Defender Steve Birnbaum
On playing a normal season in 2019...
“Yeah, I am excited. We obviously don’t have to go on the road for four months straight. It will be nice to open up at home. We now have our core group of guys that we are moving forward with and we want to build on last season. That's in the past but we thought we had a good grasp on things as the season turned down. We are just excited to get back out and play again. It’s going to take a little bit to gel again but that's what the preseason is for.”
On what he learned about D.C. United last year...
“I think we showed that we have many different ways to win. I think we showed that we weren’t just a one-dimensional team. We could press, we could sit back, we could counter and then we could possess the ball and in years past, we haven’t been able to do that. I think we have a good idea on the way we want to go about things this year. It’s just building on last season and we have the same guys who know the principles of the way we want to play and that's going to be important for us.”
On if Washington, D.C. has developed a culture for soccer...
“Of course! I think the stadium has a lot to do with it. I think the city has rallied around us a little bit, you could see it in our playoff game last year. That was unbelievable, all the fans being out there, that was epic and we have never experienced that in D.C. At least I haven’t since we've been here and that gives us a little bit of a push. We are excited to now be playing at home and feel that home field advantage.”
On what needs to take D.C. United to the next level...
“Defensively, we were letting in a ton of goals. Especially in the beginning of the season and that's on me and the rest of the defense to tighten that up. We switched our formation with two defensive midfielders and we will probably go with that again this year. We want to be hard to score on because this is a goal scoring league.”
On the ending of last season in the opening round of the playoffs...
“It was tough, it was a tough pill to swallow for awhile but you look back at the game and it goes to penalties and that's just the way it goes sometimes. I was excited to get back this year and hopefully make a better run at the playoffs."
Midfielder Lucas Rodriguez
On what it’s like to Join D.C. United...
“I heard this was a great club with great facilities and a great group of guys. They have really helped me, especially with the language. I feel comfortable here and I am excited to get going.”
On being part of a high profile club and playing alongside Wayne Rooney...
“He’s obviously an unbelievable player. I have watched him at every club he’s played at including D.C. United, where he did a great job last year. I am just hoping to be at that level with him this year and help get success for the club.”
On what he offers United on the field...
“I think I have versatility in playing different positions. Whether it’s in the middle or out wide. I also know Luciano (Acosta) really well, I am getting to know Ulises (Segura) and Junior (Moreno) well. They have been good friends so I think we are going to do well on the field together.”
On if he spoke with Luciano Acosta before he joined United...
“To be honest, I didn't speak to him before. Right before I came, I asked him how the club was and he said ‘it was really good and that I would enjoy it here.’ And now that I am here he is helping me out with being part of the team.”
On what enticed Lucas to join an MLS team
“Obviously, the league has grown in the last couple years. It’s been growing and it brings big players and young players, like myself. I am 21 years old and I have experience and I'm ready to keep going and increase my level.”
Goalkeeper Bill Hamid
On the core players of 2018 returning for the 2019 season...
“Yeah, it’s good to have a good core from last year back. It’s going to be interesting to see what they do with young players, we have a lot of young academy players here right now. So getting them onboard and getting them up to speed is important right now in this part of preseason. I think it’s great because everyone is coming in with the right attitude and the right mentality. We’ve pushed each other, we’ve been working hard and we are just getting to know each other but it's going well.”
On facing high expectations this year because of how last season ended...
“You guys think about last year way too much. I’m really focused on this year. I think that's the goal right now. For us to put last year to bed and focus on this year. Last year was great, 2014 was great, 2015 was great, and 2012 was great but this is 2019. We have to look forward and keep last year behind us and approach this year with the right focus.”
On what it means to him to start 2019 with D.C. United...
“It’s great. I’m very excited for this year. I've been through a lot of preseasons with D.C. United and I think this one has started off the best yet. We’ve got a great group of guys, the coaching staff, they’re all positive and they’re pushing us very hard.”
On what playing for the Black-and-Red means to him...
“It’s in my blood, it’s in my heart, it’s in my soul. As Chris Durkin said, ‘I bleed Black-and-Red.' I have been with the club forever since I was 13-years old. For me, this is my passion. I am going to fight until the death of me for this club for the fans. No matter what I am going to support my teammates at this club. I’m just happy to be here and I'm happy to be apart of the process and embracing the leadership role at this point.”
Forward Wayne Rooney
On what its like to start his first full season with D.C. United...
“Of course, preseason is very important. It’s important to not miss any or too many preseason sessions. I think it's my 19th preseason so it doesn’t get any easier. It's not nice but you have to do it. The first is always the toughest you have to do to be ready for the start of the season.”
On being back on the field after a long offseason...
“I mean this offseason was the longest I've ever had. I think six weeks ago I was ready to go back Into training. Obviously, I had to wait. It was a nice offseason, it’s nice to have time with my family but I am delighted to be back around the lads and prepare for the season.”
On what excites him about D.C. United’s 2019 team...
“As I have said before, I think we have some fantastic players. We have brought a few nice players in and we obviously lost a few players so I think it's always exciting to see how the team will progress now. I certainly think since I’ve been here, we have done well. Disappointed in the end to not go further in the playoffs but I think we can all take encouragement and belief from what we have done last season.”
On where D.C. United needs improvements...
“I’m sure Ben (Olsen) will have a better answer for you but we need more players for sure. The squad at the minute is a bit thin. We’ve obviously got a few young lads, a few homegrown lads and they might need some time. It’s only my second session with a few of them. They might be good enough to go from the start or they might need some time but I still think we need a few more proven players to help the squad to progress to where we want to go.”
On carrying the momentum from 2018 into 2019...
“Well, I think for us we have to take that into the season. Every game, certainly the last 10 or 12 games, were must-win games and we won’t have that pressure from the start of this season. That will be a good reminder to the players of what we have to do to stay consistent throughout the season to finish as high up in the table as we can. Obviously, with the way that the playoffs have changed this year, it’s important for us to finish as high as we can this year to make the playoffs but also to try an earn home field advantage.”
On the end of the 2018 season...
“Of course it sticks with you. I think we were all disappointed by how it ended. I think the game on the night, we didn’t deserve to go through, we weren’t good enough. Columbus was the better team. We knew what they wanted to do but we struggled with their game plan and so it was a disappointing end to the season for us. As I said, that was one game in the last 10 games in the regular season we were unbeaten and it’s a one-off game so that can happen. We have to focus and put that to one side and focus on how we got there, how we played to achieve our goal, and take that into the season. Instead of the one game, obviously it was the important game but rather than focus on that, we will focus on the reasons why we got there.”
On what he expects from himself in 2019 and the team...
“To win the title. We proved in the second half of last season we were good enough I think we beat every other big team during the second half of the season. The only team we didn't beat was the New York Red Bulls which we outplayed them, I felt on two occasions one loss and one draw. We have to be confident enough to win the title. As I said before it’s important that we get a few more proven players with a bit of experience if not in this league, certainly in other big leagues. I feel we have the potential to go on and win it.”
On the difference between EPL offseason and MLS offseason...
"I stayed in Washington until the 16th of December. I had a few weeks back home in England and then back here for the kids to start school again so it was a bit of a strange time. A long time to have off so it was new to me. Finding the right time to train so I’d be ready for the new season it was a strange offseason but I am sure that the rest will help me this season.”
On getting used to life in Nation's Capital...
“Obviously, I came here and I am really enjoying it. As time goes on we have found more things to do as a family and more places to go and take the children. We are enjoying it and the kids are settled into school and so we are happy."
