Alecko Eskandarian Quotations

Peter has been great with me, working me to get back in shape and get fit and get comfortable playing again. Giving me the start today was a vote of confidence for me and I just wanted to repay him and help my team win games.

I think I put all my frustration in that goal.

We have to take care of business at home. These three games at home in a row are crucial for us to get the points and separate us in the table form the rest of the pack, so we need a win.

The headgear thing's great. It's like a headband, so it's not heavy or anything like that at all. I was able to do everything fine.

Honestly, just waking up every morning with headaches is tough, to know that I can't play tonight or I can't run tonight. Once the headaches started going away a little bit, I knew I had a chance.

I take pride in being one of the tougher guys helping the team pressure and there were so many times when I was watching the games that it just killed me inside. Sometimes I couldn't watch and would just walk around the top level of the stadium.

I feel I'm in 2006 form to be honest. I hear a lot of comparisons to 2004, but I never changed. Last year was a struggle but I've worked hard. . . I'm not going back, I'm going forward.

Ten months of frustration was put behind that shot.

Actually, I felt bad for him too, because he's been linked as a co-conspirator. I think it's all pretty funny, I can't believe how much attention it's gotten. I never thought it would blow up the way it did.

It was just for laughs. I meant nothing personal by it. I have the utmost respect for Red Bull and what their doing for the league. I love Red Bull.

It's refreshing in one way, knowing that I've got to come in and prove myself all over again and slowly work my way back into the swing of things, but at the same time it's something I've been doing my whole life. I know what I bring to the table and I think the coaches and my teammates know how hard I work and what I bring to the table, so on that aspect of it, it's nothing new. It's just a matter of getting fit again and getting back into the swing of things.

I'm like a kid in a candy store right now. I'm excited to be running, which is funny, because a lot of guys dread coming to preseason and sprinting around and working your butt off, but I'm really excited just to be out there with the guys. I really missed it.

I needed this. Peter gave me the start, he's been very supportive, and I just wanted to repay him.

Before my latest concussion I was one of those guys who vowed not to wear one because it looks silly. Now I don't even realize I have it on. It gives me added security. It feels like a headband. If anything, I feel more comfortable to be physical on the field.

By no means was I trying to offend anyone in their organization. It was just something funny for the guys to laugh at in the locker room. They're our rivals, and I apologize if I offended anyone, but it was just a little joke.

I could go out there and throw my body about, but for now I'm just taking my time. There's always going to be talk and you are only as good as your last game. I have to prove myself all over again.

All that is talk, and no one has talked to me about it. People are always going to say things and assume things, but it is an injury like anything else. It was frustrating and tough to come back, but I feel great.