FRISCO, Texas — The sting of Friday’s blowout loss to D.C. United can still be felt throughout the FC Dallas locker room.
But there’s some pain relief at least in the way new striker Blas Pérez continues to play for his new club. He struck the team’s lone goal in the 4-1 loss at RFK Stadium last Friday and the hope is that there are many more to come.
Pérez has two goals and two assists in his first four games since joining the club from Mexican club Tigres UANL during the offseason.
WATCH:Pérez pounces on D.C. miscue
“I'm happy for the two goals,” he said. “I was called here to be the man of goals, but I won’t always have the opportunity, I'm working hard to keep scoring, to be always in front of the goal, looking for opportunities.
"Physically, I'm good and improving every day. My performance is ascending just like the team, but we have to rise more to the level. We are a little beaten because of the two loses. We need to keep improving.”
Pérez scored in the 41st minute of the loss, pouncing on a D.C. United turnover near midfield and making quick work of a shot from the top of the box. It was all downhill from there, however, as D.C. scored three unanswered goals and handed Dallas their second consecutive defeat.
“Their defense was a little vulnerable, but they improved when they scored the goals,” Pérez said. “They were improving and getting stronger and tried to not complicate the game.”
Pérez and FC Dallas face a short turnaround this week ahead of a matchup against the New England Revolution on Thursday (8:30 pm ET, watch on MLS LIVE). But he believes that the club’s return to FC Dallas Stadium should offer a boost, and a potential return to the team’s winning ways.
“It’s a short week for [New England] with fewer days to recover, and we have the advantage to play at home with the support of our fans,” Pérez said. “We have to add three points. Supporters always want the team to win, obviously we want to win.
"We have to demand that from ourselves, and this Thursday is a chance for us against New England. Hopefully, we can play without any mistakes and add three points so our fans can go home happy.”
