RED BULL ACADEMY'S KASSEL WORKS OUT AT MINI-CAMP

With over 30 players in attendance at the Giants Stadium Practice Bubble on Wednesday battling to impress coaches and on-lookers alike, there is one player that the Red Bulls already know a lot about.

Spraying the ball and making plays in the center of the field, midfielder Matt Kassel from Bridgewater, NJ, can only be identified by his number 7 on his yellow vest and his more-or-less resemblance to a younger Frank Lampard. Kassel moved up through the ranks of the Red Bulls Academy and while he is only 18 years old, he has a bright future ahead of him.

And with new MLS rules in effect, Kassel could potentially fulfill the dream of players who enter the Academy -- graduating to the Red Bulls' first team.

We sat down with Kassel after Wednesday's session as he spoke about the Academy, mini-camp and "Lamps".

Matt, how did you start playing soccer?
My dad was always involved in soccer from back to the World Cup straight to the MetroStars. Through him, my dad was basically the main reason of how I got involved from there. He's been teaching me, coaching me and giving his input.

You are a player who has developed his game through the Red Bulls Academy. How has that experience been for you?
It was great. The competition has been top notch and the coaches have been great. They're always telling you that you need to improve on something and you work on that. The main thing is that you have to be at a place where there are good and competitive players because that's the only way you're going to get better. Being in an environment like I was, it really helped me out a lot.

More MLS teams are building their own academies. How promising is that for aspiring young players?
It's great, especially if you start out with the academies in MLS, it's a great step for every youth player out there. You look at it and this is where guys want to be and this is where they should be - playing in an academy.

You've been invited to this week's mini-camp by the Red Bulls coaching staff. How have you approached it?
It's great for me. I feel honored that I got called into this camp but that doesn't mean that it's done. You have to continue to work hard day in and day out and hopefully, the coaches like me and we move forward from there.

What areas do you improve in as a player?
I just need to continue to work hard and listen to the coaches' advice. I need to be in the right situations in the right times in moving forward and playing the best to my ability.

Finally, how often does someone say that you look like Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard?
All the time, especially when I went over to England. They called me Frank Lampard and people joke around about it. It's a good thing to joke around about it -- I wouldn't mind being Frank Lampard, that's for sure.

Aren't you a Manchester United fan?
Yes, I am a Man U fan.

So that wouldn't work out for now.
Nope, definitely not!

The Red Bulls announced on Jan. 21 that their Academy will be cost-free starting this year. For more information on the Red Bull Academy, call (201) 583-7025.