 Welcome back to another edition of yes, we're here. I'm in joy and I am delighted to be joined by NYC FC Midfield or Keaton parks Keaton parks. Thank you so much for joining me I've been wanting to do an interview with you for a long time, but before we get there How are you handling the difficult situation right now around New York? I'm doing good. I'm just staying home trying to get my workouts in here in the here in the living room and Solo runs outside. But yeah, everything's doing good everybody That I know is doing good and we're just we're just getting through it Well, it's great to finally get this opportunity as I mentioned a lot of people are big fans of yours and in particular My broadcast partner the yes network Joe tallest and he is a huge fan of yours And he was crying long before you got your opportunity in the first eleven to get a start What is your message a guest for NYC FC fans right now who are out there who are going through some difficult times? Isolation is not easy being told to stay at home. Do you have a message for your supporters, especially the NYC FC fans out there? Yeah, I mean just keep fighting through it. This isn't easy for anybody Nobody could have predicted this would happen, you know, and we're all just in this together We're fighting through it and it's very important to stay home and and keep yourself isolated and practice social distancing and We're all gonna get through it. Everybody wants to get back on the field. Everybody wants to get back to soccer, but Our health and our safety is priority and we got a look out for each other. I couldn't have said any better. Awesome, Keenan Thank you so much. Okay, let's get to it You decided to go at a very young age over to Portugal to start your professional soccer career What was behind that decision? Why did you choose to go to Portugal first and foremost? Was it a family link or was it just the opportunity to play in Europe? It was a connection through my coach from back in Dallas So he used to play in Portugal and he had a lot of connections there And he's the one that that developed me from a young age and he's the one that brought me to Portugal So yes, it was my dream as well to play in Europe So when they link together and he could bring me to Portugal and I could go to Europe Yeah, I mean they all just worked out in it and that was that was easy first step for me Easy first step and you said it worked out it works probably better than you expected you ended up going to Benfica, which For me is the biggest club in Portugal and I apologize to sporting fans and portal fans who are watching on Because I do have some friends who are supporters of those clubs, but you went to Benfica I mean that is a big big move for a youngster You know, how did that feel for you to go on that jersey and represent Benfica in Portugal? That must have been awesome Yeah, it was an amazing feeling. I mean just Even with the B team even just the first time I got to put on that jersey and to to really feel a part of Part of Benfica part of the club. It was it was an amazing feeling a dream come true for me And then especially my first game with the A team in front of 50,000 fans at the Stadia da Luz. It was crazy It was it was really just the dream come true A dream come true, okay You get your opportunity obviously to play in front of an incredible stadium and is my Portuguese team So I do have a soft spot for them and as you know, I got a good friend to you No, no Gomez who's a big man at Benfica So there are a little bit of a love of mine But you decided that the opportunity to come back to Major League soccer was maybe too big an opportunity to pass up How did the move come before when you came to NYC FC on loan? How did that move come about? My agent Was the link between Benfica and New York City FC. So he's the one that had the connections and Had the had the link and set it up for me And I mean that first loan move was just a big step for me. I got to get my first Long-term minutes and the in a first division of football and I had a few minutes with the with Benfica as well But the playing time just wasn't there the team was very successful and it was just hard to get in so Coming back to the MLS was just a big step for me and a great opportunity and that's yeah So that link was just through my through my agent So you got your opportunity came back But you had to be patient before breaking yourself into the first 11 How difficult was that for you because I knew at that point personally you wanted minutes You wanted to play in the first team Of course. Yeah, that was a that was difficult I think if for any soccer player anybody can tell you like we just want to play, you know We want minutes no matter where that is And then of course when you're not playing and you feel like you're putting in work every day and working hard it gets difficult and It wears down on you, but you know, it's just it's part of the job Everybody knows like there only be 11 players starting and then three subs and if you're not a part of that That's just part of it. You know, you got to keep working You got to stay fit and you got to just wait for your opportunity Well, you took your opportunity because since you broke into the starting 11 It's been very difficult for them to leave you out of the starting 11 You've really impressed me and I know my broadcast partner Joe Tallison has been jumping hoops now since you've got into the start in 11 He won't shut up. And but you've made the move permanent now to NYC FC You know, what is it that's so special about the football club that that you love so much? Especially a message for the supporters as to understanding why you made that move to NYC FC Yeah, I love to hear you know, it was a great season We had a lot of success and I mean it didn't end the way we wanted it to but overall we had a lot of success as a team and I mean I just fell in love with with all the guys all the staff all the Everybody who works with NYC FC was always great to me very welcoming and I mean, it wasn't it wasn't hard to make that decision I mean, I really I really like the atmosphere I really love fans and just everything that came along with NYC FC. So it was it was easy decision for me It's probably very similar to what you experienced in Benfica. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong I mean, I've been a part of NYC FC since the beginning with the yes network and you're not at the club But NYC FC seems to be one of the more hated clubs in Major League Soccer Where I'm sure you experienced that with Benfica in Portugal as well Yeah, for sure. I mean there were I mean there were a lot of fans so people throughout Portugal are fans of the figure Right and they have their their fans of their teams of their hometown teams But then I think they were also fans of a big club, you know, but especially when we're playing against Porto We're sporting. It's either a lover. Hey, you know, you either a Benfica fan or you're a sporting fan or you're a Porto fan You know, and you hate the other two and when you go to those away games you get you see it a lot You know, everybody in the crowd is coming at you So you definitely experienced that What about targets for yourself when you arrived at the club this off-season? I know it's a little frustrating now going through the MLS suspension as we sit and wait for the ball to roll again You know, what personal targets do you set for yourself? Do you set like a goal target? Do you set a target for appearances or do you just say I want to be a part of this team and I want to try and win a championship? For me, it's all about the championship. I mean, of course, I have these little goals for myself Which is goals and assists but all of that is is towards helping the team So if those don't come that that really wouldn't bother me as much as if our team isn't successful So I really the way the last season ended was was difficult and so we're really just coming back and fight for that championship this year Well, we're waiting for it. We certainly hope for it now I know you've already represented the red white and blue you've pulled on the jersey of your country and playing for the United States It's always very difficult Getting an opportunity, but you got one and do you still have aspirations and believe that it's possible playing for NYCFC that you can Go ahead and get your opportunity with the national team again Absolutely, I'm sure I'm surrounded by a great group of guys that will will help me develop as a player and Make me look good as well in the field. So of course, I would love to play for the national team again and even though that's not really a priority of mine, it's on the back of my mind and I think putting in the work and Performing here at NYCFC will translate into that I don't know if you know but I mentioned to actually in one of the first games this season I don't know we've only had a couple but I did say that the future for you is very bright And I do honestly believe personally that you have what it takes and at this stage right now with what the national team Is going through you have what it takes to get back in there So I wish you all the best with that and and again It's really important that we get back to full fitness We get back the games rolling again than the team starts winning games Let's shift it just a little bit Keaton over to what you're doing personally through this time because it is very difficult for people Who are stuck at home? They've been told mandatory that they have to be at home make and the right decisions for their loved ones and stay home And what are some of the things you're doing to keep yourself occupied? Have you been a little creative around the house? Yeah, I mean obviously I'm getting my workouts in I do go on runs outside of the house But then everything else is here in my living room But yeah, so I've actually my girlfriend has been in town since the quarantine and we actually made some candles We ordered a candle making kids So that was something different that we had to work out and we've been cooking a lot And then I've been trying to play a video games and getting my homework done and stuff like that So I do have a lot of stuff to keep you busy around here Keaton parks. Thank you so much. God bless you stay safe Look after your loved ones and to all the supporters out there who are watching on from all different sports They send you love and just real quickly before you go. It's not just soccer fans who are watching this one You've got baseball. You've got basketball. You've got all sports You've got people who are looking for just some sort of getaway from what the situation is that they're going through it right now What's your final message to those fans who are watching on? Stay healthy and stay home So just really just practice your isolation, but also if you get on the New York City, I've seen Website, there's a lot of stuff that they're putting out there from from the players and from the staff and things You can do at home and keep you busy. So really just stay healthy and stay home. That's that's the message for me Well said Keaton parks New York City football club midfielder. Thanks once again for joining us on yes network. We are here