Few can appreciate the impact Javier Morales has on a team without seeing his day-to-day work on and off the field to prepare his 36-year-old body for the rigors of an MLS season. But on night’s like Saturday night – when he logged two goals and an assist as Real Salt Lake trounced the Chicago Fire 3-1 – his effect on the club is much more obvious. For his efforts on Saturday, Morales was named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week, making his first inclusion of the season.
“He’s been a special player for this team for a while now. A lot of people don’t see what he does off the camera and what he does for this club in the locker room and outside,” RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando said. “To have a performance like that today doesn’t surprise me one bit. There’s nobody that wants to win more. When we lose he’s so frustrated and when we win he gets so excited. When you saw us after the game, he was so excited for me and what we accomplished.”
Coming off of a three-year stretch that saw him score 25 goals and add 34 assists from 2013-2015, Morales hadn’t been putting up the numbers that had become expected given his existing body of work. Of late, he has found new life as he has tallied three goals and two assists in the last four matches.
That sudden statistical resurgence comes as no surprise to Head Coach Jeff Cassar.
“He’s taken care of his body unbelievable and his soccer IQ is just off the charts. He recognizes situations in games and where to be. I don’t see him slowing down at all,” he said. “I see him getting smarter, more efficient and taking care of his body and I just love where he’s at right now.”
Joining Morales on Team of the Week were goalkeeper Evan Bush (Montreal Impact); defenders Marc Burch (Colorado Rapids), Maxime Chanot (New York City FC) and Drew Moor (Toronto FC); midfielders Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC) and Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers); and forwards Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC) and Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC).
After earning his 181st career victory, breaking the previous record held by Kevin Hartman, Nick Rimando was named to the bench this week.
For more on the Week 22 Team of the Week, click here.
Team of the Week
Week 1: Juan Manuel Martinez
Week 2: Sunday Stephen
Week 5: Aaron Maund, Joao Plata
Week 7: Nick Rimando, Demar Phillips
Week 9: Jordan Allen
Week 12: Justen Glad
Week 14: Yura Movsisyan
Week 15: Juan Manuel Martinez
Week 18: Demar Phillips
Week 19: Aaron Maund
Week 21: Joao Plata
Week 22: Javier Morales
