Mike Petke feels that the New York Red Bull coaching staff were the main reason for the clubs unsuccessful 2012 MLS campaign.
The new head coach felt that the players were lost early on in the season which contributed to their narrow defeat to DC United in the playoffs which came after Rafael Marquez was sent off and Kenny Cooper missed a penalty.
"That game wasn't lost because that second penalty kick didn't go in after it was saved. The game wasn't lost because a senseless, mindless red card challenge when we were already up a man," Petke told the NY Post. "That game was lost earlier in the season.
"To blame any specific instance in that game has no merit for me. It was the mentality that was instilled, and it was the lack of faith and belief, to be honest with you, in what we were doing from many - if not all - of the players. Somewhere along the line they lost it, and that's one of the biggest things."
