FRISCO, Texas — It was an intense Wednesday practice for FC Dallas as the team geared up for its matchup against the Houston Dynamo.
Players were going all in for 50-50 balls and sprinting at full speed in drills. Oscar Pareja was more animated than normal, emphasizing the team to work harder. Even young Thomas Roberts, an academy player who was playing with the first team, was subject to a physical battle for the ball with Kellyn Acosta.
One of the standouts in the training session, noted by Pareja, was Jacori Hayes.
“In today’s training, the best of all of them was Jacori,” Pareja said. “It’s a competition mode they are in. I think the youngsters as well, they learn that they need to earn their minutes in the field on the training ground. I’m very content to see Victor [Ulloa] and Carlos [Gruezo] do the job, but at the same time seeing Jacori, especially, and Kellyn getting in that mode also. With Jacori, I’m very happy. Jacori just gives us the opportunity to see different things, and when we need him, I know he is ready to respond.”
One of the impressive plays in practice by Hayes was a full-on sprint from the defensive third to the offensive one, catching up to a player who had a head start and stopping the attack by dispossessing the ball in the drill.
“A couple days before the game, this is our peak training session, the hardest one of the week,” Hayes said. “The most intense. We did a lot of transition drills. It may be not in volume a lot of running, but when you’re going, you’re dead sprinting as fast as you can. There are times where you closing your eyes, you’re just running as hard as you can, just trying to get back to your spot. You try to match that intensity in the game, and for as long as possible but it was definitely an intense practice.”
Hayes earned a starting role at the beginning of the season, taking advantage of the opportunity given to him when Acosta needed hernia surgery. He started the first seven matches of the Major League Soccer season, scoring the game-winner in FCD’s 1-0 road win over New England April 14 and providing a calm, defensive presence that allowed Gruezo the liberty to push higher up the pitch.
The 3-1 loss against New York City FC April 29 saw Hayes make an early exit, and he has struggled to find time on the pitch since. In the last 12 matches, Hayes started two and came off the bench five times. He was an unused substitute in the last four games.
Ulloa’s play has pushed Hayes down the pecking order. Ulloa, who is on the verge of making his 100th MLS start, has paired with Gruezo to provide stability in the midfield. The competition continues to be tough for all parties, and it showed in Wednesday’s practice.
“It’s tough,” Hayes said. “I said that earlier in the year when I was starting. It’s a tough midfield, a bunch of guys that are starting-level center mids. It’s whoever puts the best effort in the week is rewarded on the weekend. It’s nice to have that competition because we’re all pushing each other to get to that next level.”
Hayes is not getting down, even though he isn’t playing. The setback is making him push harder to get better.
“Yeah,” Hayes said when asked if the midfield battle was helping him progress as a player. “Especially mentally. It’s tough not playing. You gotta humble yourself and continue to work hard, do the things that got you there in the first place. You can’t feel bad about yourself. You’re here for a reason and you gotta keep working and wait for your opportunity. When it comes, you try and seize it.”