"I'm sure your dads remind you that Chicago has a club as much as mine remind me of clubs that are a little closer than Europe," Carlos said. He didn't know, obviously, about the rabid Chelsea fan who raised Gael, or that his other dad usually headed to a bar to watch the Chicago Bulls instead.

"When your job is preventing flashy strikers from making cool-looking shots, you aren't the most popular player on the pitch." For the fans, at least, although it was a bit different on the national team. Then, there was no one more beloved than a keeper that keeps, oh, a Brazilian from scoring on penalties. For example. "I don't expect I'll make much. But I should do okay."

He stretched his arms over his head and the led the way out of the training center and around a few maze like corners. "So tell me why Liverpool is the end of the earth," he said.