FRISCO — After giving a speech to congratulate his players for the victory in Vancouver, which clinched their playoff spot in the final game of the regular season, Eric Quill surprised his team.
From one of the pockets of his hoodie, the usually reserved FC Dallas coach, who keeps his emotions in check on the sidelines, pulled out a Modelo Especial beer and downed it in one go.
After that, everybody in the locker room went wild.
“I loved those moments. That’s what we work hard for. It’s something we all share, a passion for the game,” Quill said.
Sports Roundup
On Sunday, FC Dallas will return to Vancouver to play the first match of a best-of-three playoff series.
At one point in the season, it seemed likely that FC Dallas would miss the postseason for the second year in a row.
Related
“That would have been a disaster for this team,” said André Zanotta, FC Dallas Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director.
With their season teetering on the edge and no light visible at the end of the tunnel, a pivotal meeting at a San Jose hotel became the spark FC Dallas desperately needed.
On July 12, FCD suffered a deflating 2–0 loss on the road against LAFC. That same night, the team flew north to San Jose, where they were set to face the Earthquakes just three days later.
Emotionally shaken and sitting on a 5-10-6 record with only 21 points, FCD found itself well outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
Facing a critical crossroads, club leadership and the coaching staff convened an all-hands meeting. One that would change the course of their season.
The meeting quickly became a moment of raw honesty and unfiltered transparency.
Players, coaches, and executives spoke openly, laying bare their frustrations, fears, and hopes. Nothing was off-limits.
“I didn’t feel like we were a team that truly cared about each other”, Quill admitted. “We were just a group wearing the same jersey and training together, but there wasn’t genuine care. So in that meeting, I challenged my players.”
During that meeting, Quill asked his players to shift their mindset, to come together as a group and start believing in themselves.
“You have to care deeply about the guy next to you, and that takes effort. You’ve got to foster that. It has to truly come from the heart, and understand the power of it. And they accepted it.”
The turning point was immediate. FC Dallas drew 2–2 in San Jose, then went on a remarkable run with six wins, four draws, and just two losses.
FCD’s resurgence coincided with the departure of Argentine midfielder Luciano “Lucho” Acosta.
In early February, FCD shook up the MLS transfer market by signing Acosta in a cash-for-player trade from FC Cincinnati, reportedly worth $5 million plus bonuses, the largest cash-only deal in Major League Soccer history.
The signing of the 2023 MVP seemed to be the missing piece that would elevate FC Dallas to an elite level, but that didn’t happen.
In August, FCD announced Acosta’s departure to Fluminense in Brazil.
But the Argentine star never felt fully comfortable in Dallas, and his performance didn’t meet expectations.
Quill is aware of the narrative that the team’s turnaround coincided with Acosta’s exit, but the FCD coach prefers not to dwell on a player who’s no longer with the club.
“I’d rather focus on the effort made by the players we have, and on the additions we brought in to achieve our goal of making the playoffs,” Quill said.
One of the players who helped spark the impressive turnaround is Paxton Pomykal, who began his career in FCD’s youth academy back in 2014.
Pomykal suffered a season-ending knee injury in March 2024. He underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee.
After a long recovery, the midfielder is now in great physical shape and ready to help the club chase its first-ever MLS Cup.
“For the team to make playoffs, it gives me a little more game time and moments to help the team,” Pomykal said. “I’m really grateful for the effort the guys have put in, the amount of work they’ve done to put us in this position. And now that I’m healthy, I can contribute, and we can peak at the right time.”
The series against Vancouver will be a tough one, as the Canadian side finished second in the Western Conference with 63 points, a considerable gap over FCD’s 44 points.
“I always think Game One is the most important, because a win gives you the psychological edge and the confidence boost you need to believe you’re close to finishing them off,” said Quill.
The FCD coach is savoring the team’s current run of success, and he’s hoping the good times stretch deep into the postseason.
When asked if he’s already stocked a celebratory six-pack of Modelo Especial for potential playoff wins, he grinned and offered a measured response.
“It’ll be there. The trick is to enjoy just one, but it’ll be there.”
Find more FC Dallas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.