Real Salt Lake: Recovery begins for fallen star Javier Morales

MORALES: It was surprising and made me laugh. Just a few days earlier I scored an important goal in the first leg of the CONCACAF final and no one heard about it. Now that I broke my ankle, people who I had not spoken to for a long time, were calling me. The news was everywhere, with commentary on the radio, TV. ... But, well, you know that these things sell more.

But yes, everyone was very overwhelmed and I talked to friends and colleagues who I hadn't seen for some time. I was very overwhelmed by all this, and very grateful. Aside from the bad time I'm going through, the amazing response comforts me and helps me to keep on going.

DN: Is that, perhaps, the most positive part of everything that has happened, the amount of support received?

MORALES: Sure, I'm still very surprised by what happened this past Saturday, with the large banners and signs of support. I saw it with my wife on television and I have no words to thank the many people who have shown me their support. I am very surprised and touched by it.

I did not expect it, because it is not something one seeks, and I have no way to thank them. The only thing I could do is thank the public through Internet, social networks Facebook and Twitter. It is one of the most beautiful things that has happened to me in football.

DN: Now, what are your expectations?

MORALES: "The recovery time is four to five months. I even asked if I could cut it down, but the doctor told me that is the minimum. I've been doing some counting, and hope to be back for two or three games before the end of the regular season, and try to play playoffs.

The truth is that I had high expectations for this year, and within a week we lost the CONCACAF final. At the time I was really thinking about whether to continue playing or not. Something like this makes you come back to reality. With what happened to me I have forgotten about the final, but I know that the team was more affected by the defeat of the final than my injury.

DN: Finally, what possibilities do you think the team has without you?

MORALES: It's a bit like what happened to me in Argentina. A few months ago I was nominated to be the MVP of the league. The difference between Morales and Ferreira pointed that the RSL did not depend on Morales because it was a team, a whole, while Dallas is more dependent on Ferreira.

I was very happy with those comments, and I also believe it's true. But, I don't agree with them now stating otherwise, that RSL is no longer a good team, but still one of the favorites. I think the team is more impacted by losing the CONCACAF final than for my injury, and I think that in three or four matches they will be recovered."