On having opportunities with the season Kei Kamara has had
Kei has had a great season and the team is doing pretty well, so I am just excited to be a part of it all. I talked to Gregg a little bit and he is excited for me to be here and I think that alone gets my hopes up. He said I’ll have my opportunities and I know that when I get those opportunities I’ll have to make the most of them.
On if he had any expectations of being traded
I wasn’t hoping or expecting really anything, I thought with the new player that Montreal has brought in, they would have to move someone. I was told someone would probably be moving, I didn’t think it would be me and I didn’t think I was going to be the one that they were considering, but at the end of the day it’s part of the business and I understand it, I’m just excited to be joining [Crew SC] now.
On what he learned in Montreal to make him a better player
I think Montreal is a very technically gifted team, a lot of players can take people on one-v-one and they create chances in transition. I think Montreal and Columbus are very similar in their playing style. I think that is what I learned most in Montreal, just where to make movements, scoring in transition and taking people on one-v-one. I think in [Philadelphia] that wasn’t one of my best attributes. It’s something that I picked up on a little bit here and I hope to go into Columbus and make the team and myself better.
On the photo of him as a child in a Columbus Crew SC jersey
It was a little bit. I have family in Columbus in the area, so I am guessing that’s how and where I got the jersey. I just went into school one day and it happened to be picture day and that is where the picture came from.
On what he thinks his play will bring to the team
I think with Kei being up top, he is obviously very strong and physical. They play balls into him and Kei will lay them off to people who run off of Kei and get in behind. I think I am one of those players that can get in behind and really play off of him, so I look at it as an opportunity for myself. The service to Kei this year has obviously been great with the number of goals he has scored and the team has produced. I look forward to helping out with those numbers and helping the team win games in that aspect.
On where he anticipates playing on the field
I’m not really comfortable playing out wide. I’ve only played up top my entire career and like I said, Montreal and Columbus have very similar systems playing with one forward. I’m just going to come in and take advantage of my opportunities. Coach Gregg Berhalter said I would have opportunities and I trust what he has to say. I feel very fortunate to be coming to such a quality team. I plan on taking opportunity with the chances that I get. I know the team is doing pretty well and they are going to create chances and that is what I need in my game to finish those opportunities in front of goal.
On his impression of Crew SC from an organization as a whole
Whenever I played against [Crew SC], I hated playing against them. They are pretty physical and very dangerous going forward. At the same time, I liked playing them because the games are very open. They liked to get forward. The teams that I have played for have been very attacking as well, so the games were pretty open and everyone would get their opportunities and that is fun as a forward. I’m looking to be joining the other side and having fun and creating chances with my new teammates with Crew SC.
On Federico Higuaín
I’ve been pretty jealous of the players that have played with him, I think his first instinct is to go get the ball and the second he gets the ball, he looks for people making runs. I think for myself, that is one of my best attributes, making runs and getting in behind. His first thought is to look for the pass, so I think that we will play great together. Like I said, I have always been jealous of the chances that he has created for other people and hopefully I’m looking to be on the end of them this year.
On having a fresh start with Columbus
Any time you go to a new team, you are almost refreshed. It is a new slate. You can just go out there. Everyone is going to look at your previous performances with other teams, but at the end of the day you are with new players and it is always different. It’s going to be a different style, there is needed time to adjust. I think going in, I’m just looking to get into the [lineup] and make an impact for the team. Hopefully things go well for myself and the team wins and gets the results they need.
On building playing relationships with teammates
I think a lot has to do with building relationships off the field. I think that translates to what goes onto the field. It will come once we have two or three practices together. They’ll know where to find me, they’ll know the runs that I make and where I like to be. Like I said, Montreal and Columbus have very similar systems and I think that is what is going to make it a pretty easy transition onto the field. I’m looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and I don’t see it going any way other than producing goals and wins.
