FRISCO - It’s a meeting Javier Morales has had on his mind since joining FC Dallas in late December. After 10 seasons as a prominent face of the Real Salt Lake franchise, the Maestro is set to make his triumphant return home on Saturday night.
“It’s going to be special,” Morales said with a palpable excitement after training Wednesday. “It’s going to be my first time playing against my former team and everything is going to be new, so I don’t know what to expect, but for sure it’s going to be emotional.”
RSL’s franchise leader in assists and second in goals scored, Morales went through an unceremonious and heartbreaking exit from his only MLS home this offseason as the club opted to move on from their veteran midfielder.
Enter FC Dallas, a club looking for the exact skill set Morales offers ahead of the 2017 season. It was a self-described perfect match for the two sides and now, it's the first meeting of the full love triangle - the two MLS teams Morales has ever known.
“When you feel loved by a community and a team like he has been, just going back to the place brings a lot of memories and feelings,” head coach Oscar Pareja said. “It’s unavoidable to feel something, especially in those games when you have served a team for that many years. It just creates a different emotion…Sometimes it’s strange, but it’s a beautiful one.”
A New Beginning
It’s never easy leaving your home for the last decade, but Morales’ move to Dallas has been one easier than most. In a system that fits his style and a locker room with many fellow Argentines and Latin players.
"It’s great because the guys, not just the Argentine guys, treat me great - even the front office, the coaches, media, everyone around here is nice to me," he said. "It’s a young team and the coaches work a little different that what we worked in Salt Lake, so I had to adapt to the team, to my teammates, to a new system. I’m working hard to try to be on the same level."
The veteran provides a youthful Dallas roster with leadership and experience, both on and off the field. Filling in for the injured Mauro Diaz in Pareja’s 4-2-3-1 look, the veteran is adapting into the club’s No. 10 role despite a few small hiccups to start the year.
After dealing with minor injuries early in preseason, Morales made his first start in MLS play against Minnesota on April 8, scoring the match’s opening goal with a veteran touch on a difficult ball in front. Fully healthy now, he’s started the last two matches for his new club in a familiar formation.
“He’s incredible. I had a lot of respect for him before and I’ve always wanted to have somebody like him in the team - somebody that is always thinking collectively and someone who is committed with the game that much," Pareja said. "The way he takes care, it’s a good example for the youngsters, always in a good mood and always giving his ideas within the field or off the field, and that for a coach is priceless.”
While his return will be filled with emotions, in-between the whistles Morales is focused solely on getting three points.
“They’ve lost the last two games. They’re playing at home, so they need to win. I played there for a long time - everyone is talking about the altitude and for the first 15-20 minutes it’s going to be tough because they push hard and try to find a goal. We have to be smart and try to play a long game and with group, I think we can beat them.”
“I know Javi enough already to see him so devoted and thinking about us,” Pareja said. “He doesn’t think about anything but the team. I think he will separate those two feelings a lot, easier than many other players.”
Possibly the Last
At 37 years old, Morales realizes that he's nearing the end of his illustrious career. He came to Dallas for one last opportunity at CONCACAF Champions League, at MLS Cup and at playing meaningful minutes for a contending side.
This weekend’s trip is Dallas' only trip to Utah this year, and Morales said he is well aware it could be his last.
“I spent a lot of time playing there and it could be my last time playing at Rio Tinto,” Morales said. “In this time of my career, I have a couple years left, or maybe a year - you try to enjoy every game and this one is going to be special because it’s going to be against Real Salt Lake.
“When you start to get older or reach the end of your career, you try to enjoy the little things like training, games, traveling because you’re going to miss that. I have been doing this since day one and my thought is you never what to end this career, but it’s going to happen. So you have to be ready, but in the meanwhile, you have to enjoy the time here.”
One of the ways he's enjoying the little things is by sharing his love with his family. His two sons, ages 5 and 10, are regulars in the FC Dallas locker room, and even get some time with the head man himself while dad is away practicing.
“They know everything and they’re going to remember this forever,” he said smiling. “That is why I try to spend time with them in the locker room and on the field. I’m very happy to spend my last couple playing years with them.”
Until that day comes, however, he'll leave it all on the field for his new club. Even if it's against his one-time home.
Morales and FC Dallas return to face Real Salt Lake at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. You can catch all the action on TXA 21 or on FCDallas.com.
