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

July 19, 2023

Wayne Rooney

MLS All-Stars

Audi Field

Press Conference

Arsenal 5, MLS 0

Q. What did you make of the game overall?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I thought it was -- obviously the result is what it is, and Arsenal showed the quality, which they have. I thought the All-Star lads were a little bit nervous and hesitant, especially the first half when we got into some areas and to get the shots off.

I think you see a difference. Arsenal are one of the best teams in Europe, and it was a bit stop, start. I thought the referee made the game a little bit about themselves once again. So I think that's something which needs improving in the MLS, and I've said that all season. So it's a good opportunity for me to bring it up again.

Yeah, disappointing result, but I think, most importantly, it's a good event for the fans and the fans in D.C. to come see some really good players in from the Premier League.

Q. All-Star and competitions like this are very American. Obviously you're living here now and seeing how it is. What do you think about this format and the MLS going up against European teams, something the league has done in the past, whereas the last two years they've played against Liga MX competition? What did you see about the fan support with so many Arsenal fans here in D.C.?

WAYNE ROONEY: It's a good event. It's traditionally a big event over here. I think the difficulty is obviously the players coming in from different places, and you don't have time to do anything, so you try to make a bit of fun and try to let the players have a good experience.

Of course, it's great for some players to play against some top players. But also I think some personal play needs to come into it, as well, and you want to do well and not let the score be as it was tonight.

Yeah, I think under different details, details on years past, how we finish is a big difference. Yeah, it's great to be a part of and great to be involved in, and all the events around the game are great.

But once you get onto the pitch, of course you want to do better than what we've done tonight. So it's disappointing. As I said before, a lot of fans, different fans come to the game, and I know that's important, obviously, to the League.

Q. What did you take out of this game personally as a coach?

WAYNE ROONEY: Absolutely nothing (Laughter).

Listen, it's difficult. As I said, on Monday, the players all arrived and small side had a game on Tuesday. As I suggested, the National Mall, but that's where we trained, and we can't do anything -- no time to do any type of -- (inaudible). You put the players out there and hope that you can figure things out, and against a team like Arsenal, that's very difficult to do.

Q. Arsenal obviously impressed last season but fell away in the last seven or eight weeks. Spent a lot of money strengthening this summer, as are other sides, Man United, Chelsea. Do you see any them really challenging City for the title next season?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think for anyone to challenge Manchester City is going to be very difficult, but Arsenal have signed some really good players with experience as well, and good size, which I think is important.

You look at the players that Arsenal have gotten, the players who signed, they have really built a strong platform for them to try and do better than last season, and I think they will.

They have a real good coach in Mikel Arteta, and I think the signings will help them in trying not to do what they did this season, which is obviously fall away towards the end of this season.

Q. As a follow-up on the format question, do you think MLS might be ready to go back to a West versus East?

WAYNE ROONEY: I think the format of the game is great, and it's great publicity, as well, for the league.

Moving forward, Apple coming into the league as well has been great. Although they didn't allow my staff to sit in the seats. My staff all got kicked out of the seats by members of Apple, which I wouldn't be -- if you're getting asked to do the game with your staff, you expect your staff to have seats to sit in. So that was very disappointing.

But I do think Apple will hopefully grow the sport.

Q. I wanted to ask, were there any performances you were particularly happy with, and are there any players you would like a chance to work more with in the future?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, a few. I think there's some very good players on the All-Star Team, and it's very difficult to judge players on tonight, but obviously I've seen what all the players have done all season. I don't think it's fair for me to say whether any young players or one player because they are all at their clubs.

But yeah, I think the quality of some of the All-Star players is very high, and it certainly benefits D.C. United. But I wouldn't name players individually.

Q. Just wanted to ask you, you talk about the quality of Arsenal. Especially someone with your experience, what do you think can be done to close the gap with that quality difference?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, it's a good question. I think the league has worked extremely hard to try and bring that quality and bring better players in, or younger players more towards their peak into the league, which I think they are doing.

But we are talking about one of the best teams in Europe with Arsenal. This could happen to any team. It's very difficult when you're playing against a team like Arsenal, closing it out. That's shown over the years, and I'm sure that will continue as well and get closer.

Q. Can you just speak to the opportunity for individual players, particularly the younger ones, to match up against some of the top players in the world, and what that means for them just as a learning experience?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I think as I said, it's great, and when you want to play at the top level, you need to take chances, in performances, in attitude, in character, and I think that's very important.

As I said, the lads tonight, I felt they were a bit hesitant to get the shots off, looked a little bit nervous, especially in the final third when I know the players in the final third are very good players with good individual skills, goal scorers. But I just felt they probably didn't do themselves justice tonight.

Q. As you now put the focus back on your own franchise with ten games left this season, what are you looking ahead to or what's your focus as you come down during the final stretch?

WAYNE ROONEY: Yeah, I'm happy to go back to my own club, and obviously I've had a lot of staff working, not just myself and coaches, but physios and other such lads and stuff behind the scenes. We have put a lot of work into the last few days to try to make sure everything was organized right, as well.

But yeah, we'll go back tomorrow to D.C. We've got a Leagues Cup here next Wednesday. Obviously there's a break in the League, and when that comes back, we're in the playoff spot at the minute and that's where we intend to try and finish it. It's a very important moment for us in our focus, and we'll pick back up with D.C. United tomorrow.