Going into the spring, FC Dallas manager Eric Quill called the club's schedule a gauntlet. Part of that was due to how the month of April put the team on the road for three of four matches. The other part was how busy the month of May would end up being. FC Dallas had eight total matches across MLS and US Open Cup play to contend with during that time.
While FC Dallas managed to survive the April portion of the gauntlet, May was a different story. The club only won one match in the US Open Cup play, while going winless across six league matches (0-3-3 record).
“Looking back at the month of May, just how grueling the schedule was with travel and games in close proximity, we didn’t get the results that we wanted," said Quill. "But soccer is a tricky game sometimes. You can play really well and not get results. I feel like we‘re playing better than our results show. The guys feel that as well."
FC Dallas did wrap up May with two straight draws against FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union, two clubs that are at or near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
“I think there is a real understanding of we know we’re better than how we’re playing. I think we’re ready to relaunch and reset. We’ve had some honesty with the previous games and growth mindset. Hopefully that takes us into the next stage of where we’re supposed to be. But we need to start climbing and not settle for where we’re at this moment.”
Quill's club currently sits in 11th place in the Western Conference standings, with 18 matches to go on the season. Up next will be a tricky one for FC Dallas. The month of June only has three games, with the first coming up on the road this weekend in Kansas City.
The two sides last met on Matchday six in Frisco, with FC Dallas coming from behind in that match to win 2-1. Since then, Sporting has changed managers and saw a few decent results in recent weeks, including a 3-1 win at Houston two weeks ago.
“Kerry (Zavagnin) is a great coach, he was with Peter (Vermes) for a long time and knows that group very well,” stated Quill. “They maybe play with a little bit more freedom. They’re playing some good stuff and have had some good results.
Sporting sits one spot back from FC Dallas in the standings, with only two points separating the two squads.
FC Dallas will want to put their last visits to Kansas City behind them. Last year, Dallas had a double game week in Kansas City, that saw them lose back-to-back games in league and Open Cup play.
“This one is in Kansas City, one of the last places you want to play," said Quill. "Both teams backs are against the wall, so we have to go for it. They’re a quality side that we have to be prepared for and be the aggressors in their home.”
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Injury Update
Quill also offered up a bit of an injury report. The gaffer said that Leo Chu would finally be available for selection after being out for a couple of months. Paxton Pomykal will also be questionable this weekend with a knee bruise that has kept him out of the last two matches.
The last one to update is defender Osaze Urhoghide, who will still be out this weekend and likely for another couple of weeks according to Quill.
