While Jesús Ferreira is one player, he is expected to open up an abundance of opportunities in the Sounders attack.
“His versatility, his finishing, his soccer knowledge and tactics are at a really high level, and his defensive work rate, all those things, I think, will be additive to the team,” said Scouting Director Sean Henderson.
Ferreira joins Sounders FC after spending eight seasons with FC Dallas as announced on Jan. 8. Along with his offensive prowess, the newest addition to the club comes in with the flexibility to play multiple positions.
“He can play up front as a striker in the one striker system, he can play as a part of a two striker system, and that helps just give the coaches versatility from game to game, or within a game to make changes,” said Henderson. “So that's the biggest thing. He can [also] play out wide and as the attacking center mid.”
His resourcefulness in multiple positions allows for a more expansive approach when it comes to making tactical decisions. In almost any formation or structure the coaching staff decides for a particular match, Ferreira has the ability to adapt and make an impact. This will be especially beneficial given the different types of opponents and competition the Sounders are set to face in the year ahead.
“He's been excellent and productive in each area,” said Director of Analytics Tyler Cox. “So he can offer creativity when he's a little bit deeper, he can offer goals when he's a little bit higher, he has a huge physical capacity, he's explosive and quick, and he has the good ability to receive in between the lines higher up the pitch.”
In its simplest form, his capacity to score is what drew the Sounders’ attention the most, according to Waibel. The Sounders have been one of the best teams in the league over the last four years in not giving up goals, but have been inconsistent when it came to finishing at a high rate.
Ferreira’s knack for goal and aptness to support his fellow teammates in the attack, no matter his role on the pitch, will help alleviate these previous circumstances.
“We think, especially with our other attackers, he'll work well in basically aiding Jordan \[Morris\] to be able to score even more this season, and offering another option for our creative wingers to play the ball in the box and to score himself,” said Cox.
