FRISCO, Texas — To many who follow Major League Soccer, David Ferreira came out of virtually nowhere to capture league MVP honors in 2010.
But for FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman and the club’s supporters, they weren’t the least bit surprised that the 5-foot-5 playmaking dynamo known as “El Torito” (The Little Bull) finally got the recognition he so sorely deserved.
But Ferreira took a remarkable pounding in 2010, becoming not only one of the league’s most potent offensive threats but also its most targeted man. Ferreira was fouled 84 times last year, more than any other player in the league. And he's expecting more of the same in 2011.
“From what I have achieved last year, I know this is going to be a tough season for me,” Ferreira told MLSsoccer.com this week. “I am getting ready to play against those players [that fouled me a lot last year]. I want to come out here and do what’s best for the team by scoring goals and passing the ball.”
[inline_node:327705]Hyndman also expects to see teams focusing more on taking the diminutive South American playmaker completely out of the equation whenever they face FCD this season.
“We’ll see a lot of teams shut David down,” Hyndman said. “As much as he’s been kicked since he’s been here, I think this year, it will be even more just because he’s the MVP.”
If that is the case, then that will make the play of fellow midfielders like Brek Shea, the likely starter on the left flank, and Marvin Chavez, who should start on the right, even more crucial to keeping the Dallas attack flowing.
Ferreira was especially glad to see Chávez get a contract extension right before the start of preseason. Not only is the Honduran flanker a solid contributor to the FCD attack, but the two are very close friends, part of the team’s “Three Amigos,” at trio that also includes defender Jair Benitez, who also hails from Colombia.
“I feel happy that [Chávez] is back,” Ferreira said. “It’s really important for the team because he helped a lot last year.”
In the middle of the pitch, however, Ferreira will have a new teammate. Last year’s linking midfielder, Dax McCarty, was taken in the Expansion Draft and later traded to D.C. United. His replacement could be Brazilian signee Ricardo Villar, who joined the team earlier this week.
“From the few practices that we’ve had together, he’s shown quality game skills,” Ferreira said. “I hope he helps the team win a lot of games, the Western Conference Championship and MLS Cup.”
