2023 MLS ALL-STAR GAME: MLS ALL-STARS VS ARSENAL

July 18, 2023

Wayne Rooney

Luciano Acosta

Jesús Ferreira

MLS All-Stars

Audi Field

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Joined by All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney, FC Dallas All-Star forward Jesús Ferreira, and FC Cincinnati midfielder and captain of the All-Star Team, Luciano Acosta.

Coach Rooney, I'll turn it over to you to make an opening statement.

WAYNE ROONEY: Welcome. Obviously, welcome. It's obviously an exciting time to be here at MLS All-Star Game against a very good Arsenal team, and of course you want to win, but I think, also, events like tonight, they are all fun and for the fans to enjoy as well, and the young children to watch some of the best players in the League, different challenges.

It's something I look forward to, and excited, especially, for the game tomorrow.

Q. Jesús, you had a strong Gold Cup. Where do you take that momentum into the second half of the MLS or this game?

JESÚS FERREIRA: I have to sit with myself and reflect on that Gold Cup and see what I did well, what I didn't do well, what I have to learn and keep improving on and just move forward and help the team as much as I can with what I've learned from other guys in the roster and try to do my best.

Q. What did you make of Arsenal's football last season, Mikel Arteta is coaching and with the additions they have made this summer, Rice, Timber and Havertz, do you think they have made a strong claim to reestablish themselves as Manchester City's closest competitors?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, they had a fantastic season last year, and I think it was probably a huge step for Arsenal. I think the signings they have made have been very good signings for them to try and kick on and challenge Manchester City, because they will be the favorites again to win the Premier League, and I think Liverpool will be better next season, and Chelsea will be better, and hopefully Manchester United will be better as well.

But yeah, I think Arsenal have made some really good signings and will compete again.

Q. In your managerial experience so far, in seeing what Mikel Arteta has done last season, is he someone you've studied as a young coach? And if not, which of the young coaches are you studying, and what do you think of the ceiling that he has as well as a manager?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think he's done incredible, really, to go in Arsenal and I think even FA Cup in the first season and really pushed Manchester City last season, still as a young coach, I think it's great to see.

And yeah, I think everyone, of course, coaches have their own ways and their own styles and own identities, and he's been fantastic, and I'm sure working with Guardiola helped him massively as well.

He's someone that can work with -- the top teams and obviously being English in the Premier League, I'm going through the steps to try and do that, has been through those steps and having the best training he could have working alongside Guardiola.

Q. There was really a lovely photo that was circulated on the Internet yesterday of yourself and Lucho enjoying a light-hearted moment during the training session. I don't know if you would have seen it, but the point, I think, is that it was very clear there's a nice bond between yourself and Lucho. This isn't the first time you will have seen each other since you played together, but how has it been this week, reconnecting with him in this way? And also, if I can beg you, how do you feel Lucho has developed as a player since you played alongside one another in D.C.?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I was actually just trying to convince him to come back to D.C. (Laughter).

He's, firstly, a fantastic person and human being and someone who I have a very good relationship with, playing alongside him at D.C. I think his game has developed over the years. I think he's become a better player, a more mature player, obviously captain of Cincinnati, and rightly so, and one of, if not the best player in MLS.

I'm delighted for him and the developments in his career, and hopefully for him because I know it will be great for him. He can get into Europe because he has all the potential to still do that even though he has gotten a little bit older.

Yeah, I think it's always great to see him and his family, and what always occurred to me before I played against Cincinnati three or four times, before kickoff, he comes up every time when I'm trying to focus, I don't really want him to, but he comes up and shakes my hand. It's really nice.

Q. Do you think with the money that's been flying around Saudi Arabia and some of the players going over there, do you think the Saudi Pro League is a threat or competitor to MLS, and for Jesús, what are your thoughts on seeing the bigger names and in-prime players going to the Saudi league?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, there's quite a few players that have gone over to Saudi Arabia, similar to MLS back in 1996, it's a league that's trying to develop. I don't know too much about it, to be honest, but they are obviously putting a lot of money and a lot of effort into trying to come in and almost hijack some of the best players around the world and especially in Europe at the minute.

Yeah, I think it's a league which, if it stands the test of time, could grow. Or it could do what China done ten years ago and put big money in and fade away again. It's going to be very intriguing to see how it pans out.

JESÚS FERREIRA: It's interesting. It's interesting to see them make that step in their careers, but that's their decision, and they have accomplished many things in their career. As a fan and as a player, I'm always going to keep looking at their game and keep enjoying what they do.

Q. You got to select quite a few players for your roster, specifically Christian Benteke, and you coached him at D.C. United. How vital has he been for you at D.C. United and why did you select him to be on your roster?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think since he's come in, he's been fantastic for us. As a player, he scored goals and I think he can score more goals as well. He's a handful. He gives us a different option in terms of how we want to play at times.

So no, I've been really pleased with him, and his attitude has been first class. He never missed a training session. He wants to train every day and play every game, every minute. Yeah, I've been really pleased with him.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

LUCIANO ACOSTA: We have a good relationship with Wayne. I've enjoyed playing with him. He's been a great example for me over the past years. And now that I'm a captain in Cincinnati, I've learned from his work and from everything that he's taught me over the past couple of seasons.

And now to be able to be under him and in the All-Star Game, he has helped me -- he was mentioning that he wanted me to come back to D.C., and now I'm trying to learn day-to-day on what he's been teaching me as a coach. And the city has opened the doors for me. My daughter was born here, and the fans are always a great pleasure to see, so it will be exciting to see all of them.

Q. There have been many strong Manchester United teams, but the last five or six seasons, Manchester City won and it's become almost normal to record 100 points now. Looking at a team as strong as Arsenal, they manage to finish comfortably second in the end. How far away are they from becoming dominant in English football?

WAYNE ROONEY: What, like Scotland? (Laughing.)

No, I think Manchester City have certainly raised everything. You look at Liverpool for a couple of seasons, we are really challenging them, and I think they have put such a challenge for Arsenal and Chelsea and Liverpool and for all the teams, really.

I think Guardiola has been, for me, one of the best things which has happened to English football, not just in terms of the league but in terms of actually the English national team because I think the coaching he's given some of the young English players before with John Stones, Kyle Walker, has really helped them develop as players, and I know with senior players and set up to pass that knowledge on to some of the other players as well.

So yeah, there's a challenge there. I think it goes in cycles. We have seen it throughout the years with Manchester United that has a lot of dominance, Chelsea having dominance, unfortunately it's Manchester City's time, but I'm sure the teams that will be challenging will come back over the next few years for sure.

Q. Last year floated the idea of a Premier League All-Star Game, and you are here now managing one. What are your thoughts?

WAYNE ROONEY: Could you repeat that.

Q. Last year floated the idea of an All-Star Game in the Premier League, and you are now obviously managing one. What are your thoughts of an All-Star Game in the Premier League?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I don't think it will work. I think the game is different, the culture is different. It's a huge game here. But I think in England, the rivalry between teams, between cultures, we'll complain about players playing too much, and I just don't think it will work in England.

Over here, it's part of this league. It's great to be a part of, but I think in England, it wouldn't work.

Q. Of course we have the MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal, and the world is watching MLS right now. Messi is here -- I'm sure you'll have many memories about those battles against Barcelona. What do you think of MLS right now and what the future looks like?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, the league is developing at a rapid pace, and I think getting Lionel Messi into MLS is huge. He's a player who I've always loved playing against, watching play the game, and now I think it's going to be great for fans in the States to be able to watch him up close.

Obviously with the Apple deal for the league, I think the league is developing huge, and getting Messi in, I think could be a real game-changer.

Q. Jesús, we talked last summer about this place in your career and you reached great heights in MLS and I know you want to win a trophy in Dallas, but as you look at the national team conversation, the steps you made with the Gold Cup, where do you see yourself and when do you decide it's time to look abroad, and how much of a stage does tomorrow's match provide?

JESÚS FERREIRA: Yeah, I think everybody's dream is to be able to make it to Europe, play in a big team in Europe, and that's one of my goals. That's a dream of mine.

But like you said, right now, I'm focused on Dallas. I'm trying to do everything to win the trophy in Dallas and to help the team as much as I can.

You think I'm in a position to say I'm ready for whatever happens and whatever jump I need to make, but until then, I'm focused on Dallas and trying to do everything possible to win a trophy.

WAYNE ROONEY: He's a fantastic player and like all the players on the All-Star squad, got a lot of ability. Just has to keep working and working hard to achieve his goals, and if he does that, he's got a lot of potential and he's going to be a real top player.

Q. Just on Declan Rice, he's just signed for Arsenal and become the most expensive British players of all time. What impact do you think he can have on the club and on them trying to close that gap on Man City next season?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think he's huge for Arsenal. Arsenal have got a player really at the top of his game. I think he'll bring a great character into the dressing room, and I think he's a captain. I think he could be captain of Arsenal now.

So I think he's a player who Arsenal needed, and they have certainly got a top player.

Q. Just on a personal perspective what did you think when you had heard Jonny Evans has resigned for Man United for a short-term contract?

WAYNE ROONEY: I've literally just seen it before coming here. So didn't know.

Yeah, I think Johnny is a fantastic player and obviously he's had the same result the last couple years. I haven't seen any details of it, so I assumed he signed his covers in case there are any injuries to the centre-backs who are starting.

Q. You talked a little about Jesús already, but he's a player that can play a number of attacking roles, how important is that versatility in an All-Star Game where it might be tough for the attacking players to play in their natural spots where they do for their first clubs?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think there are so many top players we've got to choose from for the game and you have different players in different positions. The most important thing is certainly for attacking players is to go and enjoy your own play with no fear and be creative. That's what you want.

I have no doubt with the players that we have tomorrow can cause Arsenal some problems. I'm just add interested and intrigued as anyone else to see how it pans out when how the players actually do when they are on the pitch.

Q. You had an exceptional record against Arsenal in your playing career. So I'm curious, if you've passed along any tips or tricks from back in your playing days to your squad over the last couple of days.

WAYNE ROONEY: No, listen, I think if I've played in the All-Star Game, I played a few years ago against Atlético de Madrid and the one thing you can never take away from a player is that pride and passion to try and win, and for the lads who are going to be playing in the game tomorrow, it's a game where they are coming up against one of the best teams in Europe, and it's an opportunity for the players to show their ability against a top team.

Yeah, there's not really tips I can give on how to play Arsenal, beat Arsenal as a coach because I haven't done it yet. If you ask me again on Thursday morning, then I might be able to tell you different.

Q. Jesús, being a player, coming with a Latin background, what does it mean to be a key player in this MLS All-Star Game, and do you have any other advice or other Latin players to stand out in the sport?

JESÚS FERREIRA: Yeah, for me, the U.S. gave me the opportunity to represent a country. Obviously being Colombian, that's one of my dreams was to represent Colombia. The possibility didn't happen, and I've been living here in the U.S. for more than ten years. It gave me family, my brother, friends, and the possibility to play professional soccer.

Living here for more than ten years, I kind of took over that U.S. pride and the U.S. opened the doors for me to be able to represent them in every stage possible, Gold Cup, World Cup, and I'm just honored and happy to be able to represent. My advice is is the first door that closes to you, doesn't mean you have to let your dreams out. You have to keep working and another door will open.

Q. You spoke earlier about Messi being a game-changer. In what respect, can you elaborate on that? Do you mean in terms of the quality of the league, the appeal to fans, and do you mean for attracting players to the league as well?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think in the exact same way Cristiano Ronaldo has in Saudi Arabia, I think the two of them, best players of all time, the two of them, and you see the impact Cristiano has had going to Saudi Arabia, the players going out there, and of course there's a lot of money as well, which has an influence. But it's important for the league to get Messi in and show that he can compete, as well, against a country and in environments which is putting a lot of money out there. I think Messi comes, Busquets comes, Suarez is coming, Jordi Alba is coming. So for Inter Miami, it's going to be very interesting to see how they fit all them in. But for the league, I think it's huge, it is.

Q. What does it mean to you to be chosen by the fans as captain?

LUCIANO ACOSTA: First of all it's a privilege to be named the captain with so many great players around on the All-Star roster. But I'm thankful for the fans to have chosen me as a captain. We know that we'll go out there and do our best to win the game at the All-Star Game tomorrow.

Q. For both players. I know there's a lot of excitement around tomorrow night's game, but what it's going to be like to compete in the Skills Challenge tonight and what are you most looking forward to?

JESÚS FERREIRA: It's exciting. Obviously this is something for the fans to enjoy, and I think that the players will enjoy, too. But also, there's a competitiveness in us players, so we always want to win everything. So it will be interesting how we flip that switch.

LUCIANO ACOSTA: For me I'm a very competitive player. There are fun things to do. I just want to enjoy the moment and take the opportunity to showcase to the fans that we want to be competitive and win the game.

Q. You've been asked about Man City. It feels I should ask you about Man United. Rashford signed a new deal today and is coming in. Mount's arrived. Are you more hopeful as a man with Man United in your heart that things are on the right track now?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think Tim Howard has done really well since he come in last season. You can see he's trying to create a squad and a mentality with the signings he made last season, and again, what they are trying to do this year.

I think Marcus Rashford is an incredible talent, and I'm delighted he signed a new deal, and I think the next five years is going to be real important in his legacy, if you like, because he can score a lot of goals. But if he really wants to go to that level to get Manchester United back to winning trophies and league titles, I hope he can do that.