FRISCO, Texas — When David Ferreira left Saturday’s game against Vancouver, it marked the most minutes he had missed in his two years in Major League Soccer. Now, FCD are preparing to lose him for more.
The 2010 MLS MVP suffered a double fracture on his right ankle and will be further evaluated by team medical staff after the swelling subsides.
“Athletics is always involved with some good moments and some bad moments,” FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman told media on Tuesday. “All players will get injured at some point in time. They can’t choose the time and they can’t choose the injury. For [Ferreira], it was very disappointing, but at the same time, we know he will be back.”
Hyndman added that the team’s medical staff will give the coaches a timeline and, when further information is gathered, the team would make a public statement.In 2010, Ferreira played every minute but one en route to the league MVP award. He also had a hand in 21 of FCD’s 41 goals last season, accounting for an eye-popping 51 percent of the team’s tallies.
Through the first five games of 2011, Ferreira leads FC Dallas in goals with three.
WATCH: Ferreira scores against Portland
Ferreira’s good friend and fellow midfielder Marvin Chavez expressed his disappointment in losing the team’s playmaker for an extended amount of time.
“We know the quality player that David is and how important he is to the club, but these things happen in soccer,” said Chávez. “We are very hurt about what happened to him and we hope that he will recover and return as soon as possible.”
Ferreira is the No. 10 for FC Dallas and encompasses every definition of the position: creative, savvy, quick decision-making, elusive and dangerous. In FCD's 4-1-4-1 formation, Ferreira is the energizer that pushes the offense forward. Hyndman went so far as to say when Ferreira doesn’t play well, Dallas don’t play that well either.
But the team will have to dig deep and continue, as the 2011 campaign is just six games deep.
“Players are going to have to step up,” said Hyndman, “This is a great opportunity for other players to play, for them to show their value, and for us to show our depth. If we want to find that success that we all want, we are going to have to raise our level as well.”
For FC Dallas to have success, Hyndman listed several players that may step in for Ferreira and what their presence in the starting XI could mean.
“Eric Alexander, Ricardo Villar and Bruno Guarda all can fit into that role, and there may be a situation of going into a different kind of system,” Hyndman said.
On Wednesday, FC Dallas will resume training at Pizza Hut Park after a 10-day road trip. The near future without Ferreira is one with which they will have to learn to cope.
