Every day is an opportunity to improve as a player. I try and do something new after practice, whether it's fitness, or working on my touch at the back, or working on goal with my heading.

I've never played against Ching in the run of play. I've practiced with him on the national team, but I'm looking forward to the battle. He is a big guy who likes to post up and heads well. We will have our hands full with him and [Alejandro] Moreno, two very physical forwards.

Our goal is to shut teams out and not give up soft goals. But we also want to win games. Last year we were No. 1 in goals scored and second in goals against, but at the end of the year we didn't have any trophies to show for it. So I think this year we'll take trophies -- we won't really worry about stats.

As a team, I think we're coming around now, and that's the important thing. I didn't expect to score a ton of goals in my first year, but we have guys who can put the ball where they want it. And if you know they're coming in and you know where to be, you've just got to finish them when they get there.

Through all of this, I have just tried to keep the big picture in mind -- that we're trying to win a championship and I'm part of that puzzle, ... The main thing for me is to develop as a player, and hopefully I can do it on the field. If Coach feels differently, I have to respect that and work hard and try to get back out there.

If I'm sitting in the stands, I'm not a happy fan right now, ... You don't see a lot of effort, not a lot of energy in the second half, it's disgraceful.