Five questions with Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson

Five questions with RSL midfielder Will Johnson

Less than three months removed from winning the MLS Cup, Real Salt Lake kicked off its six-week training camp a few days ago. Outspoken midfielder Will Johnson said he's excited to get back into the grind of the season, and insists the title hasn't gone to his head or any of his teammates. He spoke with D-News writer James Edward.

Question: Has winning the MLS Cup changed your life?

Answer: Not at all. I'm pretty low key. Didn't change a whole lot about me. That's what we're paid to do win games. We kind of came through for the ownership. As far as I'm concerned, we're paid to win games, we're paid to win championships and we sort of repaid the people who pay us.

Question: Food poisoning relegated you to a spectator after halftime at the MLS Cup, were you even able to enjoy the celebration?

Answer: I was trying to put on a good face, but I was miserable. It sucks the one day I get sick is the final. I don't even know how that happens. It did. It was a weird feeling, I was almost like a proud parent instead of a participant. When we won in Chicago, for me that was the best feeling in the world, and then when we won the MLS Cup it was completely different. I was super happy for these guys, but I never felt like I contributed in the final at all. It was kind of a weird feeling.

Question: How did a 22-year-old with citizenship in three countries spend his offseason?

Answer: I went to London for Christmas and New Year's, saw some family there, saw a bunch of Premier League games, saw Liverpool a couple of times, that was awesome. Went to San Diego for a week for a vacation, and I was in Los Angeles most of the time with my girlfriend. And then I went to Miami with the (Canadian) National Team for 10 days and then we went to Jamaica for the game.

Question: You picked up a knee injury at the Canadian National Team camp. When do you anticipate you'll be back to full strength?

Answer: I kind of just hyperextended it on my own. I twisted it back. It takes about a month when you pinch it in there, but there's no structural damage. So I can keep running. I'll be 100 percent real soon. It's been just over two weeks (on Wednesday), so I'm hoping two more weeks I should be more or less 100 percent."

Question: What are your expectations for Real Salt Lake in 2010, especially considering many outsiders believe your title last year was a fluke?

Answer: It's easy to say you want to repeat, but I'd say first and foremost we need to be more consistent. Our road form needs to be how it was in the playoffs last year. Our home form needs to be exactly the same. I think we need to be a little more professional, a little more consistent and turn this into one of the best clubs in the league.