Red Bulls' Rafael Marquez Calls Out Teammates

The New York Red Bulls have under-achieved on the pitch throughout the 2011 MLS season. Now, it appears the Red Bulls are imploding from within. Defender Rafael Marquez was highly critical of his teammates following Wednesday's lopsided 3-1 loss at home to Real Salt Lake.

"I’m focusing on really performing at my highest level. That doesn’t mean that the whole backline can perform at that same level, so that’s a problem," Marquez said to the New York Daily News through an interpreter.

"I think this is a team game and unfortunately there isn't an equal level between my teammates and I."

Si.com's Grant Wahl thinks Marquez has it wrong, calling him an "albatross" around New York's neck.

Just when you thought it was impossible for things to get worse in Red Bull Land, they have. Márquez not only threw his teammates under the bus, creating what will no doubt be a contaminated locker room, but he also got it completely wrong. Despite being the third-highest-paid player in MLS -- at a guaranteed $4.6 million a year, or $1.28 million more than the entire Salt Lake team -- Márquez has turned into an albatross around the neck of New York, which is on the hook for two more years of his contract.

Márquez was directly involved in allowing Salt Lake's third goal in the first 20 minutes, in which Fabian Espíndola knifed through the heart of New York's defense unmarked. The Mexican national-teamer was only part of the problem for the Red Bulls -- central defense partner Tim Ream made a horrible gaffe to hand RSL the second goal -- but Márquez is expected to be the veteran leader based on his experience at Barcelona and in three World Cups.

Instead he has played in only 15 of New York's 29 games due mainly to national-team commitments. He has looked uninterested, too slow as a back-line defender and too careless as a holding central midfielder....

These days New York's defense plays better when Márquez isn't on the field, as was the case in the team's 1-0 win last week at Dallas.

Should be an interesting few days around the Red Bulls. And an even more interesting offseason, which is likely to come for New York sooner than anyone thought when the 2011 MLS season began.

Without Thierry Henry the New York Red Bulls knew they would have to battle hard to beat Real Salt Lake, which now sits second in the overall standings, but the Red Bulls were unable to get it done. Three goals over the first 20 minutes for Real proved too much for the Red Bulls to come back from in a 3-1 loss Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena.

Real opened the scoring in the seventh minute, a goal by Alvaro Saborio, then took a three-goal lead with goals in the 11th and 21st minutes by Fabian Espindola. Real’s three goals came on four shots on target through the entire match and cashing in early gave them enough of an advantage to hold on.

Joel Lindpere got the Red Bulls on the board in the 69th minute with a goal assisted by Rafael Marquez, but the Real lead was never in serious danger.

With the Red Bulls loss on Wednesday and a DC United tie the Red Bulls hold only a one-point lead, despite two less games played, over United for the final playoff spot. The Red Bulls next game is against the Portland Timbers on Saturday while DC United will be hosting Real Salt Lake at the same time.