Photo by David Bernal/ISIPhotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

TORONTO – Dax McCarty's development is one of the key reasons why FC Dallas is preparing for MLS Cup. With an impressive work rate on defense as well as skill going forward, McCarty has matured into the perfect partner for David Ferreira and Daniel Hernandez in the Dallas midfield.

However, McCarty could have very well been watching the match in another city after getting off to a rocky start with head coach Schellas Hyndman during the start of his tenure in Dallas. When Hyndman took over in 2008, the two clashed from the outset, and the disagreement nearly led to McCarty being dispatched from Dallas. One win away from capturing the cup, McCarty admits that his brief run-in with Hyndman was vital in his development.

“I was a bit immature in my mindset in how I approached the game, and with Schellas being a newer coach, we just got off on the wrong foot," McCarty said. "Full credit goes to him, because he told me that 'We want you here, and we want you to win a spot here and help you contribute to be part of a successful FC Dallas program.' I felt that that helped me grow as a player and shaped me into the professional that I am now.”

In the early days of Hyndman's tenure with FC Dallas it looked as though the pair would never reach such heights together. McCarty and Hyndman butted heads after the midfielder reported late to preseason in 2009 and subsequent injuries buried McCarty in the depth chart. The disagreement escalated to a point that the midfielder was nearly traded away from Dallas.

During the preseason, though, McCarty and Hyndman were able to meet and resolve their differences to keep the midfielder in Red and White. Since then, McCarty has battled through injury to become a consistent starter for Hyndman. Ahead of the biggest game in the careers of both player and coach, Hyndman was candid about his past with McCarty. 

"A lot of it was maturity on Dax's part, and if you ask him, he made some mistakes, and I made some mistakes," Hyndman said. "I was new on the job, so it may have been maturity on my part, and I knew what I needed from my players. He was a young-enough player that I thought he would adjust. He wanted to be somewhere else, and I wanted him to be somewhere else and as fates would turn out, we both stuck together."

McCarty has become a key cog in a Dallas team that is on cusp of capturing its first MLS championship. During FCD's impressive run during the season, McCarty covered significant ground on both sides of the pitch. He played an integral role in shutting down the Los Angeles Galaxy in order to help FCD punch its ticket to Toronto.

Against the Rapids, McCarty will need to bring his trademark work rate for FC Dallas to come out on top. A significant portion of the Colorado game plan will center around shutting down Ferreira and restricting his ability to connect with the flanks. However, paying too much attention to Ferreira would allow McCarty to exploit gaps in the defense and move forward.

"We've had this 'Us-Against-The-World' mentality, which has made us successful this year, but we know it's not going to be easy," McCarty said. "We've drawn with Colorado both times and they have many ways that they can hurt you, and no disrespect to Salt Lake or the Galaxy, but this is going to be the toughest match that we've played all year."

Ahead of the final, and with all the drama in the past, McCarty has one goal in mind: Re-paying FC Dallas for its loyalty by delivering the first MLS Cup trophy to Frisco.

"Obviously with the loyalty that Dallas has shown in me and keeping me around and them having such faith in me, it feels fantastic to be close to winning FC Dallas’ first championship," McCarty said. "It’s been a journey that I wouldn’t forget with its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world."