Interview provided in Spanish by MLS and translated by The Striker Texas senior writer Victor Araiza.
In his first season with Houston Dynamo FC, Sebastián Ferreira – a native of Asunción, Paraguay – arrived at the Texas team as the most expensive contract in the club's history and that motivates Ferreira to seek to be his best version.
Before his arrival at the Dynamo, Ferreira spent most of his career in his country where he wore the jerseys of Club Olimpia, Independiente FBC and Club Libertad. Ferreira participated in LIGA MX playing with Monarcas Morelia. The 24-year-old Ferreira has made eight appearances for the Dynamo in 2022, contributing three goals and providing one assist since his arrival.
The Houston Dynamo suffered a last minute loss to their bitter rival FC Dallas 2-1 last Saturday. Bearing that in mind, the game against Austin FC should be different, keeping in mind that Austin has not lost in five consecutive games and only once this season.
The club led by head coach, Brazilian Paulo Nagamura, is in eighth position in the Western Conference with three wins, two losses and three draws, accumulating 12 points. As Ferreira comments in the interview, thanks to the people who gave him the confidence to put him on the field of play, Ferreira works hard to give that confidence back to them.
Coming from Paraguay after years with Libertad, what attracted you to the league the most?
As I said when I arrived, it is a league that is growing very fast. I think that this league is already there, it no longer has much to envy what Europe is. Although players who stand out here go straight to Europe, that was what most attracted me to this league.
You have played a total of eight games since your arrival in the MLS, how have you felt, do you like the level of the league as much as the atmosphere in the club's locker room?
Yes, it is a very competitive league. Very dynamic. Well, I think I still haven't finished adapting from game to game. I think I'm growing a little more, I think that as the games go by, I'm adapting one hundred percent.
MLS
Sebastian Ferreira after scoring a brace against the San Jose Earthquakes, his first two MLS goals.
Paulo Nagamura was called to be the coach of the Dynamo this season, how has his influence been on your development here in MLS?
I spoke with him before arriving at the club. He already told me about his game idea before I got here, so I already had that in mind. When we arrived in the preseason, we worked a lot on what he wants. I think that, game by game, we are showing that on the field of play. I think that every game we are growing, and I think that is what we are showing on the field of play.
How has your relationship been playing alongside Fafa Picault and Darwin Quintero, two experienced players in the MLS, has your integration into the club been easy playing alongside them?
Yes, with them, yes, because I think it shows on the field of play, we look for each other a lot up there, so we throw good plays, good walls suddenly, several times they reach goals, sometimes it doesn't happen, but this is like this. I think we understand each other very well on the field of play. I think that helps the team a lot.
Houston Dynamo have had a winning streak of games this start of the season, including three goals from you. What are your aspirations – what will you try to accomplish this season and in your professional career?
Just like we had a good streak, I think we have to maintain that streak and improve at the group level. The first objective is to enter the playoff zone. I think we are on the right track, although some details need to be improved. I think that with the passing of the games, we are going to perfect that and, personally, always be the best. I think every forward proposes that, I proposed that, I'm working for that and I know it's not going to be easy at all, but I have to put in everything.
Next Saturday, Houston plays against Austin FC who are direct rivals in the state of Texas. What does this rivalry between Houston Dynamo and Austin FC mean?
Likewise, as all games are difficult, this one is not going to be the exception. So we know that Austin has been playing well and has been getting good results, but we have ours, we are going to try to leave the three points here at home. We are going to give our all with what the coach [Paulo Nagamura] asks of us with what we know there on the field, I think if things are done very well, we will leave the three points here.
Houston Dynamo / MLS
Sebastian Ferreira arrived as the "most expensive signing in club history."
At the beginning of the year, you were announced as the most expensive signing in the history of the club. Bearing that in mind, do you feel any pressure to produce goals quickly?
I think that instead of pressure, I take it as motivation, do you understand me? So I try to take that as an extra motivation to be able to give back to the people who gave me confidence there on the field of play. I think I'm doing a good job on a personal level, on a group level, I hope to continue growing to be able to repay the trust they gave me.
Lastly, what stands out the most from your time in MLS?
No, I think that the adaptation — I'm adapting quite quickly, I think — it's also a credit to my teammates who, since I arrived, made me feel at home quickly. I think it's not easy all of a sudden, but as I told you it helped me a lot, there was a good group here. I think that it is a nice family that we form here and from the first day, it has helped me a lot.