marker set. He’s a striker now.’ And I’ve enjoyed that, I love playing through there.”

Five months on, the team sits fourth in the Eastern Conference and Morgan has 12 goals in 21 league appearances, level with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. With NYRB looking to make a splash in the post-season the Scot is relishing the chance to lead the line for the resurgent Red Bulls.

In-form Morgan makes his mark

Morgan first broke through as a winger in the Scottish Premiership and caught the eye of Old Firm giants Celtic. After struggling for playing time during two years at Celtic Park he made the switch to MLS; first to Miami, before moving to New York Red Bulls in 2022. Throughout that time he was known as a wide player but he was no stranger to a more central role.

“I think 90% of players when they grow up are strikers, when they’re playing at a boys’ club or whatever. So I think it’s a position where everyone has some experience of playing there. And even in professional football I’ve had spells where I played through the middle.”

But for all his talent, Morgan admits that he didn’t always have the ruthless edge required of top forwards. He often preferred to play out wide, more focused on beating players than scoring goals.

“I used to just want to get on the ball and run at people, go one-on-one. I would think I had a good game if I went past the fullback ten times, but maybe not have a goal or an assist to show for it. I used to think that that was what constitutes having a good game.”

“Now I’ve sort of flipped the other way and it’s all about substance for me. I’m trying to be a lot more efficient. Goals and assists, that’s what’s at the forefront of my mind all the time.”

Striking advice from an MLS legend

If Morgan continues his current form he could become the first NYRB player to hit the 20-goal mark since Bradley Wright-Phillips reached that tally in 2018. The Englishman struck 126 goals during seven seasons at Red Bull Arena and is the club’s record goal scorer by a distance.

Now retired, Wright-Phillips is a familiar face to all MLS fans as one of the main pundits on Apple TV’s league coverage. Nevertheless, the Red Bulls icon is always on hand to offer advice as Morgan looks to fire his former team to glory.

“I speak to Brad all the time. When it’s going good, when it’s not going so good. When I’m in good goal scoring form and when I’m not. It’s nice to pick the brain of someone who’s been there and done it in this league. It doesn’t hurt that he’s an analyst for Apple TV, so I know he’s watching the other teams!”

After 18 years as a player in England and the United States, BWP experienced the ups and downs of professional soccer. In particular, he understands the pressure placed on strikers and has helped Morgan adapt to becoming the main man at one of MLS’ most storied teams.

“He’s really good at keeping my focus on the next game. Because sometimes as a striker if you score in a couple of games in a row, you can take your foot off the gas and be like, ‘Okay, I’ve got a couple of goals.’ And then, before you know it, you’ve gone three games and not scored and you’re desperate to get one. I always try and make sure that, whenever Brad’s around, I speak to him.”

Exceeding expectations

Morgan’s reinvention as a line-leading No. 9 is not the only development seen from NYRB this season. They look reinvigorated under Schwartz, the players given a looser interpretation of the relentless, high-pressing style favoured by teams in the Red Bull stable.

In 2023 they finished eighth in the Eastern Conference - closer to the bottom than the top - and were eliminated in Round One of the playoffs. Their 2024 form has caught some spectators by surprise but Morgan believes that the preseason doubts have helped to fuel the team.

“I don’t really think that many people had lofty expectations of this group at the start of the year. And you can take it personally, you can use that as a driving factor. I think the manager came in here with a point to prove as well, and the group of players have a point to prove.”

“I’m one of the most competitive people you’ll meet, so I want to win everything all the time. I want to win in training every day. I want to win everything, that’s what I’ll base my success on.”

But NYRB face tough competition in the Eastern Conference, with FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew and league leaders Inter Miami ahead of them in the standings. All three of those teams won silverware last year. Can the Red Bulls force their way into the conversation and lift MLS Cup?

“We’re just behind them in fourth at the moment but we’re looking up at those teams and trying to catch them, to put pressure on them. We’ll position ourselves well for the playoffs and then see where it takes us. To try and win it all.”