<p>Lewis O’Brien has given <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> a rave review in a recent interview with <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65422544" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC Sport</a></em>. The English midfielder is currently on loan at D.C. United from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> side Nottingham Forest. Despite playing just four matches for the MLS club so far, O’Brien insists that it’s not a retirement league.</p>



<p><em>“The standard is a lot better than people in England think,”</em> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65422544" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> O’Brien. </p>



<p><em>“People in the UK don’t watch it, so they will never know. They just assume it is where players go to retire or go at the end of their careers. It is not like that at all.</em></p>



<p><em>“Some of the players you have never heard of, but they are unbelievable. Technically, they are some of the best I have ever seen.”</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lewis O’Brien on MLS:<br><br>"The standard is a lot better than people in England think… They just assume it is where players go to retire.. it’s not like that at all. Some the players you have never heard of, but they are unbelievable. Technically, some of the best I have ever seen." <a href="https://t.co/SasiiIUSv8">pic.twitter.com/SasiiIUSv8</a></p>— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS_Buzz/status/1652306546397683712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>MLS switch was plan B for O’Brien</h2>



<p>O’Brien’s move to D.C. essentially helped revive the 24-year-old midfielder’s career. The Englishman was set to make a temporary switch to Blackburn Rovers during the January transfer window. However, the deal fell through because documents were not exchanged in time. To compound the issue, Forest signed Jonjo Shelvey, a player in O’Brien’s position, to fill out the club’s 25-man roster.</p>



<p>In stepped Wayne Rooney. The D.C United head coach grabbed O’Brien on a short-term loan in March. There is also a buy option attached to the player’s loan agreement with Forest. However, it certainly seems as if the Englishman is still hoping to prove himself in his home country.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🗣️ "It was a no-brainer to come, with Wayne Rooney being the manager"<br><br>Lewis O&apos;Brien spoke to PSW about his D.C. United move, and his time in limbo after a loan from Nottingham Forest to Blackburn fell through on deadline day<a href="https://t.co/ZgWQ9twio5">https://t.co/ZgWQ9twio5</a></p>— Pro Soccer Wire (@prosoccerwire) <a href="https://twitter.com/prosoccerwire/status/1649532203733331971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Player still sees future in England</h2>



<p><em>“I am really grateful to Wayne Rooney and D.C. United, but personally I want to prove I can be in the Forest team and I can play in the Premier League every week,”</em> proclaimed O’Brien.</p>



<p><em>“I want to be the player they signed. I still watch all the [Forest] games and speak to some of the lads. It is tough. Any newly-promoted club will find it tough. It is almost a different game, not even football.</em> </p>



<p><em>“Now it is head down and graft it out. It might be we finish one place above relegation. But you have to do what you have to do to stay up.”</em></p>



<p>O’Brien will remain in D.C. until at least July 16th. If the MLS club does not opt to buy the player, he will return to Forest after this date.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</p>


Forest’s O’Brien impressed by technical skill of MLS players

Lewis O'Brien has praised the level of play in MLS. The midfielder is currently on loan at D.C. United from Nottingham Forest.

Latest news from Lewis O&#039;Brien. Find out about all the news related to Lewis O&#039;Brien on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Lewis O'Brien"

News

Forest’s O’Brien impressed by technical skill of MLS players

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Lewis O&#039;Brien"

News

Forest’s O’Brien impressed by technical skill of MLS players

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Lewis O'Brien"