I felt I wanted to say something. When I’ve been out and about in the city, the enormous support and appreciation I’ve got from people on the street has touched me deeply.  So I just wanted to say a humble thank you to all the people of Seattle and to my teammates who have shown me so much love during this time with a million people speculating.

THANK YOU,

F

Been two big nights of football. The Champions Leagues semi finals. What every player is looking forward to. It very hard to come this far. So what happened in the games are sad. First Lyon vs Bayern. Criss gets sent off for clapping his hands at a yellow card he didn’t agree on. In my opinion this is not a stage of the competition where referees are suppose to make statements for small petty things. Let the players play. Thats what everyone want to see. If the referee feels offended or whatever he felt, talk to Criss that if he does it again he will get a second yellow and sent off or bring it up after the game with the referees representatives for next years competition but don’t kill the game for something like that.

Then we have the Barcelona-Inter sending off. Everyone that has played the game at a decent level knows that when you are being followed by another player from behind in the middle of the park you are thought to put out your hand behind you to feel where the opponent is! There is a MASSIVE difference from putting out your hand to hitting out an elbow!!! To me that the referee sends him of on his second yellow or not the referee needs to have a feeling for the game. Motta was only feeling what he had behind him with his hand unfortunately he connected with his face but with no power at all. If you wanna give a free kick for hand in face do that but don’t send someone off. That happens so many times in a game (a small reflection, I’m short 176cm. When I feel behind me I normally feel the stomach or chest of my opponent but players that are taller still must be allowed to feel with their hand behind them as long as the don’t hit out with it). In my book you just don’t send someone off for that in a semifinal. To much on stake to make a mistake like that. Referee probably thought it was an elbow but if you don’t see it you can’t do what he did. After that the game was dead to me. Wanted to see these two great teams battle it out now it just became a tactical game. Felt sorry for Inter and Motta but mostly for all football fans in the world. Everybody was looking forward to two of the best teams in the world to clash heads and see some great football from two different football schools.

My motto is let the players decide who will win. Not the referee! If there is bad tackle etc send player off but not for petty silly things like this. But that’s just my opinion. Lets now look forward to the final and hope it’s gonna be a great one.

On end note I would like to say Mourino is probably the best tactician in the world!!! Whatever we think about how Inter played they were absolutely amazing defensively. Barcelona away is probably the hardest place to play in the world. He has done it with Chelsea and now with Inter.

//F

For the overall leg I think Barca has a big advantage that they will play the second leg in Barcelona and not in London. The home or away draw to start is very important at this stage of the competition. Let’s hope it gonna be an amasing game.

ENJOY!
//F

Before this season he got criticised for not scoring as much as his potential. He didn’t come with any excuses he just kept working hard for his team. In my opinion, what I think some people didn’t see was that he covered up so much defensively for Ronaldo and did so WITHOUT COMPLAINING. He let his own game suffer for the team!! He played more as a winger than as a striker in my books. Think all his teammates saw that and that gives you respect.

When they sold Ronaldo a lot off people said it was bad. Ronaldo is a great player, don’t get me wrong, but they got loads and loads off money for him and now we can see Rooney play as a proper striker and see how well he is doing it. For me he’s got it all, he is very strong, hard to get the ball off, great shot, good speed and works hard for his team. Lately he has been scoring some great goals with his head as well.

For me he is a role model for kids to look at and learn. Especially the character he showed covering for Ronaldo and not always getting the credit he deserved for it. As an Arsenal man I am not man U’s biggest fan as they’ve been my main rivals for many years but I wanna take my hat off for probably the best player in the world at the moment and the path he has walked to get there.

//F

This winter I am spending a lot of time in the Swedish mountains and Åre as the resort is called, and which is the perfect place for me.

I’m having a great time and at the same time doing my personal pre-season training before joining the team. Doing some boarding in the mornings, then lots of running, sprinting and going to Gym followed by another 3 hours boarding in the afternoon. As you understand I absolutely love snowboarding, check out the picture a friend of mine took the other day.

I have excellent support up here with local physio therapists that looks after my body. I have actually the hard way found out how important it is to have professionals to look after you while training hard, especially during pre-season and this gets more and more important for every year.

During the winter there has been some reports in media about teams in Europe asking for my service, and as a Player it is always an honour when top teams are interested and evidently this shows that MLS these days is a very reputable League.

I have not made any final decision about the spring as a lot depends on the outcome of the new CBA and lockout threat in MLS.

Stay tuned.

//Freddie.