As he prepares to take the field at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since being traded from the Kansas City Wizards last year, Dave van den Bergh doesn't have revenge on his mind. His only concern is getting a result on the road for the New York Red Bulls.
"I wish them all the best, except for the three games we play them this year and for as many games as we play them in the postseason," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, they can be second-best."
Van den Bergh, who arrived to MLS from FC Utrecht of the Dutch Eredivisie as a late-season acquisition, had three goals and two assists in 13 starts for the Wizards. But he was traded to the Red Bulls for 2007 third round supplemental draft pick Jan. 11.
Van den Bergh said he came to the Wizards to play for Bob Gansler, but before he played a single game, Gansler was no longer the head coach.
"I signed for a team that was completely different at that point. I signed a deal with Curt Johnson and Bob Gansler. Those were very nice people, very honest people, as well," he said. "They got traded away for Brian Bliss, who is a very honest person as well and he got traded away."
Instead of looking at the trade as an insult, van den Bergh said he couldn't be happier to come to New York.
"Some new people came in who made some decisions. For whatever I got traded for I don't really care, I'm just glad that New York jumped on it and I'm happy to be here," he said. "We're top of the table. I've been playing here every single game, I've been playing well and I'm just part of a really quality club. I'm just enjoying myself every day being out there with very talented players and a very good coaching staff."
Indeed, van den Bergh is a big reason why the Red Bulls are currently tied with the New England Revolution for the best record in the league. He's provided quality crosses from the left side and even filled in as a left back last match when Todd Dunivant was sidelined with a left thigh injury.
It was the first time van den Bergh played fullback since he played for Rayo Vallecano in Spain seven years ago.
"It was a necessary thing last week, it's not my natural position," he said. "I'll play wherever coach needs me, but I think I can be more effective in the midfield."
And that's where he'll likely be Saturday night, although Dunivant, who did some light training Thursday, will probably miss his second match in a row. With Claudio Reyna back in the middle of the field after missing two matches with a right groin strain, Seth Stammler should push back to fill in for Dunivant.
With Hunter Freeman still out with a severely sprained left ankle, Dema Kovalenko will probably play right back for the third consecutive match as Reyna and Clint Mathis could partner in the midfield for the first time since their U.S. national team days.
Goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain, but he didn't train Thursday with the Red Bulls and it's likely Jon Conway will again get the start.
Despite the club's plethora of injuries, the Red Bulls have 17 points from eight matches and have a league-high six clean sheets.
"Any time you miss your two outside backs, your captain in the center of the field and your goalie, those are key positions on defense," van den Bergh said. "But the last two games we won 3-0 and 4-0 and I think it's very encouraging for us that we don't concede a lot of goals and we score an awful lot of goals."
Help in the back could be coming soon as Chris Leitch has been training with the Red Bulls since Monday. The former MetroStars defender and ironman of the year looked solid in the preseason, but when he injured his knee, the Red Bulls had to go in another direction and that's when they traded for Freeman.
"It's still a process, getting my mind up to speed, seeing things quickly," Leitch said. "Hopefully my fitness comes around pretty quickly."
Although he hasn't been told much by Bruce Arena, Leitch, a five-year MLS veteran with more than 100 games under his belt, will travel to Kansas City on Friday and will play in the Red Bulls reserve match Sunday morning.
"It hasn't been real clear how long or how short I'm here for," he said. "They spoke to me and they said they have a need in the back they need to fill and they brought me in for another look. I don't know if they want to see how I play or if I'm fit or healthy."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
