Expect D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson to be a little extra motivated come Sunday's match at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston (8 pm ET, UDN).
And D.C. coach Ben Olsen can thank Houston Dynamo legend and former US national team forward Brian Ching.
The current managing director of Dynamo sister club Houston Dash was a guest on the Eddie Robinson Show (WATCH IT HERE) (filling in for former teammate Robinson) and was asked about EJ in advance of the upcoming match.
"He is one of those guys that every time he is getting close to playing for a contract or proving himself, he goes out and he does his work and you're like, 'Wow, okay!'" Ching said. "But once he gets that contract or DP status, he tends to disappear a little bit. It's kind of like he's fighting so hard to prove that he's good that when he gets there, he just kind of stops doing the things that made him successful.
"If I was to sign him, I would say, 'Hey, here's $10,000 a goal. You're making $50,000 or you're making $100,000. You want money? Score goals,'" continued Ching. "He has the talent to do it. I think he loses that drive, that mentality once he gets rewarded or gets his contract."
Johnson, who was criticized earlier this year for his slow start to the 2014 season after earning a Designated Player contract with DC, scored his fourth goal of the season in Wednesday night's 3-0 win over Toronto FC. He countered Ching via Twitter:
