FC Dallas returns to MLS action this Saturday against D.C. United, a full 25 days after playing its last competitive game in the Leagues Cup. Dallas didn’t reach its goal in that midseason cup competition but the time off has been productive.
During the break, FCD welcomed back five players from injury: Alan Velasco, Jesús Ferreira, Asier Illarramendi, Sebastian Lletget and Patrickson Delgado. The names are telling. Velasco and Ferreira account for two of the club's three Designated Players (DPs), Illarra and Lletget are the most experienced midfielders, and Delgado has been one of the surprises of the season since joining on loan from Independiente del Valle.
Their absences have been felt throughout the season. Dallas is in 11th place in the West, eight points off the automatic playoff spots, thanks in large part to injuries. Those five players have played just 4,283 of their possible 11,250 minutes this year (38%). Ferreira and Velasco, both influential attacking forces when healthy, have been the unlucky main culprits having missed 82% of the season’s minutes. By design, DPs are a team’s most game-changing (and highly paid) players. If one or more aren’t on the field, struggles typically follow.
“As a player who was healthy, you felt a lot more responsibility,” said team captain Paul Arriola. “Oftentimes you feel helpless and out of control of the situation. It was just game after game, trying to get results, trying figure it out with constant rotation in the team, guys coming back from injury, guys getting injured… We would have loved to be higher up in the table where we could have rotated more, but in our current situation we needed as many points as possible.”
It speaks to interim head coach Peter Luccin that his depleted team was able to go into the Leagues Cup break on a high note. Dallas earned 10 points from the final five MLS games (3-1-1) while mitigating the injury situation by leaning on young players: Anthony Ramirez (18), Tarik Scott (19) and Tomas Pondeca (23) all made their debuts since Luccin took over in June. Logan Farrington and Bernard Kamung – also in their early 20s – took on greater roles.
“It was hard for us to play in three competitions with so many injuries,” Luccin said. “It was good that we had the kids in the squad that have been playing. It was great for them, but at the same time, it wasn't so fair for them. But again, it was hard. The roster wasn't ready.”
One month later, the squad is looking decidedly more ready. Only three players, Paxton Pomykal, Liam Fraser and Geovane Jesus, remain on the injury table while Dallas was proactive in adding two veterans in the summer transfer window. Manuel ‘Show’ Cafumana joined on a one-year loan (with an option to buy) from Maccabi Haifa and Brazilian right back Ruan arrived via trade with CF Montréal.
The added numbers and talent are evident in training.
“It's beautiful. Now we can tell that the roster is more complete, to be honest,” said Luccin. “It’s not just about the new additions. It’s about what they are bringing to practice, the quality they bring helps everybody increase their level in practice. That's very important for us.”
Getting knocked out of the Leagues Cup group stage wasn’t in Dallas’ plans, but it could be a blessing in a weak disguise with a far more important stretch ahead.
“We have nine games left, it's going to be really crucial for us to push and to use everybody,” Arriola said. “We're all excited to get the best players on the field. Like profé (Luccin) is saying, it's the guys that deserve to be out there right now. This is showtime, it's the end, it's a sprint to the finish line. We’re really excited to get everyone back healthy, and hopefully a lot of guys can find good form quickly and help us make the playoffs.”
