MF: Dan, we got Balboa this year, who plays your position. Are there enough spots on the field for both of you, Petke and Jolley?
Daniel Hernandez: There will have to be. They better make a spot for me. That's all I'm worried about.

MF: In the past, they tried to play with two or three defensive midfielders and they couldn't score much goals that way.
DH: I think we have enough offensive power, even if we play with two defensive midfielders. We'll score plenty of goals, we haven't had any problems scoring goals, especially with Clint Mathis, Faria, and Serna. That's the least of our worries. I found my spot, I'm gonna have my spot in midfield. I'm gonna put in the work to make sure I don't lose it. I think everybody that's gonna be starting knows that there're people on the bench that can come up and take their job. We have a lot of talent.

MF: Last year, before the Miami game, you made some comments in the paper about Valencia and then you scored that goal to win the game. Not many people would come out and speak directly against specific teammates as you did. What does that take?
DH: First of all, to set it straight, I didn't specifically say any names and it came out in paper with specific names, that wasn't my doing. I did come out and said players needed to come out and do their job, that's what they're being paid for. We were going through a rough time at that point of the season, and I am just the type of person that I like to speak out, to speak my mind, and if somebody asks me a question, I'm not gonna beat around the bush, I'm gonna tell you what's on my mind. At that point in time we needed something to get the team going and I think a lot of the players respected me for that and I pointed that out and wasn't afraid of saying it, where a lot of people would. I wasn't trying to down anybody or point any fingers, I thought that somebody needs to say something to try to get the team up and going again.

MF: Maybe some forward this year when Clint is gone?
DH: (laughs) I dunno, I don't think so this year. I think we have a lot on the roster, we have Paule, we have Tab Ramos that can play that attacking midfielder spot. We have a lot of attacking power this year. I don't think this year I will have to worry about switching positions, hopefully this year I can stay at my defensive midfield spot and won't have to worry about going back and forth to different positions.

MF: Are you gonna be taking free kicks, because once you started taking them, we were scoring a lot indirectly and directly off of them?
DH: Probably me and Clint will be taking them, he is great at free kicks. Probably a lot of the indirect kicks, from the sides and crossing in, I will probably be taking those. Direct free kicks, me and him will go up there and make a decision who's the best and who's more comfortable wherever the ball is placed. We just take turns.

MF: You wore the armband when Tab went down last year. If Tab goes down, are you the next one up?
DH: I think so. I'll try to keep that leadership role and I try to do whatever I need to do to try sit there on top of things, to try to be a vocal leader on and off the field. Even if Tab is here, I'm gonna continue to do that. I might not have the armband on my arm, but I'm gonna try to continue to be the leader on and off the field. That's just me, it's my strength and my personality, so that's what I'm gonna do this year.

MF: Last year, you were quoted that if you were given a chance at the NFL, you would try it. You were then criticized for your commitment to soccer.
DH: This is a business. I definitely love playing in this league and to tell you the truth, since I've been here in New York, it's been a new spark for me. I really enjoy playing here with the fans, and the league is doing a lot better. I enjoy playing soccer, I love it, it's my passion, but I also have a dream and a goal about playing in the NFL. And if the opportunity occurs, I don't think I'll pass it up, I would take advantage of the opportunity and try to make the most of it. I don't think I could ever leave soccer completely. I'd try to work something out, maybe playing soccer until football season starts, I'd rather see if the opportunity occurs, but until then I have no intentions to leave my passion, which is soccer.