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FRISCO, Texas - Over the last two months, FC Dallas’ leading scorer isn’t one of the big names like Mauro Diaz or Fabian Castillo, but rather an emerging rookie in the midfield – Michael Barrios.
The 23-year-old Colombian has played in 17 games for Dallas this season across all competitions, but it’s the last nine that he’s made count – scoring four goals in FCD’s last seven MLS contests and adding another three in two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contests. After off-and-on playing time in the first half of the season, Barrios has found his groove in his new league with an ever-growing role – starting the last five games and playing a full 90 minutes in three straight.
“A lot of it has to do with confidence. I feel like I got it from [head coach Oscar Pareja], that he took the right steps towards bringing me onto the team and getting minutes [slowly],” Barrios said through a translator. “I’m happy I’m contributing to the team, which is what I came to do, and I hope that I can keep this rhythm going.”
For a player that scored 25 goals in his last two seasons with Colombian second division side Uniautonoma FC, Pareja’s gradual adjustment method for Barrios to the U.S. is paying off.
“He’s coming along for sure,” Pareja said. “[He’s] understanding the league and he’s obviously understanding his teammates better and better as well.”
“He’s the type of guy that’s always making unselfish runs – even if he doesn’t get the ball he just recycles his run and comes back and goes again,” defender Ryan Hollingshead said. “It’s those types of players that really help us.”
It’s not a coincidence that Barrios’ emergence came at a time when the team was missing scoring threats Blas Perez and Tesho Akindele for international duty and then-fellow midfielder Ryan Hollingshead moved to a new outside back position, but he’s made the most of his opportunity and has continued to earn starts even with a Dallas full roster.
“It’s proof too that we’ve got guys that can step in at any point,” Hollingshead said. “You know, when other guys are out our guys coming in off the bench are that good. He’s earned himself a starting spot and he’s continued to play well and keep it his.”
But Barrios knows just because the job appears to be his now, it doesn’t mean it always will be.
“It makes me work twice as hard because if I give any type of advantage, any type of room, somebody else will come and take that spot,” Barrios said. “That inter-competition between us, fighting for each spot makes us play better, makes us come together as a group.”
