Anders Dreyer Calls MLS a "Dream"; Max Arfsten Is Hungry for More

Unfiltered Soccer here at the 2025 MLS All-Star Game.

He is one of the top MVP contenders.

Nobody talks about him, Tim, except me.

He currently leads MLS in assists with 13 big reasons why my hometown team, San Diego FC, are top of the Western Conference.

None other than Anders Dreyer.

All right, Anders, thank you for joining us.

I think for a lot of people, they don't realize San Diego is, I think it's the eighth biggest city in our country by population, but it's very small.

You know, I live there and you live there now.

It's very small, so people still don't know a lot about San Diego in general, San Diego FC, and they don't know a lot about you yet, but you have come onto the scene very quickly.

And I think this is an opportunity too for people to learn about you.

So can you just tell us, you know, where you grew up?

People don't know a lot about you, kind of your path to get to San Diego.

Oh, yeah, I can.

I grew up in a small, small village in Denmark.

Started my playing football as three years old, always with

my dad.

He was a coach for a team, and went with him in the bus on away trips, and watched games and playing football on the side when they were playing Levin against Levin.

It was funny.

And I remember these away trips

in my memory.

And then I moved to a bigger club in Denmark.

And then after, I think, one and a half year on the first team, I went to Brighton in England.

Didn't succeed.

Level

from Denmark to the Premier League was maybe too high.

So I took a step down, went back to the Super League, to Mitchellen.

And yeah, and from there, I've been traveling

to Russia.

Then I came back because...

the war happened in Ukraine and

then I went to Underlake and now I'm in San Diego.

How does it come about now that you come to San Diego?

Like how did that process, how did they find you?

How did Tyler get to know you and find you?

I think it happened also quick as well.

I had a very good season in Underlake the year before,

the season 23, 24.

Started the season in Underlake and played until

the January transfer window in in Europe and the the window here and then i wanted to leave um and and then uh san diego and and i had good speech with the with of course mikey and and and tyler and i also think the of course the right to dream project which is also in denmark in northell and i played against them a lot of times they they knew me as a player and and yeah i think there are these small things in football in the world like you also guys know it that and then sometimes it goes in hand in hand and yeah then uh some weeks after my first uh talks with with tyla i was sitting in san diego in uh san diego jersey wow yeah and take us a little bit deeper into that right because you're a player with ambition you talked about brighton and obviously anderleck these are these are big clubs and you want to continue to grow and at what point in the conversation did they sell you on that dream did they say san diego is a place where one you can come and thrive also be a cornerstone of this franchise but where at what point did you say this is the place I want to be?

No, first of all, I also think like you said with Brighton and Underlake, it's big clubs, but you also come to a club with a history, you know, and then San Diego FCA, of course, totally new team.

And you can be a part of creating that culture.

like what people are gonna talk about San Diego when when they're gonna talk about it.

It's so nice to be a part of that and being a part of creating a new club with all my teammates, with the staff and so on.

And then of course also a big dream for me to go to the MLS.

Really?

Yeah.

And then now was the chance and with this way of play is also important

because like I said before I knew the way of play from Norseland in Denmark and the way they play I've always been after the game.

That would be nice to play like this.

And now I'm playing that style of football and I just enjoyed every training and every game

to play that way of football is just so much fun.

I'm curious, so in Denmark, there's not that much travel, right?

Not crazy.

In Belgium, zero.

In Russia, yes, right?

Like there are some long flights.

And so how have you adapted clearly well?

Because you've played well.

Has it been hard to adapt to the weather, the different climates, you know, your altitude one week, humidity in Houston the next week, you're flying to New York the next week.

Has that been difficult?

How's that been for you?

Yeah,

it's tough.

It is

because it's long travels.

And of course, like you said, with the humility and the altitude.

And I still remember our game

in Denmark against Colorado.

I think with the altitude, it was.

It was tough.

It is tough.

Also here in Austin, it was also tough.

But that's a part of learning that.

And I think it's also our first year as a club.

And I think, yeah, we have people who've been in the league and they can tell you how it's going to be, but you don't know it before you tried it.

So I think it's just a learning process as well and to try it.

And then this season, it's been good.

But also for the next season coming up, that we know how it's going to be.

And you know personally how it's going to be to travel to these places.

Let's talk about San Diego FC.

So when I think about Landon and all the success that his great LA Galaxy teams had, every year they're going into it as frontrunners or they should win in their perennial playoff team.

But San Diego had nothing.

So you go into this preseason and now you're flying.

You're near at the top of the West.

Are you surprised how quickly this came together?

Because in preseason, you mentioned there's a way of playing and there's a style, but you bring all these players together.

You probably have some good moments.

Did you think you could be this far along this soon?

No, I also think we are a little bit...

surprised about how good it's it's been so far.

Let's be honest about that.

But I still think when when you have a way of playing it it helps you a lot because there will be injuries throughout the season and and when you have a way of play and the guys who's on the bench and comes in they know what to do um but yeah of course uh if you told me it would be like this uh in in preseason i'll maybe be like

okay let's see

but now it's is we're just enjoying the ride so far and I think we we had a very very good start of the season with a lot of points and then yeah three games

in a row we lost and I think when you look at that now I think that was a key moment for us

because

maybe in the beginning we were like everything is perfect

but then you hit a a rock or whatever you say and then you drop and you you lose three times in a row and and you learn from that that that's not something you really like to

and I think after that we we we kept that good consistent level And uh so I think that period with with three losses in a row have been very important for us as a a club, totally new club and and a team, of course.

But it's also like that when you when you come in and it's a total new club, it's uh twenty-five new players getting together.

It's there's also another energy uh because, you know, when when you played in in clubs where you go and you know you come in in a dressing room, there will always be a group where who wanna leave, who want to go and there's a group it's okay and a group they're they're controlling it, and, you know, and here it's like everybody's equal.

Equal and great.

And yeah, I think that's been also very important.

Our locker room.

It's been tough.

I'm sure you, if I ask you, I'm sure your answer is yes.

You still have ambition to keep playing for Denmark.

You've played five times?

Yeah, five, five.

Yeah.

Are you hearing from them at all?

How do they view, you know, how do the coaches, how do people in Denmark view Major League Soccer?

I mean, you're having, your season could not have gone better for you personally.

It could not have gone.

so i'm guessing they have to be paying attention are you hearing from them are you yeah i am uh and i think also uh i was going to the euros but without getting any minutes um

and i think uh then i was left out of the of the squad yeah and then uh in the in the friendlies in uh in june i went back on the national team after performing over here so i think

yeah the way i have been doing over here in the mls have brought me back maybe to the national team.

Yeah, I guess we're is Do you do they view obviously they're viewing you favorably are they are they do they view MLS as well, it's not high enough level for you to be back and or have they said to you look if you keep going this way No, I think that I know what you think but in in the beginning of

of the MLS and stuff like that also years back maybe they thought like MLS is not so good level but I think they started to realize maybe okay, maybe it is a good league

and and I think that's also important and I think it's also nice that that I came back to the national team when I was playing over here because then people start to know maybe okay, maybe they're gonna start to watch some of the MLS and so yeah, I think it's uh it's nice question about you personally how many how many MLS MVP did you win?

One.

One.

So I want you to join this conversation.

So thanks right now,

you can jump in.

You have 11 goals, 15 assists.

You're talked about in our circle, in the broader circle as an MVP candidate.

And I'm just curious,

if those numbers even get remotely higher, you're in that conversation.

Do you allow yourself to think that is a motivation for me?

Or is it just business as usual?

Is that important?

For me, the most important thing is the team.

And

i think uh players who play on a team which is successful will be

um

better yeah exactly uh and for me that's that's the most important thing because i know if if we're gonna win every game one zero then it's it's gonna be good at the end of um so yeah um and one player can't win the game alone

um so i think it's always the team and it's always been and then there will always be guys and now we have three guys as well here uh which is showing that we're doing a good job and it's also the guys that are back home now in San Diego that's their credit that we're here sure I mean in your in your MVP season was there a point where you just knew you were flying was that something that you were conscious of the irony is is I played

every year except three we made the playoffs and one of the times I the time I won MVP we didn't make the playoffs so I was I was playing like the best I'd ever played but we didn't make but to your point,

I didn't feel good.

Like at the end of the year, it didn't feel good.

It was not an enjoyable year.

So it was disappointing.

Interesting.

I want to ask, I just want to follow up real quick on the.

We always try to figure out where do different leagues compare to major league soccer, right?

Because

it's hard to compare one to the other.

Stylistically, they're different.

But having played in Denmark, Russia, and Belgium,

how do you compare the quality of

the four leagues?

I think that's that's a good question.

I think you have the big five leagues, the top five leagues.

And then I think

the Portuguese league as well.

But I think now I played in Belgium, and I think the level is similar to the Belgian football.

It is.

And that's pretty high up.

I think

it is.

I think the level over here.

is better than the Danish league.

The Russian league as well, but now the Russian league is changed a little bit, of course, with what happened.

But I think the MLS league is

a good level of football, and there are very, very good players in this league that keeps the level high,

which is important for the league.

But no, I put it very high, and I put it like next to Belgium, maybe higher.

And then you have, of course, the big five leagues.

Wow.

All right, we'll get you out of here on this.

So I'm just, I live in San Diego now.

you live in a higher closer to the water part of San Diego than I do but I'm curious what do you love most about the city what what is I guess what has drawn you to the city what what do you like about it or what do you not like about it I guess I can nothing to not like about San Diego no I I think like for me

a dream was always has always been to to also play in a league

country, a place where the weather was good.

And I love that going to training in flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts.

That's amazing.

And that's a part that I don't think I'm getting tired of that.

That after a tough session that me, my wife and my boy can go to the beach and lay there for a couple of hours or whatever.

That's that's something that is I'm driving home in my car like

doing this if it's a is a dream, but but it isn't.

So that's the thing that

I really love about Sandi.

We're going to let you get out of here.

We know All-Star Week is hectic and fun, and we wish you luck and success.

Landon, because he's in San Diego, sees you all the time, loves you.

I don't pay for many tickets to watch soccer, but I said you're so exciting that I'm looking forward to buying a ticket and watching you play.

So thank you very much for coming on our show.

It's been awesome and awesome to watch you continued success.

Thank you.

Making his first all-star appearance, he played a key role for the U.S.

at this summer's Gold Cup final run.

None other than Max Arston.

All right, Max, thanks for joining us.

First of all, you just reminded me you grew up in Fresno.

I'm sorry to hear that.

That is.

Have you ever been to Fresno?

Yeah, I've been to Fresno.

No offense, man.

Where are you from?

Yeah, where are you from?

Not the best.

Redlands?

For Redlands?

Yeah.

I'd rather be from Fresno than Redlands.

no you wouldn't trust me i agree with that i agree with that um all right so max so for people still getting to know you tell us a little bit about your story because it's it's a pretty unique story and we'll dive into it a little more so you grew up in fresno you ended up playing at uc davis which is d1 oh it's d1 uc davis but then you were in the earthquakes academy right earlier no so or you were potentially with the earthquakes and then yeah so it's kind of confusing but i grew up in fresno and then i went to davis for only two years just like that was my only offer i went there played there for two years and then I got invited to this San Jose earthquakes MLS Next Pros the first season like this little combine with a bunch of college players and from there they wanted to sign me and I kind of took a leap of faith and I decided to do it just because I felt like at Davis there wasn't a lot of exposure for me to you know hope to get drafted and all that stuff so I went to San Jose with obviously hopes to you know sign first team contract there like anybody would in my situation.

And then I played one season there and then you know at the end of that year they just kind of told me I'm not in their plans.

They wanted to go a different direction or whatever, but they were like, you can come to preseason in January because they were getting a new coach at the time.

So they were like, just come to preseason, the Luch Egan's all those, he'll see you, and go from there.

And I was kind of like, I guess, like, I didn't have any other plans.

And then I got a call a week later from my agent that I was still in the MLS draft because

I would have, that would have been the year I was going to go to the draft, 23.

So they put me in the draft because San Jose didn't sign me.

And then

I just, then I got got kicked by America and it sucked.

Yeah, it's a crazy story, but that is my story.

And then he ends up playing in a golf.

The San Jose earthquake's ears are bleeding right now, thinking we missed one.

But you do, you miss.

And that's the issue that we have so often in America.

And forget MLS, and in the American soccer landscape, is there's just

so many misses.

But also, I think as we watch you progress, that's the fun part of the, of the book and the journey, that that's how it started.

And then obviously you flourished and found an incredible spot there.

And

what's it been like kind of growing through the system?

And you're a young player.

And a lot of the young players that we've talked to today, thankfully, are now such big parts of their MLS club.

What is that like to, week in, week out, feel like you're so heavily relied upon by your club, by your manager, by your teammates?

It's honestly awesome because my first year in Columbus, 23, we had a really good team.

We won MLS Cup, but I wasn't a big part of it at all, to be honest with you.

So I've been on the other side of it like dying to be a part of it and wanting to be part of the team success so now that I do have the chance I never take it for granted you know what I mean and every game I play like no matter what if it's you know midweek Saturday midweek I never have like a complaining attitude of like having to play a lot of games because I've been on the other side of it so I think it's it was the best thing for me and I have a lot of pride like like you said being a big part of the team now yeah how do you describe the gold cup experience like from start to finish because it I mean I think you probably expected you were going to play a decent amount or play some, but you became someone who was relied upon.

And there were some roller coaster games and there were some crazy moments.

So how did you, what did you take away from all that?

No, I think I grew so much mentally.

I think that was the biggest thing and the best thing for me because like you said, there was a lot of roller coasters.

I mean, starting with the friendlies, two results that nobody wanted, bad results.

And then going into Gold Cup, we had to flip the script and it's not easy.

I mean, I know you guys have obviously been there at higher levels too with the national team, but the vibe of the locker room is so important.

And I think after those friendlies, it was a big turning point for us.

We just had to decide to kind of put those two friendlies behind us, learn from it.

And then individually for me, like you said, obviously going into it, I wanted to start and I wanted to play because that's what I wanted.

And then there was a roller coaster because there was good moments and there was bad moments.

But I think I grew from it so much mentally, like being able to kind of like find myself the courage to like break through those bad moments like on the field as they happened and then come out on the other side.

So for me, it was like, I just feel like I got mentally stronger and that just comes with the experience.

Yeah, the roller coaster means you're young.

You only get through it and get better learning from those moments.

When you play in these big games, which

I'm going to speak for, you probably dreamt of playing for your national team like we all had as a youngster.

Now that you've had those moments, those big moments, the final against Mexico, we've been in them.

We've been on the winning side and the losing side.

And it sucks to lose and it's great to win.

But how much has that whet your appetite for more of that?

Yeah, for sure.

I i mean it makes me even hungrier and hungrier once you get that first experience and like that first taste of playing against mexico i mean you guys know like growing up for me i didn't care what was what was going on if usa is playing mexico i'm watching like with my family and i'm hyped yeah um so just to be able to be a part of that i want to keep going and i know that my performances at the club level or wherever i'm like wherever i'm playing is what matters most so i'm just going to try and take control of what i can control and yeah obviously i'm hungry for more

kind of coach um like give us insight into mauricio and and like how you would compare him to Wilfred?

Because you've now had, I mean, it's quite the story already at your, how old are you?

23?

24.

24 to have those are two really good coaches, right?

That have done big things.

So how do you compare them and how do you describe, I guess, the both of them?

Yeah, I would say

Wilfred is extremely, extremely detailed and super detailed with the tactics and on point

with how he wants us to play.

And he's pretty stern with that, like how we want to play, the shape and everything.

And yeah, it's just like his phrases are ingrained in my mind.

That's a good coach.

Nightmares are cool.

I swear, yeah, everything he says.

And then, yeah, Pochatino, I feel like he's a coach that he wants his players to play to their strengths.

You know what I mean?

And so he'll put you in positions to where he thinks you will shine.

And then from there, he kind of, especially on the attacking side of the ball, like do what you do.

You know what I mean?

Like do what you like to do, play freely.

And so in that way, I think they are different.

And it's good.

I'm not saying one's right or the other's wrong, but it's good.

And I think it's good for me because it gives me two different perspectives.

You know what I mean?

It makes me more well-rounded.

So it's super cool.

And like you said,

those are two amazing coaches to have experience with.

Do you view yourself, Sarah?

You've been like, where did you play at Davis?

What position?

I was a winger.

Yeah.

So to me, you have more winger instincts, right?

And I'm curious because now you're a left back.

I think you're a left wing back.

I've said this.

I think that is where your true position, because it's hard to be a left back.

Really?

As you learned in some moments, right, in the World Cup.

Like, that's a tough.

So, do you view yourself as a left-wing back?

Do you, how do you view yourself?

Yeah, I think I certainly view myself as a left-wing back.

That's why I play every game with Columbus.

You know what I mean?

And in the landscape of the national team, I know it's a different system back four, but for me, I still want to play left back because that's where I was playing.

And I know, like you said, it's different.

But I think with anything in your career, like if you play a different system, it's going to take some time to adjust.

And I truly believe as the course of the tournament went on, I adjusted well.

There were growing pains for sure, but I think that's like anything in life.

You try something new, it's going to take time.

So I'm embracing the challenge.

I really am.

And

yeah, I just want to keep going.

You talked about the tactical kind of nouse from both your club manager and from Poch.

And I'm curious.

When I watch Columbus, I see your manager.

I just, I look at the way you guys play and I go, that's his team.

That's how he wants to play.

With Poch, and I'm curious to get your thoughts if you if you felt this as the tournament went on I'm watching the games and I'm thinking more like quarterfinal semifinal final the final was hard because he got pinned back so it didn't it would that's normal against Mexico but like in the semifinal quarterfinal I'm looking at this tactically and I'm thinking that's what Potch wants I could see I can see the inverted fullback I could see the different positions so that's a great thing so Pachatina would probably say that's a great thing I'm getting my message across could you guys feel that unfolding like that it seemed to be more seamless tactically?

Yeah, for sure.

I mean, I think just once we got, because we were together for a long time, and once you're together more, playing more, then it just becomes more seamless.

Those, those different movements people have on the field and when to go, when to stay, like to press or to not to press.

So it takes time, especially like he's a relatively new manager still for the U.S.

So then once it starts to get clicking and you're in a flow, like you said, when you saw it, it's clean and it's nice.

So for sure.

Great.

All right.

Something, this has really blown my mind because I don't see this often, maybe if ever.

So you're left-footed.

Yeah.

Very left-footed.

But you're so good on your right foot.

And I've never, I can't say never, but I can't remember another player I saw that I was like a left-footed player.

There's a lot of right-footed players who are good with their left foot.

Yeah.

Where does that come from?

Like the goal you scored against Costa Rica is that's a really hard finish and good finish for someone right-footed like me, right?

And you're a left-footed player.

So where did that come from?

How did you develop that?

Because I think it's good for young kids to learn that.

Yeah, honestly for me i always just when i started playing i loved dribbling with my left foot like that was always what i did and then so i was from there naturally left-footed but for me like i swear like my dad or someone just always told me to practice shooting with my right and like just make sure your right foot is as good as your left and like my dad didn't even like play soccer really at a high level

yeah yeah but yeah but like i swear like i just for some reason like at a young age i was always like i need to be as good with my right as i am with my left like and then i never really thought about it after that.

You know what I mean?

Like, it just was always how I tried to be.

So, yeah, that's basically it.

Have you come across guys like I can't think of another left-footed player?

I'm trying to, like, rack my brains.

Normally, lefties are really left.

Really lefties.

Very lefty.

And it's one thing to, like, in a moment have to clear a ball 40 yards with your right foot.

But, like, to get in that position and the ball's coming and to just roll it into the far post calmly, you look like you were right-footed in that moment.

I thought that was really interesting.

Well, because the way the weight of the pass was, it made more sense for me to open up my hips.

You know what I mean?

Correct.

Go with my right foot.

But yeah, I don't know.

I feel like, like you said,

most people that are like two-footed are mainly right-footed for whatever reason.

Correct.

So it's, yeah, I can't really think right now.

All right.

Well, if you figure it out, let me know.

Yeah, I got you.

It's a good thing to have.

A couple more, and then we'll let you get out of here.

I know you're tired.

You've had a long day, so thank you.

So you've been part now of Hell is Real and U.S.

Mexico.

It's not apples to apples, but

do they feel the same?

How do you compare them?

What was the vibe?

To me, nothing compares to USA Mexico.

That ranks at the top in terms of intensity and the pressure of the game and just what it means.

You know what I mean?

Because we're talking the pride of a country is what you're playing for.

You know what I mean?

So I would say that one.

Hell is Real is also, I think, very good rivalry, though, in MLS.

I think...

Columbus and Cincy have one of the best fan bases in MLS.

I really believe that.

But for me, yeah, USA Mexico, nothing compares.

Well,

you seem to have such an, you talked about watching the games when you were growing up.

You have such a keen sense of the rivalry.

I'm I'm excited for you to play in Azteca for the U.S.

It's one of the most incredible

dude.

Well, yeah,

it's incredible just the history of that robbery to play there.

It's special.

Listen, we appreciate you coming on our show.

I know our listeners are excited.

They are so hungry for the U.S.

men's national team.

Brilliant summer and continued success.

And I would just say to you,

you don't control what happens next, right?

And we're not here to be your parent or your mentor, but if you don't get called in next time,

what you do with Columbus matters a lot now, and then you playing well just keeps putting pressure on the coach to bring you.

And now you have a body of work that you can say, Look, I had six great games in a row, right?

So it's been fun to watch you grow, man, and we wish you the best.

No, I appreciate you guys a lot.

Seriously.

Thank you.

Thank you, Max.

Thank you guys.