Freddy Adu wasn't happy about being subbed out in the 70th minute of Philadelphia's 1-1 tie with D.C. United last Sunday.

"As you saw, I was a little confused, yes,” said Adu, who has only gone the full 90 minutes five times in 17 appearances this season. “Certain days when you’re not playing well and the hard work is not there, when you’re taken out, you understand it. But today, I really wish I could have stayed out there.”

Afterward, Adu spoke with Union interim coach John Hackworth, who said, “[Adu] said, ‘Hey, I thought I could have contributed longer.' I said, ‘You know what, I need you to contribute the way you did today every single game. Freddy, if you do that, we will win more games.’ And that’s important to us. I think he understands it, too. ...

“For Freddy to play 90 minutes is not the goal of this organization or this team. The goal is for whoever is on the field at any time to contribute. Freddy contributed great last game. I’m sure he would have wanted to play 90 minutes, but in the context of how the game was at D.C., it wasn’t the right thing for our team."