MetroFanatic: Dema, you came back to the US after a year in the Ukraine. Can you talk about that experience?
Dema Kovalenko: It was a good experience. I wanted to try myself in a different place, and I wanted to be close to my family. But I've been here for a long time, I missed it here, so I came back. I'm gonna finish my career here, I don't know how long that's gonna take. Two, three, five years, hopefully more, but I want to finish it here.

MF: You were one if the most hated players by Metro fans before...
DK: Yeah. (laughs)

MF: And now you're one of us.
DK: I know, I know. Everywhere I go, a lot of fans don't like me.

MF: Why is that?
DK: I'm not sure, I'm not sure... But every time I step on the field, doesn't matter who for. Now I play for Red Bull, that's my team, I give 100%, and I want to win. I want to win games, that's what it comes down to. We got a good team this year, and hopefully the supporters will feel a lot better.

MF: Bruce talked about the lack of leadership on the team last year.
DK: Bruce looks for that from older guys. Myself, Claudio, we've got older guys. Claudio played overseas for so many seasons. That's what you need, you need guys to step up. We've got a lot of good players this year. Sometimes when the team is down, which is gonna happen next season, it's up, it's down, older guys need to step up and help the younger guys.

MF: You started out as a forward in college, and then moved to midfield, and now you're in defensive midfield, on the wings, even left back?
DK: Sometimes, sometimes. I tell Bruce all the time, put me here, put me there, whatever is good for the team. I like the middle, that's where I played in Chicago and in DC. But if I have to play sometimes different positions, whatever helps the team at that time, I would do.

MF: Any clue where will Bruce put you this season?
DK: I'm not sure. We're working on different things, formations. Wherever he put me, I'll be ready.