← Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
Diego Luna on keeping out the noise and Alex Freeman’s next step
00:28:43
Loading summary
Transcript132 lines
- [00:00]
Landon Donovan
Foreign soccer here at the 2025 MLS All Star Game in Austin, Texas. Me and Tim here we are now joined by man making his second straight All Star appearance. He was the 2024 MLS Young Player of the Year, and he's coming off a Gold cup run that was fascinating for the US where he scored three goals and had four assists. 1. One of the country's brightest young stars. And his second appearance here on the Unfiltered soccer podcast, we welcome Diego Luna. All right, Diego, we'll jump right in. So Tim likes to say that your fame went up once he interviewed you.
- [00:40]
Tim Howard
That's not true.
- [00:41]
Landon Donovan
No, but it feels like over the last month, and deservedly so, you've been on a trajectory from a fame standpoint, from people noticing you, recognizing you. How do you deal with that? You're 21.
- [00:52]
Diego Luna
21. Yeah.
- [00:53]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. So how do you deal with that? Who around you keeps you humble? Because you are a humble kid, and we want to make sure if you're not, you're going to hear from me, too. But who keeps you grounded and how have you dealt with that, to be.
- [01:05]
Diego Luna
Honest, be straight up. I think it's just. It's myself. I think it's just kind of how I grew up and, you know, where I came from, not coming from much now that I've, you know, getting notice and getting more things. I think it's. It's just something cool to now, you know, be able to provide for the family that has given me everything now. So I think it's kind of that, because to me, it's never going to change. I'm the same dude that that was playing, you know, back in Cali and stuff like that. So I think for me, it's just, you know, that. And then moving away from home at a young age really allowed me to mature mentally and, you know, with therapy and all these things that I use as tools for me, allows me to, you know, stay grounded and just keeps me calm.
- [01:48]
Tim Howard
Yes, you have fame, and you've earned that. I was saying off camera, we need to get a belt. I don't know if you watch ufc, but bmf, you're the. You're the BMF until.
- [01:58]
Landon Donovan
What does that mean, Tim?
- [01:59]
Tim Howard
Well, you can look it up. We. We. We get edit the show. There was a lot of noise from us, from everybody across the soccer landscape, which, by the way, is a good thing.
- [02:08]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [02:09]
Tim Howard
About. About this current national team and players that weren't there. And then when that conversation moved forward, one of the things Landon and I Talked about was now. Now the opportunity and onus and responsibilities on this current group to say, to hell with who's not here. To hell with Landon and Tim and this other guy who says, focus, lock in. Do the business. You did that. Was there moments before the tournament where. And again, I'm not asking for inside information. Was there moments before the tournament where, as a group, you felt like, to hell with everybody else. We have to dig in together?
- [02:44]
Diego Luna
Yeah. I think the team that was, you know, put together there, I think everybody there was on the same page as. We really don't care about anything that's going on outside of this group because this is the people that are here. These are the people that are gonna, you know, take us to the final of this tournament or the people that are gonna get judged for not making it to the tournament. So I think everybody in that group, and that's what allowed us to be successful, is that we didn't. We didn't pay attention to anything of the outside noise, to the people talking to the players that weren't brought in. It was these guys and these guys only. And that's. That was the main focus. And. And we put in the shift and unfortunate to Not. To not bring it home. But I think, you know, we did well, and the guys there did. Did a good job.
- [03:25]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [03:26]
Landon Donovan
So talk to me about the final. Right? Because you played, in my opinion, was there six games total? You played five fantastic games.
- [03:34]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [03:34]
Landon Donovan
And then that's. The final was hard for you, Right? Like, you struggled in some portion. You struggled to kind of find the game. So when. Why was that?
- [03:42]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [03:42]
Landon Donovan
Right. And what I'm really digging into is, like, what are you learning from that? Because you can't do this forever. We all do this and then this and then this. And so what do you learn from that? And how do you. If you had to play it again tomorrow, what do you do differently?
- [03:54]
Diego Luna
Yeah, I just want to start off with, you know, people kind of think about this final as, like, it was, you know, like the ending. Right. And it's like, this is just the beginning. And I think people. It was. It was an unfortunate game. I didn't play well. The team struggled a little bit to get out. I think they really kept us in our half more than we'd like to. I was playing more defensively, more defensive, more lower than I would like to. But, yeah, I think this is an awesome time for growing and an awesome thing to learn from at a young age for me and hopefully to come back to more finals and I'll take this as a stepping stool of what not to do and how finals are played and how big moments like that are different because it's not just a normal game. This is. It was a different type of feeling and different type of game. If we had to play this game tomorrow, I think it would be differently in the way that we pressed. Be more aggressive, I think, keeping the ball. I think it was just maybe individual mistakes or a lot of bad giveaways. A pass. Yeah. Giving away when we win it. And then they would just pin us right back down. So I think that would be the difference maker right there is just keeping the ball for a little bit, making them run rather than having them just control the game and pin us back.
- [05:10]
Tim Howard
You know, listen, US Mexico are always brilliant games. They're oftentimes cagey and for as much. And I think about it all the time, like Barcelona, Real Madrid. If you watch those games, you have to earn the right to play. U.S. mexico is a tough game. You gotta earn the right to play. And I thought it was a fantastic game. Look, were we pinned back too much? Could we not get out? Sure. But even Pach made the switch where you were left of a four and Tillman was in the hole, and he put Tillman left of 4 and you in a more creative position. So there's opportunities there for. Even for a manager to learn, I guess, from. From me. I'm. I'm really curious on. You talked about his rise being. Being really sharp. Have these. Have these. You go into January camp, you have the friendlies. But are these games what you expected them to be at this level? I mean, you had the. You had. You had Costa Rica, you had semifinals, you have Mexico in the final. Like, are these the games when you thought about it? Because we all dream about playing for our country in the big moments. Have they been everything you hoped?
- [06:10]
Diego Luna
That's a good question, I'd say. I'd say yes. I'd say the games were very competitive. I think the games were intense. It's hard to answer because you don't want to sound one way or another right, but I think the performances that I put in these games were. Well, I think I still could have played better. I think there was still another level.
- [06:35]
Tim Howard
Yeah, but I mean, more so. Yeah, you dreamt of playing for your. Your performance was fantastic. But. But in terms of the atmosphere and you're, you know, we all want to play for our country. You get there, you feel like, oh, wow, this is everything I dreamt it would be.
- [06:46]
Diego Luna
Yeah. I see what you're saying.
- [06:48]
Alex Freeman
Yeah.
- [06:48]
Diego Luna
Now that, like, even when the national anthem spine, like, that moment's like that. Yeah.
- [06:51]
Landon Donovan
Different. Right.
- [06:52]
Diego Luna
It's. It's emotional. It's definitely special. Yeah. And you kind of feel all these things kind of kick in. You're like, wow, this is. This is. This is it. This is all I've. I've dreamt of as a kid. So, yeah, I think you hit it right on the spot.
- [07:04]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [07:05]
Landon Donovan
I want to give you a compliment because I, you know, I talk to Nate Miller a lot and Pablo from time to time about you, and one of my concerns, not just with you, with everyone, was when you get back to your club teams, what does that look like? Because you can kind of go one of two ways. You can walk back in and be like, yeah, man, did you see me in that? Or you can come in and say, I want more of that, like he said. And the way you get more of that is by performing at Salt Lake.
- [07:28]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [07:28]
Landon Donovan
And that's it. And Nate told me your first day back in training, you were at it.
- [07:33]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [07:33]
Landon Donovan
You know, he said, like, you were into it, you were. You were aggressive, you were loud, you were at it. And your games since have been the same. So I want to compliment you on that. Also, in talking to them, one of the things they talk about, and this is a crazy thing to say, so, like, when people, I think, look at you. Right. And I think they looked at me similar, like, shorter, stockier, they think, okay, that's. And with your ability, your quality, they don't expect you to run the weight.
- [08:00]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [08:00]
Landon Donovan
And. And they said sometimes we actually want Diego to run less.
- [08:03]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [08:03]
Landon Donovan
Right. Which is crazy. So what, like, have you always had that about you, that ability? Because I know when you. When your team has the ball, you're everywhere because you just want the ball.
- [08:12]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [08:12]
Tim Howard
Right.
- [08:12]
Landon Donovan
And. And that, in most games, is very effective.
- [08:16]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [08:16]
Landon Donovan
But then without the ball, too, you've gotten really good at just moving and running. Has that always been a part of what you've done or has that developed?
- [08:23]
Diego Luna
No, it definitely hasn't. I think definitely off the ball. It's been RSL and Pablo Mastroni that has really put that into, you know, engraved that into my brain that, you know, this is a game, and nowadays it's. It's both sides of the ball. You can't just, you know, unless you're Messi. You can't just kind of roam around the ball and. And wait for it to get to you. So he. He implemented that into Me and basically told me, you're not going to play if you don't play both sides of the ball. So that has been what I've, you know, worked on for the past, you know, two and a half years at rsl. Um, and it, it's also allowed me to be in better positions when we have the ball. It's allowed me to, to be more mentally locked in, in the game. And it's overall just helped me in, in my overall, you know, match fitness, in my, in my performance and everything. And it also just makes the, the trust of the team in you better. And, and who doesn't want, you know, the trust of your teammates there for people, Forget this.
- [09:23]
Landon Donovan
It allows you to stay on the field longer, right? Because your coach is like, I don't need to take him out because he can go. You're going to score goals in your career in the 80th minute, 85th night because you're on the field. Right. And so it's really important.
- [09:36]
Tim Howard
Well, I mean, you're learning a valuable lesson from one of the best, you know, in terms of midfielders in this country. Pablo Mastroianna, a friend of mine, he coached me and we played alongside him. But you're learning that lesson at a young age because so many players think they can get away with it. And when you look at the best players we watch all around the world, they play both sides of the ball. There's not, there's one, as you mentioned, one or two players in the world that can just play one side of the ball. You have to earn that coming out of the Gold Cup. I'm curious, was there, what's your communication like with Mauricio Pochettino? Obviously you're a player who he likes. He likes your tenacity and your toughness and your ability on the ball. What have those conversations been like as you left the tournament or even throughout?
- [10:17]
Diego Luna
Yeah, I haven't been able to chat with him after the tournament. It was a quick turnaround after the final to get out of there and get back to your clubs. You know, hopefully I can get a call soon and kind of chat about it. Cause I also have some questions and concerns and stuff.
- [10:32]
Landon Donovan
But.
- [10:32]
Diego Luna
But I think for me it's continuing to do what I've been doing at rsl and if not another step higher to allow me to get more chances with the national team.
- [10:41]
Landon Donovan
So we asked you this before when you came on the pod, and I'm curious now. I know how these things go. Tim knows how it goes. You play with the national team, you soar, people pay attention, interest grows from around other parts of the world. Is your mindset the same as it was a few months ago? Do you see now? Do you see these things differently? Do you view going to Europe or having an opportunity now versus later? Where's your mindset now with that?
- [11:08]
Diego Luna
Yeah, I think I've always had the dream of going to Europe. Right. Like that was the thing, right, to get to Europe and try it out and perform and see what the highest level you can reach while you are allowed to play soccer, time runs out. So I think that's the same goal that I had before camp and then after this Gold Cup. But that all just, you know, plays into fact about what clubs want you, what's the right move for you, you know, money wise, a bunch of things that play into it. So I think for me, I'm ready for the next step to challenge myself, wherever that is. If that's staying at RSL, I'm 100% in and I'm continuing to do and perform, score more goals, win championships. And if that's a move, then that's a move and got to restart and you know, build my way into the, into that team or whatever team that is. But I'm looking forward to what's to come.
- [12:01]
Tim Howard
That is, as we went into the summer again, there was the players that weren't there and the players that were there and kind of got pitted against one another. Ultimately, you're one group, you're one team, you're one brotherhood. What is that like? That being said, there's competition for places. There's the team that band together, went to a Gold cup final, gave Marcia Pochettino some selection headaches. What's the feeling from your end? You get back into camp in September, you probably feel like you're a starter or you certainly should want to feel you and a couple of other players should feel like I've done enough to start. What's that competition gonna be like when you go into camp with the players who weren't there with the current squad?
- [12:46]
Diego Luna
Yeah, I think that that's the type of mental kind of thing that, that is going to allow us to be a top level country, A top level team is when we got guys that are coming back into camp that like you said, you can say that they, they did well, they, they think they have a spot, whatever. And then you have guys that, you know, were, were the main guys or were the guys that, that say the media talked about and stuff. And now going into a camp like that you got two people that are. Are just fighting and fighting against each other. And overall, it's. It's a good thing. Overall, it's. It's. It's the person that's going to get put in that to 11, worked for it and. And earned it. So I think that's the type of mentality that we need in the US with soccer, and I think that's what we're missing. So I think overall, it's a great thing to happen and, you know, excited for that to happen.
- [13:38]
Landon Donovan
The beauty for you is you've been doing that since 16. Right. And we talked about you going pro early and knowing what it's like to compete and earn. Not given a spot, not a homegrown, who everyone's trying to get into the team. Exactly. You have to. And by the way, that's what the national team should be. Our first times going in, it wasn't like, oh, here you go. It's like, you got to fight like hell to earn it. And it's been great. I just want to congratulate you. It's been an amazing summer. It's been fun to watch you. I think the sky is the limit for you. I really do. And it's been an honor for us to get to know you better and watch you progress and wherever it takes you next. I know your dreams are. Are very big.
- [14:18]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [14:18]
Landon Donovan
And you've already. You've already achieved a lot of them, and there's a long way to go.
- [14:22]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [14:23]
Tim Howard
And we appreciate you coming on our show. Our listeners love you. You're a fan favorite.
- [14:26]
Landon Donovan
You.
- [14:27]
Tim Howard
You're welcome back anytime. Thank you. Much success and good luck.
- [14:29]
Diego Luna
Appreciate that. Thank you, guys.
- [14:31]
Landon Donovan
Get some sleep, man. I know you're tired.
- [14:41]
Tim Howard
Super excited. LD we have one of the breakout stars, not only in MLS, but all of U.S. soccer, making his first all star appearance for Orlando City. He's coming off a Gold cup for the US where he started every single game at right. Fullback, we welcome in Alex Freeman.
- [14:57]
Landon Donovan
All right, Alex, welcome. Nice T shirt.
- [15:00]
Alex Freeman
Yeah. Thank you for having me.
- [15:01]
Landon Donovan
Yeah, no problem. Did you pick that out?
- [15:04]
Alex Freeman
No.
- [15:04]
Tim Howard
They made you wear that merch. That's the merch that comes in the bag.
- [15:07]
Landon Donovan
Okay, so this is. We did our research before we came, and you were with Orlando City B. And then this is your first season where you've been, like, the starter logging all the minutes. I'm curious because we watched you all through the Gold cup, and most people now know you through what they saw this summer on the Gold cup right outside of Orlando. So after that experience, what are you happy with in your game? Let's talk about your game first, then we'll get into this and then what do you still need to improve on to get to that, to that next level? And there's, by the way, there's many levels and I think you can get to all of them. But to get to that next one.
- [15:40]
Alex Freeman
I feel like in the game I was playing a more defensive role and I feel like that was something I needed to work on in my game. And I feel like in that game I was had the ball out in possession and I felt like it was just me to improve in that aspect. You know, I like to go forward and I didn't get to go forward as much as I would want to, but just to perfect that defensive possession game that I was able to play, you know, it was good and I feel like I improved on that aspect and then it was just 1v1. So I feel like is what I need to improve on. I feel like a lot of times a lot of these fast wingers are just going to go at you all the game. So I feel like something in this Go cup is learning that, you know, there's high level players that I'm going to keep taking you on even if they, you know, don't get past you the first time. So I think that's something that I should really improve on myself.
- [16:21]
Landon Donovan
It was interesting to watch because like I was just going through some of your stats. Like you've been a much more attacking, like much more. And you, you had moments in the Gold cup too, but we kind of viewed you as you were doing a defensive job through, through moments of the game, especially in the final. Right. Like trying to do so. It's interesting to hear you say that. And was that a Pochettino thing where he wanted you to be playing a certain way or is that, or is that you talking about just things you want to improve in general?
- [16:49]
Alex Freeman
Obviously, I think it's both. I think he wanted me obviously to play a certain way, but it's also just me wanting to improve. I think at the end of the day he's gonna put me in a position that he feels comfortable that I'm in.
- [16:59]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [17:00]
Alex Freeman
And it's just to give my best in that position and be able to, you know, give him satisfied, make him satisfied at the end of the day and be able to help the team as much as I can.
- [17:09]
Landon Donovan
Great.
- [17:10]
Tim Howard
You know, with this, so much has come at you so quickly. You're playing, you Know, every. Every weekend, every Saturday, you're in the first name on a team sheet for Orlando. Then you play big minutes in the Gold cup as a young player. How difficult has that been? Or maybe it's not difficult, because I'm sure, you know, when we spoke, you love the game. What's the challenges to going from Orlando B or dipping your toe in here and there to being. To playing every single week?
- [17:37]
Alex Freeman
Yeah. I mean, obviously, you know, it's a. It's very different, you know, and, you know, I feel like at the beginning, it's just pressure, you know, I'm getting a chance. It's. I have to, you know, make the best of it. You know, it's going to make the best of it, and I'm still trying to do that now is to keep, you know, not only performing, but keep, you know, pushing, pushing, pushing for the national team spot. I mean, I think at the end of the day, I'm pushing for club and club, but threads are your country is a whole different thing. And I feel like now, obviously, a lot's been thrown at me, but I feel like, you know, it's just to be, you know, not comfortable. But always keep wanting to work. I feel like, you know, if I. If I keep working and be able to, you know, keep wanting to be better, I feel like, you know, stuff's gonna come that. Come at me that I'm gonna be able to handle.
- [18:22]
Tim Howard
Yeah, let's expand on that. I mean, you have. You got this taste. You got more than a taste of the international level. Where's your mindset? Like, how was that change? Now you. I'm guessing you want more and more of that.
- [18:36]
Alex Freeman
Yeah, of course. I mean, it was an amazing experience to be amazing people, veterans, you know, and people that are new to it, like. Like myself. So it was a very good opportunity to go and look and see that atmosphere, you know, especially in the final, you know, being at your home and having most festival fans, I mean, obviously, it's something that you're gonna have to. Used to at a national level, you know, and just be able to, you know, you know, have so many fans and supporters that are cheering for you, you know, it's something that, you know, it makes you want to keep wanting more.
- [19:05]
Landon Donovan
Yeah. So something we're curious of. So inside that group, that Gold cup group, this. This Gold cup that you were part of, if something's happening on the field and it's not going well, who are the guys or the guy who will say, we need to change something, we need to do something different. Like, who are the guys that. Are the leaders that will, like, say, hey, Alex, we need you to do this instead of that. You know, I know we talked about this pre game. It's not working. We need you to. Who are the guys now in that group? Because there's a whole other set of guys, too, outside of this group. But in this group, who were those guys?
- [19:38]
Alex Freeman
I feel like the main guy from Ryofercy was Chris Richards, because he was next to me, you know, he was just someone that, you know, it's just.
- [19:44]
Tim Howard
He's a monster.
- [19:45]
Alex Freeman
Yeah, monster. He's telling me to keep pushing. Tim Ream also, you know, he had kind of his, like, captain appearance that, like, you could kind of tell that, like, yeah, he's the one that's gonna, you know, talk to the players, you know, kind of give that father role, you know. And Tyler Adams also, you know, coming in, he was kind of one of the first guys that came up to me and was like, you know, I've seen you. You know, I'm excited to see what you have, and just.
- [20:09]
Landon Donovan
That's cool.
- [20:10]
Alex Freeman
Be comfortable on the field. You know, at the end of the day, you're here for a reason, and I feel like everyone was there for a reason. It's just to be able to showcase that. Your ability.
- [20:17]
Landon Donovan
That's awesome.
- [20:19]
Tim Howard
How much of. Obviously, there's always. When you get to the national team level and you're young and talented like yourself, there's always rumors flying around how much. How much of. Clearly, you want to. You want to succeed at Orlando, but. But with success at Orlando comes the rumors of Europe and European football and going and going abroad. How much of that is on your radar?
- [20:42]
Alex Freeman
Obviously, I feel like my end goal is Europe. You know, I feel like, you know, that's the next step in my direction. But right now, you know, in Orlando, I'm happy. You know, I'm playing 90 minutes. You know, I'm playing in a style that I'm really comfortable in, you know, and this point is just be able to, you know, keep excelling in that style, you know, because with Orlando, you know, I think everyone there wants to win trophies, you know, be able to, you know, win somebody they can lift up for their fans, for their people. And, you know, I feel like that's something I want to work for, too, for a club that gave me a chance when I was very young.
- [21:13]
Tim Howard
Absolutely.
- [21:14]
Alex Freeman
And so, you know, I think right now my mindset should just be, you know, focus on that and try to do my Best I can in Orlando. And, you know, I think interest, more will come, you know, and maybe even bigger clubs or maybe, you know, a club that will fit me more my style.
- [21:28]
Landon Donovan
Sure.
- [21:29]
Alex Freeman
So I feel like right now it's just to perfect, you know, and be able to help Orlando in whatever way I can to win trophies.
- [21:35]
Landon Donovan
So I beat this drum all the time. And I think it's really important for you. We're here to interview you, not give you advice.
- [21:40]
Diego Luna
Yeah.
- [21:41]
Landon Donovan
I can't help it because I'm a dad and we're older and we've been through it. So I would just say right now you are playing every week, you're getting a chance to play with the national team. I think there's probably a very good chance you get called in to the next friendlies that come, no matter who else is there. And there's lots of cautionary tales, especially a year ahead of a World cup for guys who leave or six months ahead of leave, don't play, and you miss out on a World Cup. Right. And you've got this long career ahead of you. So I would just say the grass isn't always greener and make sure that you just keep doing what you're doing. Because right now, like Tim said, in Orlando, you're the first name on the team sheet every week. You can't imagine, because you're young, how valuable that is to be playing every week. And I think it's really. I think it's really important. Obviously you have a desire to play in Europe. Do you feel like you need to at some point? Is that like, you know, growing up, was that like, I need to do that to prove myself or I need to do that to achieve what I want to achieve? Is that, Is that a. Is that how you feel about that?
- [22:44]
Tim Howard
It's.
- [22:45]
Alex Freeman
It's mixed feelings because obviously, you know, people have excelled so much in mls, you know what I mean? And it's a wonderful place to live in America. You know, I think a lot of people, you can see a lot of Europeans want to come here and live here, you know?
- [23:00]
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
- [23:01]
Alex Freeman
Obviously Europe is always eye grabbing. You want to go, you know what I mean? But I think it's something that I want to do just to test myself, you know, maybe in a different environment for myself. You know, I love Orlando, I love mls. But soon, I think just to be able to test a different environment, you know, I think it's something not a need, but like, kind of like a want.
- [23:22]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [23:22]
Landon Donovan
And it is different. Sorry. It is different. And Tim Will tell you this better than me. There is. I always tell people here in America, going to the Orlando City game, for most people is just an entertainment option. We can go to Disney World, we can go to the beach, or we can go to Orlando City. When you go to Europe, there's no. There's no question where you're going to the game on the weekend.
- [23:42]
Alex Freeman
Exactly.
- [23:43]
Landon Donovan
And that. And you'll feel that. And you will be there eventually, but you'll feel that. And it is different. And it's. It's special.
- [23:47]
Tim Howard
Yeah. I mean, and both are great options. I'm thinking back to what you were talking about in the. In. In the Gold cup in the level and players running at you constantly and. And having to defend your space and do all things. I thought you were. I thought you were fantastic. I thought you grew throughout the tournament, which is what you want. You adapted really well. And in the end, again, the semifinal and final really had my eye on you. I thought that was. Your performances were worthy of praise. And clearly, when you go into your career, your name precedes you, and your dad is the great Antonio Freeman and all of the things that he did on the football field. But I'm always curious, as a dad and a son, you're now on this journey that he was on, what are those conversations like, forget the soccer side of it. What are those conversations like before a final? You know, he's played in the super bowl and won, and you go into a Gold cup final, what are those type of conversations like before and after the game that you have with your dad?
- [24:45]
Alex Freeman
Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, my dad's, you know, learning soccer as I'm playing. And so his conversations to me are not more about soccer. It's more about mindset, and it's more about determination and that kind of stuff. So. And obviously, he's been, you know, best of the best, so he knows a lot about that. So I think pregame talks for him is just, you know, telling me to, you know, keep my. Keep my eye on the prize. I feel like at the end of the day, he was like, winning a trophy with your national team is not something you'll do, you know, every day. You know, you got to be able to put it in the work and determination and want it, you know, and be able to, you know, go and step on the field and go with determination with lead. Wanting to get that, you know, after the game happened, obviously we didn't win the final, but he was just, like, just expressing how proud he was of me. But not only that, how, how I kept myself, you know, how I held myself through the whole tournament. He was like, you know, obviously it's a big step for me. And he was like, I could tell that you were trying your best and you did very well. Just trying to set the tone and to not feel like it's your first, you know, first tournament, but trying to kind of make me feel like that I was there for a while, you know. I think that's what you were. Yeah. That's great.
- [25:53]
Landon Donovan
All right, so everyone wants to ask about your dad, but I was. I googled you this morning. I was looking at your Wikipedia. Your mom's a Liverpool fan.
- [26:01]
Tim Howard
This is sad news.
- [26:02]
Landon Donovan
We got, we got big problems with this.
- [26:05]
Alex Freeman
Big problem.
- [26:05]
Tim Howard
Good for her, bad for us.
- [26:07]
Landon Donovan
Big problems.
- [26:07]
Alex Freeman
She loves her some Van Dyke. Oh my God.
- [26:10]
Landon Donovan
She said she calls you her little Trent.
- [26:13]
Alex Freeman
Yep.
- [26:14]
Landon Donovan
All right, so how did this come about? Why is she a liberal? I mean, nobody's perfect.
- [26:17]
Alex Freeman
Yeah, I mean, I think our, our household's a Man U fan. I think our household households like that. And I guess she wanted to be different.
- [26:27]
Tim Howard
That's different.
- [26:28]
Alex Freeman
She wanted to pick her own team and stuff like that. And so I think. And she grew up a little bit in the Netherlands.
- [26:34]
Tim Howard
All right.
- [26:34]
Alex Freeman
Oh, so yeah, so that kind of, it went kind of like that. And then she's liked him. She liked Mohamed Salah. Then it was kind of like, yeah, I'm Liverpool.
- [26:44]
Landon Donovan
What's her name?
- [26:45]
Alex Freeman
Rochelle.
- [26:46]
Landon Donovan
Okay, go ahead.
- [26:46]
Alex Freeman
Yeah, so yeah, ever since then she's Ripple. She sends me all these articles about them when they won the league. Oh my gosh. You want to stop talking about it?
- [26:55]
Tim Howard
Yeah.
- [26:55]
Landon Donovan
All right, Rochelle, we're not happy about this. Just so you know, just for the.
- [27:00]
Tim Howard
Record, question for you before we let you, before we get you out of here. So you have, you have, in my opinion, a fantastic gold cup as a team. Going into it, we talked and said the best outcome is to win the trophy. Second best outcome, even though it's hard to take consolations, is a hard fought loss against Mexico. That means that this team has gotten almost everything. And I just wonder now, you break everyone, gets on the plane, goes home. The next time you're together is September. Any party, words, conversations with you and Pochettino or the coaching staff as you move forward, words of encouragement, thinking that maybe you'll be in again soon. Is that how it ended?
- [27:40]
Alex Freeman
Yeah, it was kind of like, you know, him kind of just coming up to me and being like, yeah, just keep working. He was like, now it's time for you to go back to Orlando and. And play like you've been playing here and be able to make an impact on the team. So I feel like Fatuccino wants us all to do that is go to our respective clubs. Obviously, some people had breaks, but for the MLS guys or the other guys in Europe that are starting preseason, going to the. Go back and keep playing how you're playing and keep, you know, succeeding. You know, I think that at the end of the day, that's the way you're going to get called up again is if you keep doing good and keep, you know, working towards that. So, yeah, great.
- [28:15]
Landon Donovan
My agent always would say nothing bad ever happens when you play well. Right? Like, all the things you want and all the possibility, if you play well, all the good things happen. You've been playing great, man, and it's been a pleasure to have you. Nice to get to know you, and we're wishing you the best Wednesday should be fun to enjoy it.
- [28:30]
Tim Howard
Good luck.
- [28:31]
Alex Freeman
Thank you.
- [28:32]
Landon Donovan
Good job, man.
- [28:32]
Alex Freeman
Thank you.