Saturday’s MLS clash between the Chicago Fire and the New York Red Bulls will mark the first time Gregg Berhalter and Michael Bradley face each other as head coaches. On Thursday, both Bradley and New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath addressed the media and responded to questions from Bolavip.
“As a coach, you’re a product of all your experiences in the game,” Bradley responded to Bolavip when asked about Berhalter’s influence in his coaching career, with Berhalter showing happiness to see Bradley coaching in MLS.
“And those are experiences as a player, as a fan, as a coach. You try to take everything that you’ve seen, everything that you’ve been a part of, everything that you’ve heard, and put it all together in a way that is true to yourself and reflective of you and the environment that you want to create, and the football that you want your team to play.“
Horvath notes big differences between Bradley, Berhalter
Before having him as a coach on the US national team in 2018-2019, Bradley spent time with Berhalter as a teammate when the USMNT roster prepared for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Horvath also played under Berhalter for the Stars and Stripes, helping the country win the 2021 Concacaf Nations League by replacing Zack Steffen in the final against Mexico.
When asked by Bolavip about differences and similarities between Berhalter and Bradley, Horvath claimed their playing styles are completely different, though they have one thing in common when it comes to leading a group.
“I wouldn’t say too much, coaching national team and club are two different things,” Horvath said. “Michael’s within the Red Bull program. Everything’s ultra-aggressive, everything’s on the front foot, whereas with Gregg, we were all so aggressive, but at times, we were a bit more in block and pick and choose when to press and whatnot.
“For me, they’re two completely different coaches, completely different styles. But with all that being said, (they) still (get to) the same point to bring a group together, to be a family and a brotherhood.”
Bradley on Berhalter’s experience
Bradley also mentioned the differences between coaching a club and a national team, but he still took note of Berhalter’s work during their time together.
“Obviously, the national team is never a consistent day-to-day basis, but over the course of probably a year and a half or two years, I was in camps and games with him, and certainly, the way that he sees the game, the way that he set up training sessions, the tone that he has with the group, his way of leading. You take little bits of all that, and you try to use it in a way that then can help you,” Bradley added.
What’s for sure is that both coaches are in very different moments in their careers. While Bradley is just getting started on a New York team that has plenty of work to do, Berhalter is already in his second year in Chicago, bringing all his experience to a team that looks more mature and ready to make a playoff push in the 2026 MLS season.
