CARSON, Calif. - When Bob Bradley's Chivas USA squad hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Bradley insists the game will have extra significance because of the way his club has played lately, and nothing more.
Having been unable to fight back from and hold on to a one-goal margin in their last two games has cost the club some points, and how Chivas comes out against their Eastern Conference foe is important.
"This game is circled on my calendar now because we made it extra important with the fact that we let two games get away from us," said Bradley, referring to 2-0 and 2-1 losses to D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Still, when the Red Bulls take the field against the Red-and-White, Bradley will be coaching against his former club and it could stir some emotions from the past three seasons.
Bradley's focus these days is centered on Chivas USA and helping the club battle for playoff contention. A year ago, mired in the same battle but several thousand miles away, Bradley was fired by then-MetroStars president and general manager Alexi Lalas with three matches remaining in the regular season.
Bradley did not like the move then and he does not like it now.
"That will never sit right with me," Bradley said.
When Lalas took over midseason, the MetroStars were 4-3-4. At the time of his firing, Bradley had the club sitting with a 10-9-10 mark with an uphill battle of making the playoffs. The MetroStars had lost two consecutive games, including a 4-1 rout by D.C. United, when Lalas sacked Bradley.
Still, Bradley said his work was not done and to have everything taken away from him by what he called an outsider with no stake in the club was disturbing.
"I put my heart and soul into what I do," Bradley said. "I try to create an environment where the players push each other, where we're all in something together. That's the way I was in Chicago and that's absolutely what we're doing here (with Chivas USA). ... I know the work that was put in. I know that the players that were on the inside (in New York) feel the same way. That's the reason. The way it was handled will not ever sit right with me."
Now, the visitors have an entirely different look. Several players have moved on. The club was sold to Red Bull Co. Limited and the MetroStars gave way to the Red Bulls. Lalas too is gone, having taken over the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Perhaps because of those changes, Bradley downplayed the revenge factor. Instead, Bradley spoke fondly about the players he coached in New York over the past three seasons and their accomplishments.
"My relationship with the players was great and continues to be," Bradley said. "I brought Amado (Guevara) to this league. I coached Amado and challenged him for two years and he was the league MVP. I went to England and spent a few days with Youri (Djorkaeff) and talked to him about coming to this league. Last year, when the first half of the season didn't go well, I challenged him and came up with a plan to sit him for a few weeks and work on getting him fit so he could have a good second half of the season and lead his team and enjoy playing again. Mike Magee, I've known him since he was 14. I drafted him and I felt he was the kind of player who could do very well in this league."
Although some players in New York are new to the club, a good portion of the Red Bulls squad played under Bradley. Chivas cannot take the Red Bulls lightly, he said.
"We can't let our guard down," Bradley said. "We've got to expect their best effort and that's a matter of taking care of our business."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
