ça va Adu?

After going on loan from Benfica to AS Monaco, Freddy Adu is finding it hard to get the playing time he wasn't getting at Benfica. It's been 3 months, and Freddy has logged in only 144 minutes. 69 minutes in Ligue 1, all off the bench, and 69 minutes in the League Cup, those coming as a starter.
It's hard to even think Freddy would be getting anymore playing time at Benfica this season. With the front line being over crowded as it is, going on loan to AS Monaco, was probably the wisest move, not only from Freddy's point of view(he probably didn't have a choice) but also from Benfica, who bet on this time as being a maturing time for Adu.

Espn's Soccernet has a nice interview with Freddy Adu, where he talks about his first 3 months.

Here are some of the quotes that i found interesting:

I am happy with my progress, I don't play a lot and I regret it but I can feel that I have progressed. I am training better, I have built better habits on and off the field,

"Better habits on and off the field" - There was some talk of Freddy being out late, and that being seen as one of the reason's why he fell out of favor with Chalana, by stating that he has developed better off the field habits, Freddy is perhaps confirming these rumors?

I am lucky to be in a group in which many players speak English, so the language barrier is very small compared to Benfica. There the culture shock was very hard, in the beginning especially. And then I started to learn Portuguese and things became better. But here in Monaco, I am doing just fine.

Guess what language Freddy speaks with Ricardo the coach? - Portuguese.

Last season at Benfica, you were playing superbly at the beginning of the season before suffering a loss of form. What happened?
I went through a season with three different coaches, it is not easy. I was playing very well at the start then I went away with the national team for a World Cup qualifier. When I came back, Jose Camacho was not there anymore and I wasn't in the new coach's plans. I basically didn't play after that.

Your dream as a footballer, what is it?
My dream is to play for one of the top European clubs, the top five. Tottenham are also one of my dreams, since I supported them as a boy. My objective is the Premier League which is for me the best league in the world.

The proverbial opening the door.

So far it's been tough going for Adu in France. Monaco is in 10th place and Adu should at least be logging in more minutes for a team in the middle of the table. It's too early to tell whether Monaco will exercise the option over Freddy, or if Benfica will bring him back. I'd like to think he will be back, i miss seeing him in our colors, but i much rather know that he is developing and maturing and getting some playing time.. Coming off the bench is a start, there are 7 other players that sit on the bench, only 3 get the chance to go in, being in that group is already a good thing.

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