365: From the outside looking in, it seems like 4 points in 3 games against 3 of the top 6 teams from a year ago is a great start. Does it feel that way to you guys?
Marcus Hahnemann: We are definitely happy with the 4 points. To play against Man U, Chelsea and then Everton who were on six points until we faced them, I’d say we are doing alright. It was also important to get our first win of the season. It was a difficult game with John Oster being injured after we’d already used our 3rd substitution on Bobby Convey, but we had to just keep playing on. Kevin Doyle went up to right mid and John came game back on with his ankle taped very heavily. He went up front and gave us everything he could give. We were under some extra pressure because of that, so it’s a great feeling to end up with our second clean sheet of the year. We’re also now in the top half of the table.

365: Is it any different playing against another American keeper? Did you and Tim Howard talk before or after the game?
MH: Not really. A game is a game, but especially with us being away together with the national team next week, I will be in the back of the bus and have a big grin on.

365: If you could talk a little about the game you had at Old Trafford. An amazing performance... what thoughts were going through your mind during the onslaught of shots you were facing? How big a result was that for Reading to start the season with?
MH: To start the season after just coming back from the broken hand that has 18 screws in it I knew I was going to be in for a lot of work. But to end up with a clean sheet is truly unbelievable. It is a result that will give us confidence and some very positive press but on our season as a whole it will have a very little impact. Our season will be decided by how we do against the teams around us in the table.

365: What did you think was your best moment? I thought it was either the save on Christiano Ronaldo in the 63rd minute or the save on the Paul Scholes header in the 89th.
MH: My best save was from Ronaldo, the free kick that went to my right hand side that dipped and hit the ground right in front of me. But where I directed the ball is probably the most important part. If you can't hold it you want to make sure that it goes into good areas.

365: You’ve been playing these games with a broken hand? Are you now the Donovan McNabb of the Premier League (he played a half in the NFL with a broken ankle)?
MH: I broke the hand in the last game of the season on May 13th. It was a pretty nasty break, I just got kicked and I knew right away that the hand was broken. I had surgery 3 days later, done by Dr. Viola in Vail. My buddy Mark Wiltshire works with the surgeons from the Stedman-Hawkins Clinic and they got me in very quickly. So technically my hand is probably not completely healed but there are 18 screws and 2 plates. The only real issue is strength in the arm and hand.

365: What are the expectations you have for this team this season? Last year I assume the goal was just to avoid relegation, what about this season?
Top 10 would be great again with the possibility to get in to Europe and at least to give the fans something to talk about.

365: What are your goals as far as the U.S. National Team is concerned?
MH: The next World Cup.

365: Last question (we always try to finish on a light note). I've just started a fantasy Premier League team.... who should I pick as my goalkeeper?
MH: Edwin (van der Saar), or myself.

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