With seven matches remaining in Major League Soccer (MLS) play for the New York Red Bulls in 2025, soccer enthusiasts are monitoring a certain record of theirs. Their overall match record, yes, but also their impressive playoff streak that could seemingly vanish potentially.
New York has made the postseason for 15 straight years, an MLS record. When looking across the four other major sports leagues in the United States, the team with the second longest active postseason streak is the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) at 12. It’s remarkable the success this team has had and a disappointing season like the one ongoing could derail all of that.
Injuries have been the main culprit for this New York side this season. Notably, midfielder Lewis Morgan has struggled with multiple injury spells this season, leaving a lot more demands for other players on the pitch. While Morgan is expected to return in a due time, New York had to explore the transfer market and see who would fit their system.
In came Swedish midfielder Gustav Berggren from Polish side Rakow Czestochowa, who signed with New York on July 23. However, nearly a month after signing with the Red Bulls, the midfielder has still not seen time on the pitch.
Some fans who may not follow the Red Bulls regularly may question why Berggren has not played. With players like Son Heung-Min (LAFC) and Thomas Müller (Vancouver) already making their MLS debuts, one may have to ask if something went wrong.
In reality, his visa has been taking longer than expected to be approved, according to an amNewYork article published last Monday. The situation is not ideal for New York and when Berggren will debut is still unknown.
Hypothetically though, if Berggren were to play vs say the Columbus Crew on August 30, he would need to adjust quickly to New York’s system. With only a few matches remaining, it may be tricky for Berggren to establish himself and get into a groove of things. However, that’s not to say he can’t make a difference with the squad because he has the ability to help the midfield.
First off, Berggren can take the pressure off of captain Emil Forsberg from essentially making every key decision and being over used. Opposing teams have made it a point of emphasis to deny Forsberg and remove him from making an impact on a match.
It’s not to say that the midfield isn’t doing its part. Rather, a majority of the position is young with players like Daniel Edelman, Mohammed Sofo, Peter Stroud, Wiki Carmona and more. They all have made an impact at some point and their work cannot be overlooked.
However, having someone like Berggren, who is 27 years old, could be huge to help the younger players continue to succeed.
It would not only be the midfield that would receive help, but the backline would benefit as well. Many have criticized the backline’s play this season and making it somewhat difficult for goalkeepers like Carlos Coronel and A.J. Marcucci. With Berggren having been used as a defensive midfielder during his career, he could assist the play in the defensive-third well.
When the Swedish midfielder will debut is still to be announced, but the Red Bulls hope it will be sooner than later. New York would ideally also want to add another piece to their squad for the final stretch of regular competition. They added New York Red Bulls II member Andy Rojas on Tuesday and completed his transfer from Costa Rica side C.S. Herediano.
But may a certain German striker still be interested in the squad?
