FC Dallas star midfielder and reigning MLS MVP David Ferreira came into the 2011 season with high hopes for both himself and the club. But on April 23 in a match at the Vancouver Whitecaps, injury struck. Ferreira has been sidelined for almost four months as he recovers, but last week returned to the sidelines at training to begin his rehabilitation process.
FCDallas.com sat down for an exclusive interview with the star as he works to return to the playing field.
FCDallas.com: David, it’s been almost four months since your injury in Vancouver. First of all, how are you?
David Ferreira: I’m good because the recovery is going very well, and I’m glad because the team is doing well too. The results have been important for us, and I’m very happy about what is happening and hope to help the team do even more.
FCDallas.com: Last year you were the MLS MVP. How hard was it to accept this new challenge, far from what you expected the 2011 season to be like?
Ferreira: The injury has left me out for a long time, but what comes out of it is an important challenge. This is the first time that I have had a serious injury, and for me it is an important challenge because every day that passes I must try my best to recover and as soon as possible, because I’m only thinking of coming back. I imagine many things, and God willing when I’m back, I will do them with confidence to accomplish the things I have in mind.
Click here to read a Spanish version of this exclusive Q&A with David Ferreira.
FCDallas.com: Let’s talk about how you’ve been working to get back on the field. Can you tell us a little about your daily routine while you’ve been out?
Ferreira: At the beginning it was very difficult because I had never spent so much time off the field. It was not easy to adjust at the beginning. It was about a month and a half that were very tough for me, I didn’t even want to eat, but thanks to the support of my family and the people who love me, they gave me encouragement and strength to move forward.
Every day when I wake up I do it with more desire to get back on the field and to prepare myself for my return. The therapies I have done have been pretty good. I have to thank Josh Watts [FC Dallas head athletic trainer] for helping me with the therapies and also Michael Johnson [Performance Center]. In those times when the team was away, Josh was there with me. My recuperation has been very good and my foot has gotten a lot better, and God willing with every day that passes I can get better and get prepared to come back soon.
FCDallas.com: FC Dallas is a close-knit team. How hard has it been to be away from the team?
Ferreira: It has been quite difficult. It’s the first time that I have spent much time out, but from the outside I pray a lot for my teammates for things to work out well. And I think so far the team has performed very well and have done well individually, and it shows on the field.
I’m happy for the season the team is having. They’ve had many games in a row but they have responded well to the expectation, and that makes me very happy. That gives me a lot of strength and courage to continue to prepare because we still have a lot to do to reach our goals, and I hope I'm ready soon to help the group and continue what they have been doing.
FCDallas.com: FC Dallas is only a few points back from LA for the lead in the Supporters Shield race. Were you worried about how the team would do while you were out? And although it’s hard to watch them play from the sidelines, how rewarding has it been to see them doing well?
Ferreira: I was worried about what had happened to me, for the experience I was going through. At that time many things crossed through my mind: that I was not going to play this season, or that I was not going to play anymore. It was a very difficult time, but at the same time I felt very sad because this year I had many expectations, with many positive things in my mind, trying to repeat things I had achieved in 2010, but because of the injury I spent much of my time away from the field.
I was also quite sad because I was going to leave my teammates. I would not be sharing with them all those difficult and enjoyable times they would experience, but I’m glad they could replace my absence and that they are on the right track. It is a compact team with a very solid defense and they have accomplished the results they need, so that makes me happy and hopefully I can return soon and put my two cents in to make a stronger team.
FCDallas.com: Did you see Fabian Castillo’s goal celebration when he held up your jersey in tribute? What did that mean to you?
Ferreira: Well, it was a pretty exciting moment, a moment that I will never forget because at that time I was very sad, and when he scored the goal and showed my shirt I got goose bumps. It was exciting. I am grateful to all the support they gave me at the time because it was not easy to adjust to this. It was pretty difficult.
But as I said before, thank God and the support of my family, my friends, and the people who called me to give me enough strength. I had to find strength because I knew I was going to spend much time off the field, and their support gave me more encouragement to return even stronger, and that's what I'm doing. I’m preparing myself to be stronger mentally, trying to prepare my leg and foot so that when I return I will be 100 percent and I won’t have any fear.
All of the therapies I've done have been very good and we're on the right track, but hopefully from now on things will improve a lot and I can return. That’s what I want most, to be getting up and training every morning. I really miss the soccer ball. I tell my family that the day I return to play again with the team I will not sleep, because I will be dreaming and imagining the things I will do on the field. Hopefully that day comes soon.
FCDallas.com: How anxious are you to get back on the playing field? What have you missed the most while you’ve been out?
Ferreira: I feel like when I played my first professional game. I am very anxious. Sometimes I want to run, but now is not the time. What this team is doing is excellent, and in my head I imagine that I will score the winning goal for the MLS title. Hopefully all this imagination and enthusiasm that I have will be reflected on the day I play again, and it will be like I imagined. It doesn’t cost anything to dream, but I have faith that I will come back stronger. Hopefully I will return soon to do what I love most. But I also know that I have to be patient and not despair. The most important thing is that I can recover 100 percent and be able to return to the field and help the team.
FCDallas.com: Fans have been anxious to hear from you during this time. Any message you’d like to send to FC Dallas fans?
Ferreira: Well, thank you for the support at the time when I had the injury. I think they prayed a lot for my recovery. Also, I want to thank them for the support they have given the team, because that has been really important to them.
I am trying to recover as soon as possible, but more important is that when I do come back, I will come back very strong, and for that I know I have to be patient. I hope that the fans will continue to support the team, because with their support the team will go far. It’s very important that every Saturday or Sunday the team feels supported on the field, and hopefully this year we can give them the gift they have always wanted – a title.
