Clyde Simms chat transcript

These are the types of games that you dream of playing when you're younger. The atmosphere should be great at FedEx Field. Their players are world class and it's always fun to see how you compare and compete with those types of players. As a team, we have nothing to lose, so we'll battle as hard as possible. We hear they're trying to stack their team before coming to FedEx with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, so they seem a little scared, but we'll be ready for them. Haha!

[Ed. note: Get your tickets now! http://www.dcunited.com/tickets-schedule/dc-united-vs-real-madrid-cf]

I want to help be a part of a team that the fans of D.C. United can be proud of because of the effort we put in, game in and game out, and because of the silverware WE WILL WIN. And, as far as my career, I try not to really focus on myself because soccer is such a team game and I think the team's success is individual success.

Honestly, I just want to win, so whatever suits the team best, I'm all for. But, you bring up Ben and I love playing with him. I learn a lot from him as a player on and off the field and he is a great teammate, just like all of my teammates. But, whether it's a 3-5-2 or a 4-4-2, I try to play to make the team better and the players around me better.

ECU was a perfect situation for me. As for soccer, I was able to go in as a freshman and get lots of playing time. I got the experience that a lot of good players that chose other schools might not have gotten as a freshman. I think I had great coaches - Devin O'Neal and Michael Benn - and I learned a lot about the game from them and got a lot of attention from both which I don't think I would have gotten at other schools. It's unfortunate that they don't have a program at this moment, but hopefully they're working towards having a men's program again soon.

It's great - this is my fifth year in MLS and I still feel that their support is second to none in the League. There has been games in the past where I've been lacking energy, either before or during the game, and looking at them and seeing how enthused they are definitely keeps me going.

Nowadays, not too much for fun, just because I want to be safe off the field and don't want any unnecessary injuries, but growing up I was big into basketball. I actually almost quit playing soccer my freshman year in highschool to pursue basketball. I would also play golf and tennis with my dad growing up, but I kind of gave that up when I went away to college. I still do love to watch all competitive sports.

I actually had some trials set-up this past off-season in England and Denmark, but it took a lot of thinking and finally decided to stick with D.C. United - they've been good to me and I love the team and the city and I'm very happy here. I just signed a long-term contract with DC so I plan on being here for a while. If I had to choose another country to play in, it'd probably be England. I love the way they play, it's kind of a blue collar league, everyone works very hard and that's the way I like to play soccer.

Great question - as a team, we are looking for the answer to that question, but personally I think it takes a little more concentration throughtout the course of 90 minutes and sticking to the game plan that we set at the beginning of the game.