During the summer before home games, Real Salt Lake hosts a Fan Forum where the public can come watch practice and then stay afterwards for a special Q&A with one RSL player. Today’s Fan Forum was the last of the season and fans were lucky to spend a few minutes getting to know Javier Morales.
Javi was signed from UD Vecindario in August of 2007. He has gone on to be a central figure and playmaker for RSL. Morales had one of the best seasons of his illustrious MLS career in 2013, setting a new career high with eight regular season goals and notching the second-highest assist total of his career with 10 helpers.
Morales was critical in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 2013 postseason run, playing and starting in all five playoff matches and scoring one goal and registering three assists. The Argentine playmaker notched an assist in RSL’s 2-0 win over LA Galaxy in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals and provided one goal and two assists in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 4-2 win over Portland Timbers in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship series.
Here are his answers to your questions from the Friday Fan Forum:
- Yeah we are ready. We trained today. Tomorrow we need 3 points.
- Before the game I try to rest a lot at home and eat well. I eat a lot of vegetables.
- Santi (his son) always wins. I let him win. I try to play with him at home a lot. He is going to a club so I’m happy for him.
- I like playing against big teams like Galaxy or New York. They have big players and it’s always good to play against them. I think they are the best.
- I like pasta. No, I love pasta. I think fettuccini alfredo is my favorite.
- I like both jerseys. But I think I like the white one just a little bit more than the red one.
- I’m from Argentina so of course I like Messi.
- I hope to score 10 or more goals this year. You know, I’m pretty close. I have 7 so I need 3 or 4 more. I think I could do that.
- I think [FC Dallas] is playing good, you know. The last time we were there we didn’t play well. So, tomorrow is a big opportunity for us to play against them and do well, play good soccer. I think if we can keep the ball in the midfield, then that will be the key of the game.
- When I was 5; that was my first year playing soccer.
- I like to watch my kids play. I like to play with them. I like to play tennis. I go to the cinema and go and watch movies.
- The cheering [from the crowd] helps a lot. It is very important for us. Especially when we are tired and we need something extra. You see the crowd standing up and that is huge for us.
- I have a lot of favorite movies. I think my favorite movie Braveheart.
- I want to play a couple more years before I decide if I go back to Argentina or not.
- Sometimes I drink mate. Especially when friends or family come from Argentina to visit us. You know like right now my parents-in-law are at home and they drink a lot of mate so we drink with them.
- My favorite color is blue!
- I’m 34. I know I look 27 but I’m 34.
- So, because I’m 34 I need to take a nap. I need to take nap before every game to be 100%.
- It is a long season. We go up and down a couple times. But I think we are in the right spot now. The playoffs are the most important thing of the season. I think if we can get there with everyone in good shape and staying healthy that it will be huge for us.
