365 Q & A with Eskandarian

Soccer365 - With the DC United in Seattle to take on Real Madrid, Soccer365's Lars Lifrak had a chance to catch up with Alecko Eskandarian. The United striker answered questions about facing three big named teams in one summer, his hopes of playing for the U.S. National team and the somewhat contriversial celebration after the MLS All-Star game.

Q: Did your dad ever play against Real Madrid?
Alecko Eskandarian: Yeah he almost signed with Real Madrid. He didn’t say much about this game specifically. He always tells me the same thing, just go out there and have fun. Obviously in games like this there are more people watching so it’s an opportunity to show people what you can do.

Q: Is the U.S. National team something that is on your radar?
AE: I just turned twenty-four two or three weeks ago so it’s something that’s definitely on my radar. There are a lot of rumors here and there that if I hadn’t been out for the last twelve months with post concussion syndrome that I might have had an opportunity to crack in. It’s definitely my main goal to break in with the national team. Any soccer player’s dream is to represent their country at the highest level and that’s what I’m gunning for. Obviously it will be a new coach now so that will be a kind of fresh start. I hope I’m fortunate enough to be called up. There were a lot of experienced guys that were ahead of me on the depth chart like Brian McBride and Josh Wolff. When I did get called in before my injury it was a great learning experience and it was trying to soak in all I could gather and then try to have an impact. It wasn’t fun to miss all of that because of the injury but it’s never too late. I think I’m pretty young and this is just the start.

Q: A schedule that includes Celtic, Chelsea and Real Madrid is literally better than a Champions League group stage group!
AE: It really is. It’s a dream come true. Not many people in their lifetime get to play those teams so I definitely just feel grateful that we get this opportunity.

Q: I’m still trying to get a handle on how you guys look at these games. Half the people that watched the All-Star game thought it was a great accomplishment and others said the celebration afterwards wasn’t good for the MLS because the league should look at itself as made up of professionals. What are your thoughts?
AE: I know for us on the All-Star team we were just happy to accomplish our goal which was to win the game. Anyone who says you can’t be happy for winning a game, they must not be athletes. Anytime you put a lot of effort into something, you’re going to celebrate when you win. Obviously for us, I don’t think any American team has ever beaten Chelsea before, any All-Star team or whatever. It was obviously a huge accomplishment but at the same time, it’s not like we had a party on the bus. We were professionals and got back to our hotel and then got on our separate flights to go home. But for that night it was a special moment and I think a huge win to show where the MLS is going.

Q: Is it never or is it ever insulting when people are asking you if you are excited just to be on the same field as a David Beckham or any other player?
AE: I think it’s different. I would never say that I was excited to be on the field with someone because this is my profession and I take it pretty seriously and I hope to get to the level that these guys are at. If anything it’s just a challenge. That’s what I look at it as. I respect these guys a tremendous amount because some of these guys are the ones I grew up watching when I was a kid. It’s just a great challenge to see how far I’ve come individually and to just learn things during the game

Q: Now that you are healthy, what do the doctors say is the potential for the same type of medical situation to occur again?
AE: It’s gone, but obviously if I get hit by a truck or something bad stuff can happen. Stuff happens in life and you just deal with it. As far as I’m concerned, the headaches are gone and my head is totally fine. I’ve already taken some hits in the head in practice and stuff and it’s totally fine.

Q: Is the kind of makeup that you have this year a blueprint for success in the MLS. It’s a good mix of younger players who improve each year and some veterans to help with that process?
AE: I guess we’ll be able to see after the season. If the end result is a championship than maybe it is, but if it isn’t than it’s not. The end result has to be an MLS championship. I definitely think we’ve set a standard as far as the style of soccer that we play. I know just from casual fans and stuff that they enjoy the soccer we play in terms of being attractive and playing the right way. Some other teams, you and I can’t watch because it’s just awful soccer. But that’s their problem and all we do is worry about our club not what other people do.