weston mckennie.mp4

beIN SPORTS USA

11/15/2023

Transcript

00:00 I mean, you're a color enthusiast yourself.

00:02 First impressions of the Jedis, silver surfer look.

00:06 I like it.

00:07 I like anything that stands out, makes someone different.

00:10 So it's a good look.

00:12 Nations League, Copa America spot on the line.

00:15 How does the attitude mentality shift

00:18 when you're in competition mode?

00:21 I mean, I think any time that we come into camp

00:23 that we're in competition mode.

00:24 So I don't think it's a big shifter for us in general.

00:28 Anytime that we come here and put on the jersey,

00:30 we want to win games.

00:31 We want to prove a point.

00:33 We want to make a statement.

00:34 So I think we'll just take the same energy,

00:37 same concentration, same competitive vibes

00:40 into these games.

00:42 You played a World Cup qualifier here in Austin,

00:44 and then Nations League last year,

00:45 or 2022 against Grenada.

00:48 How's it provide a home field advantage,

00:51 especially being from Texas?

00:53 I mean, for me, I'm from--

00:55 not here, but I'm from Dallas.

00:56 But family's close.

00:59 I think Texas is--

01:01 you have the Dallas Cowboys, which is in Dallas,

01:03 not so far from here, which is considered America's team.

01:06 So I think being in Texas in general,

01:09 it's pretty smack dab in the center of the US.

01:13 And I think it's a big support group here as well.

01:17 Do you sense the--

01:18 as a World Cup approaches at home,

01:21 do you sense the expectations now are growing,

01:24 especially when you get into these competitions

01:27 along the way?

01:29 I think the expectations for ourselves is growing.

01:32 I don't think we really try and pay attention

01:34 to anyone on the outside, because we know what we're

01:37 building inside of here.

01:38 We know what type of group we have.

01:40 We know what we're capable of.

01:42 We expect ourselves to win and get results.

01:45 And I think the expectation that we put on ourselves

01:47 is big enough already.

01:49 So any outside influences, I think

01:52 we just shut it out and concentrate it on the team.

01:56 Jed, I spoke about how the failure in 2017

01:59 ushered in a new generation.

02:00 You got your first cap the game after the loss

02:02 against Trinidad.

02:04 Does this group still think about them in any way

02:08 because of that history?

02:09 Or is it really just another game, another opponent?

02:12 No, I think we think of it as another game,

02:15 another opponent.

02:16 Obviously, the only player that was on this--

02:20 or still within this team that was really there

02:22 is Christian that had a really big involvement.

02:26 For us, it's just another game and another opponent in our way.

02:31 It's a new generation, new players.

02:32 So we have our own teams and rivalries

02:36 to build and own statements to make against certain teams.

02:39 With Christian and Tim out injured, obviously,

02:41 the guys on the field have been changed.

02:43 Do you reckon there's much else changes in terms

02:46 of who goes what or the guys that

02:47 are going to step up, what do you think?

02:49 I think anyone that steps into the roles of Christian and Tim

02:53 will step up to the task, will be ready for it.

02:56 That's the thing about this whole team.

02:58 We can put anyone at any given time into a position,

03:02 and they'll do it to the best of their abilities

03:04 and make it easier for the team.

03:08 Thoughts on the training facility here,

03:10 just how it compares to clubs you've been in?

03:15 I mean, the training facility is really nice.

03:17 It's very modern.

03:18 I like the whole vibe where you can look out to the training

03:21 field from the gym.

03:23 I think it would be a little bit nicer

03:24 to have a little bit more scenery around here,

03:26 but that's Texas for you.

03:28 Very flat land and not many things around and far away.

03:34 But I think I enjoy being here.

03:36 I enjoy the pitch and the training facility in general.

03:40 Following up on Jonathan's question,

03:42 do you think of your role a little differently

03:44 when bigger personalities like Christian and Tim

03:46 aren't on the field?

03:47 And you being one of the leaders of the team,

03:49 maybe being a little bit more aggressive, pushing forward

03:52 more, trying to be more of a difference maker

03:54 when you're missing two stars of the team.

03:57 I think for me, I just continue to try and do my role,

04:01 give people the confidence to be themselves,

04:04 express themselves.

04:05 And they're good enough to be here,

04:06 and they're here for a reason.

04:08 So I think if the players that are on the field do their job,

04:13 I think equally we'll get a result at the end of the day.

04:17 Weston, following up on what Doug said,

04:19 your memories from that night, watching the game,

04:22 the qualifier from six years ago on TV or waking up to it,

04:25 what was your reaction?

04:27 What were your emotions from that?

04:28 I didn't watch the game.

04:30 But learning the result, what were your reactions?

04:33 I believe I was in Germany at one of my friends' house,

04:36 Nick Tadegui.

04:38 We woke up in the morning and just was like, oh my god,

04:42 we didn't qualify for the World Cup.

04:44 And we watched the goals, and they were crazy goals.

04:46 So that goes to show soccer can be any team's

04:50 game on that day.

04:53 And that's what was shown during that game as well.

04:56 So obviously, we don't want that to happen again.

05:00 And that's why we come out here.

05:02 We prepare.

05:02 We push each other.

05:03 We hold each other accountable for what we do and get results

05:06 when it's time to get results.

05:08 How much were you thinking you had a shot at the Rosstern 2018

05:11 at that time?

05:11 You're still a young player.

05:12 You hadn't debuted yet.

05:13 But is it on your radar to potentially play

05:15 in that World Cup?

05:17 Definitely.

05:17 I think I would have had a good shot.

05:19 I mean, Bruce was coach at the time.

05:22 He's normally known to bring one or two young players

05:26 to the group.

05:27 And I felt like I was at a level where

05:30 I could have made the roster.

05:32 But at the end of the day, the great words of Kanye,

05:37 we may never know.

05:38 So I guess that's just something to look at.

05:42 And I'm here now.

05:44 I'm able to do what I can for the team now.

05:47 And I'm focused on the present and the future.

05:51 Thanks, Wes.

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