This season Clark had further appearances including the last two in the starting line up. One was during the important and impressive 1-0 win against top team Borussia Dortmund (the interview was taken just before that game) and another one in the 120 minute cup drama away to Alemannia Aachen. In both games Ricardo had a big impact, first in defensive midfield where he neutralised the swift and fast Dortmund midfielders Kagawa and Sahin. During the Aachen game he moved back to central defense after Schwegler's early sending off and helped the team to keep the match even for about 105 minutes despite Eintracht was one man down.
In the States he had played for Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls and Furman University. 30 times he featured in the USA national team (2 goals) including the Confederations Cup 2009 and the World Cup 2010.
Almost a year with the team now, how are you feeling about that?
I am still feeling pretty positive about everything. It was a little bit of a rough start when I first got here with sustaining an injury and not getting a lot of playing time. And of course I have not played much this season, with injuries also being somewhat of a factor. So it has been a little disappointing sometimes but the good thing is the team is doing well and I have to keep things in perspective. We really have a chance to finish high in the standings and if that happens a lot of doors will open up for the club. I just keep looking at the positive things and there is talk I will be starting Saturday [the game v Dortmund where Clark played the full ninety minutes] with the injuries we currently have. So I am going to try to do my best to play well if given that chance and to contribute what I can to the team to help keep moving us up the table.
When you were playing in the MLS with Houston you were always a starting player, so are you finding it hard for yourself being in the substitute role?
Yes, of course but I am just waiting for my chance. You know I was at Houston for four years, actually five because the team used to be in San Jose California but moved to Houston. So when I first arrived to the team I was not a starter either but over time I was able to establish myself and work my way into the starting line up where I stayed until I finished my contract. The great thing about this game is if it is not your time it is not your time and you have to establish yourself when arriving to a new team and figure out how you fit in to help the team the most. I was supposed to be in the starting 11 when I first arrived to the team the first weekend, but the week before I suffered an injury that prevented me from doing so. And each team has a different rhythm and dynamics and I am just trying to learn that of this team. So I will continue to work hard and when given the opportunity to play I will do my best to prove myself.
So all in all you are happy being here playing for Eintracht Frankfurt?
Yes I am, but I wish I was playing more and think that is normal for any professional player in a professional sport.
You mentioned the dynamics before, do you feel yourself finding those dynamics now within the team?
Well lately in training I have been playing in central defense and I feel very comfortable there. I have played it before, it is nothing new to me and I feel I can also succeed there as well as in midfield positions.
What do you see as the differences between the Bundesliga and the MLS? And what surprised you the most about playing in the Bundesliga?
The Bundesliga is faster and comes with a very disciplined style of play. The amount of training has got to be the biggest surprise for me. There are not too many leagues that will train two times a day much less three times a day but in the Bundesliga that is normal especially before the season started and during the breaks. And that took some time getting used to, but I am now.
You are healthy now?
Yes, I am thank goodness.
Do you feel you have improved as a player since coming to the Bundesliga?
It is really hard to say because I need to play to see. I feel I have gotten stronger but you only really know for sure in a game situation. I feel in training I got better and I have adapted to the high pace, you always have to be thinking at a high level even during training.
At training a few times one could notice that you are hard on yourself if you make a mistake even if it is something small - is this correct?
Yes, I guess so, I am a professional player and I am competitive, and want to be sharp when I am on the field. I spend a lot of time after practice working to make myself better to maintain the high level that is needed to play in the Bundesliga. I think everyone wants to do that with their job.
Is playing for the US national team still a priority for you? Shortly before the beginning of the Bundesliga season you were not available for a friendly match with the national team, to focus on the club as it was reported.
Yes, I did it because I wanted to focus on the club and my family had just moved to Germany to be with me. So I tried to get them settled in and to get focused again on club play after the World Cup. When I made that choice I talked to Bob Bradley [USA national team manager] about it and he supported me and understood my choice. We will have to see what happens at the next CONCAAF cup. I do not know what Bob Bradley’s plans are with the team so it is really hard for me to plan anything with it right now and too early for me to even think about it.
Is your priority solely the current Bundesliga season and earning your starting position amongst the team?
Exactly.
Getting better with the German language?
Yes I am getting better, I understand more on the field now and I am taking language lessons, some weeks more than others based on the team’s schedule. Off the field it is a bit tougher and I had hoped I would be further along but it is coming along.
If everything went the way Ricardo Clark wanted it to for the second half of the season, how would it be?
That I would play every game in the 2nd half of the season and that we would win every game.
