The Official Site of Maurice Edu

Question:

Before the transfer to the Rangers, did you have any ambition of playing in Scotland?

Answer:

Everyone at home has ambitions of playing in Europe. The MLS is good for a lot of people to get their feet wet and then move on. Maybe there are others who want to stay there but there are far more young guys like myself who want to move abroad. The Scottish Premier League is something I will be up for. I know it will be gritty, with tackles flying in but I will not shy away from that, I will be prepared.

Question:

Did you know much about the Rangers before the transfer? What is your knowledge of the rivalry between Celtic and the Rangers?

Answer:

I have known about Rangers and Celtic for a while. We are pretty much in the loop in the US about what happens in Europe and Canadians follow the Old Firm. Mo Johnston gave me a little bit of the low-down about the expectations here when I went back to the club to pick up my things earlier this week. He told me to try and enjoy the experience and soak up the atmosphere. I think every player would love to play in a game like this. I have played in front of some big crowds, such as 70,000 when the US played Argentina, and we have a big rivalry with Mexico, but I don’t think any of those experiences will come close to this.

Question:

What does playing in Europe mean to you and are you excited?

Answer:

Everyone in my family and people in US football in general are very excited for me. They all know that this is what I have wanted to do my whole life. Coming to Europe is what kids who play football in America dream of. This is a great opportunity in front of me and I want to take it.

Question:

While you were growing up, who was one of your favorite players playing in Europe?

Answer:

I like hard men and Roy Keane is not the sort of guy to shy away from anything. Keane’s presence on the field was great. He stood up to people and set the tone for his team. I also liked Vieira. He was another hard man but he was versatile because he liked to win tackles and then create things going forward. I would say I am quieter than both of them. I don’t get too caught up. I like my play to speak for itself.

Question:

Will you make your debut against the Celtic?

Answer:

It's something I would love to experience right away. I don't know how my involvement is going to play out but I really look forward to that if that was possible. I know there is a huge rivalry between Rangers and Celtic. What a potential first game that would be, to play in the biggest derby game in world football. It would be unbelievable. If it works out like that I would be more than excited. I can't think of a better debut than that.