In moments on Saturday, Real Salt Lake showed the prowess that had the coaching staff excited during preseason about the progress and prospect of the club’s new 4-3-3 formation.
That was due in large part to the midfield playmaker, Javier Morales.
“He can kind of drift around and find the game, and you still have somebody else in that area defensively to help out as well,” RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar said after the match. “He’s able to get on the ball more. That’s why we tried to change formations – to suit some people’s strengths.”
Cassar will point to players all over the field who find themselves in more optimum positions to capitalize on their individual talents, but anytime Morales can get 109 touches on the ball, as he did on Saturday against the Union, good things will generally come of it for RSL.
He set the tone for his teammates in the attack and in the home opener he set up five quality chances. Some of that comes from a freer role than he had while in the four-man, diamond-shaped midfield employed previously by RSL.
“Sometimes I need to stay more deep because everybody’s going forward. We are working and we’re still working, but I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Morales said. “It’s pretty good if we play it the right way. I like it a lot. But we can play like crazy like today with everyone going forward. We need that balance and when we find that balance, in the middle especially, we’re going to be good.”
With one goal and one assist – both off of free kicks – he also showed off his deft ability to impact the game when it is at a standstill, as well.
“Javier’s service was fantastic, and I felt like the runs that we made in the box were good,” Cassar said after the match on Saturday. “It’s definitely an area where we want to get better and better, but we scored on a free kick today, dangerous on others, so I’m pleased with our set plays.”
Last season, Morales had nine goals and 12 assists, career-best numbers at 34 years old. Now in a formation that many argue suits him better, the sky is the limit for RSL’s longtime maestro.
