FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – A maelstrom of emotions swelled up inside of New England striker Blake Brettschneider before D.C. United visited Gillette Stadium on April 14.
Instead of taking all of those feelings and thoughts out on the field against his former employers, Brettschneider watched United's 2-1 victory from the stands. He didn't make the squad for that match and missed the opportunity to make United regret releasing him during preseason.
Brettschneider may finally earn his chance to face his former team Saturday night. He will feature in the squad to face United at RFK Stadium and could make the starting XI for a fourth consecutive match (7:30 pm, MLS LIVE).
“The last time was a hard one to swallow, not being in the 18 for that one,” Brettschneider told MLSsoccer.com on Friday. “It's almost a little bit sweeter that it's going to be in D.C. and at RFK [Stadium], where everything started for me. Outside of that, it's still business. We're still going for three points. Bottom line, that's all we care about.”
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As the Revs attempt to notch their second road victory of the campaign, Brettschneider said he will try to keep those emotions in check as he faces his former club.
“This one definitely, maybe has a little bit more meaning for me, but you try to approach every game the same,” Brettschneider said. “You go out to win. I try to leave all of the personal feelings out of it and go to play the game, but there's definitely a little more fuel for the fire and a little more motivation going into this one. You always want to get wins, but this one holds a little bit more meaning for me especially.”
Brettschneider and his teammates will once again have to do without ex-United midfielder Clyde Simms (left ankle tendonitis) in midfield as they attempt to derail Ben Olsen's in-form side. D.C. have won six out of their past nine games since that April 14 meeting between the two clubs, but Brettschneider said he believes the Revs are more than capable of making a statement and securing all three points.
“I think, obviously, they're in good form right now,” Brettschneider said. “We're going in and give everything we've got against them. I think it'll be a good game.”
