In this week's installment of our weekly check-in with Schellas Hyndman, the FC Dallas head coach addresses 11 topics in brevity, including the team’s first road win of the season, David Ferreira’s injury and spending time in the Pacific Northwest.
I. In the second leg of FC Dallas’ road trip, the team got its first road win of the season in a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
"It was a great result for FC Dallas. It was a very difficult game for us, but I thought that the players showed a lot of character and I couldn’t be any more proud of them."
II. However, the result did not come without a price. FC Dallas lost star player and 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira to a broken ankle.
"The league MVP – he’s the player that this team really counts on. He’s the leading scorer on the team and so he will be missed, but it’s something that we can’t change."
III-IV. Losing Ferreira is a huge blow to the team, and others will have to step up.
"It’s a huge problem for the team. Saying he’s played every minute of every game since he’s been here, I think he missed one minute last year. So much of our game plans works through David. It’s going to affect us and I think players are going to have to step up."
V-VI. The play in question saw Whitecaps defender Jonathan Leathers slide in for the ball. No foul was called on the play.
"Whatever I say, people take in one way or the other. I think its one of those things where David is the most fouled player in the league. Players are trying to get to the baseline and defenders are trying to stop them from serving the ball, and now you have physical contact."
VII. Offseason acquisition Ricardo Villar could possibly get the opportunity to fill in for Ferreira.
"His best position is probably where David plays. An unfortunate thing for FC Dallas, David, and the team, but this maybe an opportunity for Ricardo Villar to get on the field."
VIII. Switching gears, Hyndman praised the performance of center backs George John and Ugo Ihemelu in Saturday’s game at Empire Field.
"I thought George and Ugo – particularly in that second half – were absolutely brilliant, very courageous and going for a lot of loose balls.
IX. Jackson Goncalves started at right back and Hyndman was also pleased with his game.
"[Vancouver] were tactically were hurting us in the first half. We made adjustments that made it a lot easier for Jackson and I thought he had a good second half."
X-XI. Staying in Portland and spending 10 days on the road, as opposed to returning to Dallas between games, was a great decision.
"We didn’t get the result we wanted in Portland, but saying that, we went to Vancouver and were able to come back from a goal down, an injury and a missed penalty kick. I think a lot of positive things happened. I don’t know if we would have had that same kind of energy if we would have came back [to Dallas] from Portland and then went back to Vancouver, so I thought it was a very good decision on our part."
