On Friday, Major League Soccer announced the complete 2018 All-Star game roster, which will be played on August 1, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, against Juventus. Among those selected were Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, as well as defenders Aaron Long and Michael Amir Murillo.
For Long, it is a dream come true.
"It’s something that I’ve always dreamt of," Long said. "Most young American kids in this league dream of playing a top team in Europe. There’s not a lot of opportunities to do that, so getting called to this All-Star game, and getting to play against a great side like Juve, a historical side for Italy, is big time for sure."
When asked about his thoughts on being selected, Long mentioned how it was a special moment.
"I just sat in my room and relished it a bit," Long said. "It’s a big thing for me in my career."
Bradley Wright-Phillips, who was also selected, spoke prior to practice about how happy he was that both Long and Murillo were selected.
"If I’m being honest, I’m more happy for Aaron and Amir," Wright-Phillips said. "I think they both deserve it this season."
When asked about providing Long and Murillo with some advice about the All-Star game, Wright-Phillips, who last played in the match in 2014 vs. Bayern Munich, laughed and said, "I'm not gonna act like I'm a professional at playing against these kinds of teams, but from my experience, just go out and enjoy it. It's a good occasion."
