Rafael Marquez, the captain of Mexico’s national team, is in his second season with the Red Bulls of M.L.S. The veteran, who has played in France and for Barcelona in Spain, is back at his natural center back position and has helped to steady the club’s defense as the Red Bulls prepare for Sunday’s game against visiting Chivas USA. Marquez, a superstar in Mexico, has often times seemed like that other guy as the club and league promote the exploits of Thierry Henry, who was also his teammate in Spain. Marquez spoke recently with Jack Bell of The Times.

What you do to relax?

I like to watch movies, sometimes I read and I like to play Xbox.

Do you play the FIFA game?

No, no. Sometimes I see football, but I’m not really like a fanatic playing football.

Are you happy with how the team is playing?

Right now I’m happy because the last half year I was not in very good physical terms.

What was the situation?

Just not fit. I didn’t have the solid base to be able to play my best. Because after the World Cup I was in vacation and didn’t do any work, physical before coming here. I start very low, I didn’t have a preseason before coming here. When I started my level was low.

Was it that hard to step in and play right away?

Yes, it was very difficult. This league is very physical. If you come in not at the right level is very difficult.

Everyone says this league is physical. But what does it mean? More physical than La Liga?

In La Liga it is more tactical, more technique. Here is always pressure, ball is flying and we don’t have control of the game. Run more than in Europe. In Barcelona, always you take the ball and you don’t run — pass, pass, pass. Here is the contrary, the opposite.

You were one of first Mexicans to go outside the Mexican league and have success. Until recently not many Mexicans have left the country to play in Europe. Why do you think that is?

I had a chance to play in Europe. I didn’t care what team, what country. I really wanted to leave. But it is very difficult to leave the Mexican league. There are many issues that keep the players in Mexico. In Mexico, if you are a soccer player, you are very famous, make a lot of money and the people treat you like a king.

In Europe?

Is not the same. In Europe you get respect, not as much as in Mexico.

In Mexico, is it possible for you to go out in public, to a restaurant for a meal?

Maybe with five bodyguards. Especially more now.

Did you come to New York because you, mostly, would not be recognized?

[Laughing] Sometimes when I go to the restaurant all the kitchen staff is Mexican and they want to meet me. But in the street or on a walk in the city I don’t have any problem. I like that because never in my career I have something like this. In Barcelona all the people know you, you never have your privacy.

How much of a problem is that for you?

It is part of this life. Part of the professional life, something you get used to living.

Before you came here you had an opportunity to go to Juventus. Were there other possibilities as well?

Yes, I have three teams in England — Manchester City, Bolton and one other — one team in Turkey, and in Italia Juventus and another team. I don’t remember which one. I had more possibilities to stay in Europe but decide to come here, something different.

Was it a hard decision?

Yes. I think a lot about it long and hard. To come here was something new and different. I think I could help the development of the sport and plus, it’s closer to Mexico for me when I want to go home.

It seems as if Thierry Henry gets all the publicity. How do you feel about that? Do you even think about it?

Yes, it wasn’t planned like this, that we would both come to New York. I was approached on my own, just happened both landed here. For him, the main thing is to do things on the field. Outside the field I have no control. I talk more to Hispanic media, the requests are very high. For English, it’s very little. It doesn’t matter. I’m very happy to do my work on the field and if they are coming to me, O.K., if not. …

A lot of people seemed to shy away from you thinking that you didn’t speak English!

I understand English, but I am very shy and sometimes to speak English, I don’t want to make a mistake. Sometimes I want to explain things correctly but sometimes I don’t feel comfortable with my English. Sometimes I want a translator to do it correctly, the words.

Have you studied English?

Yes, in school, in Mexico. When I went to France, we speak English before the French. In France there were players from all over. My first year we all communicated in English.

What is it like for you to be playing in defense with a young American like Tim Ream?

For me, he is one of the players who really surprised me. He has very high quality when he plays. It’s hard to find a central defender who has the characteristics that Tim has. He has qualities that are very similar to what I have. His vision of the field. His touch. The technical skill he has has. The way he strikes the ball.

He said he wants to take free kicks instead of you!

[Laughing] He has that quality. If he practice this, he can make it.

What are your impressions of this league. You said it was physical, what else comes to mind?

The style will change little by little. There are more players coming to the league now who are more technical, more skilled. Today there are long balls and fast play, but that is going to change with players like me or some coach to change the style, do more technical. For me, the really good football is what Barcelona play.

Everyone says they want to play like Barcelona but they don’t have the players.

Yes, it is true, but you can work for that. Strive for that. We don’t play like Barcelona, but we try to play something like Barcelona. We work all week to play a possession game. We have the quality. And I think that some teams here in M.L.S. have the quality to do these things. Seattle have good players, Houston, Dallas have some players with good qualities. Kansas City, I know is a physical team, but they an idea to play a little bit, too.

As captain of Mexico, are you scouting here?

[Laughs.] Not really. It’s very different, I think, because the American national team have a lot of players in Europe. Don’t think that’s a problem. If I was asked, maybe I would talk. I don’t think the national team coach will come to me to ask me what about this player. Maybe. I know some players, maybe another tactical question.

The rivalry between Mexico and U.S. is so intense. When do you think the rivalry began to change a bit? The 2002 World Cup?

Maybe it is coming more and more, the equality. It has grown signficantly since 2002. That was the turning point. Everyone knew that Mexico was No. 1 in Concacaf for so long. That game showed that was no longer the case.

Was it hard to see the U.S. coming up?

Yes, very difficult. Maybe the only thing we can win against the U.S.A. is the soccer. Right now, it’s different. It’s very complicated to win here in the U.S. against the national team and that’s the reason the rivalry has grown.

Is it good for the game in the U.S. and in Mexico?

I think is good for our countries. Because I think we want to win all the games and they want to win, too. With that level of competition both teams are forced to get better.

After some contentious moments in national team games over the years, do you think that in the eyes of American soccer fans you’re a bad guy?

Yes, I think so. Two things. No. 1 I’m the reference point for the national team and I’m the captain. The face of the team. No. 2, in World Cup when frustration got the best of me and I lost it. Those are two reasons.

You have a temper on the field?

Yes, I’m another person. I feel the passion for the game. And I never want to lose. That mentality sometime change who I am.

Even with the Red Bulls, we see a little push, touch … a little extra.

That’s my passion. I never lose myself, but maybe when I did, right now I have more experience I try to control those emotions. But it is very hard.

As captain of Mexican national team, you must have noticed the U.S. flag on your sleeve. …

Oh yeah, I never saw it!

Obviously you saw it. I wonder how you feel about it. Is it a hard thing for you to deal with?

I respect the U.S. Always a big country, a No. 1 in the world. Always the big nation internationally. It’s a remarkable country. But the rivalry on the field is completely different, at the soccer level, support, sporting level. Outside the field I embrace it, I like it here.

But it must feel weird?

No, not really.

But what would someone in Mexico watching a Red Bulls game think?

Rafa U.S.A. No really, it is not weird. I think is a different situation. M.L.S. is different than a national team. It’s my work to defend my team, maybe on this side I forget what has happened in the past on the field. It is totally different.

Because the relationship between our two countries sometimes not the best.
But now we are here. We have a lot of problems in my country. But we have some time here to make a better life. When you work for a company you need to be a professional with this company and this is the way I look at it. Also in sport, you need to be a professional. It is not a big deal. When went in Mexico last preseason and I never stopped giving my work. No one really noticed. Right now we see M.L.S. coming better and better, it’s a good league and it’s developing. Before I decide to come here, I think about M.L.S. before going to Mexico because I think it’s a good option for me to come here.

In recent games, the Red Bulls have started players from 11 different countries. Is it different for you playing with so many guys from so many different places?

No. Now we have time we used to know all the other players. Now we know each other better and are finding our understanding. And they know me to, that’s important. They know how I play one thing maybe sometimes, they I can make passes to them. They know I can make the hard passes. Like with Dane, right now he knows with me when to come and when to go. More than hard passes, there is an understanding that comes with knowing each other. As soon as I see someone from the corner of my eye, they know I will put the ball right to them.

Which do you prefer, central defense or midfield?

It is my natural position in my career. I know very well everything about this position so it’s natural right now. I started playing defense in the beginning and I still playing defense. I only need to move back a little and take the goalkeeper’s gloves!

How good do you think this team can be?

It’s developing into a team, a good team. Not about getting to be a good team. It’s about maintaining that over a long season.

Does this team have that mentality?

Me and TT we have this mentality. So we want them to follow us. These are small things, but I think is the most important in the team. I hope and I think they understand this particular thing.

The small things? What do you mean? Holding the ball? What exactly.

We know we have a good team with good players, but if we don’t work together that’s not going to work. And I think in the game we don’t win with only one or two players, the focus is the group. Everyone playing an important role.

Are you looking forward to playing in the Gold Cup, and perhaps beyond?

Last World Cup I said maybe was my last World Cup. I never thought about coming here, now maybe I have more time to think, more time to prepare. I feel well, better than in Barcelona, because in Barcelona we had every three days a game. Not enough time to rest or to prepare yourself. Too many games. It took a toll. Here I have more time to rest between games and to prepare. With all these things maybe I can think about the next World Cup, I don’t know. Always I want to go a day a day. Always I want to be on my national team. I know when to keep it on the side. But it’s not that time yet, give me some more time.