VANCOUVER, B.C. – Almost every team has someone that opposing fans, and sometimes even the players themselves, love to hate: the villain.
They always seems to score against your team, are a constant thorn in your side and ruffle more than a few feathers along the way with their style of play. For the Vancouver Whitecaps, Blas Perez was one such player with FC Dallas.
Oh, how things have changed: The Panamanian striker is now a member of the Whitecaps after a trade announced Tuesday with Dallas that sent veteran midfielder Mauro Rosales the other way.
After weeks of speculation, Perez's acquisition bolsters Carl Robinson's attack and gives the 'Caps head coach the big target striker he's been seeking for a couple of years now. As for that past history between Perez and the Whitecaps, Robinson bore it in mind, but feels it will soon be forgotten when the striker starts performing for his new team on the pitch.
"When I look at players, and I try and identify players, to help the squad get better, not just in the short term but in the medium and long term, I try and put my neutral hat on," Robinson said of his latest signing. "My neutral hat is, have they played in the league before and what have they done?
"Do I take notice of it? Yes I do. Of course I do, because you have to. But is it going to be a big concern for me? No, because I'm sure if Blas comes in and helps up win games of football, that's what it's about at the end of the day."
It's the same mantra that Perez is espousing, and the 34-year-old said he is genuinely excited to come to Vancouver to be part of Robinson’s "project.”
He's keen to put any past issues with the Whitecaps behind him, with his sole focus on helping his new side lift their first MLS Cup by battling fellow strikers Octavio Rivero and Masato Kudo for a starting spot.
"That all happened in the past," Perez told reporters through a translator on Tuesday when asked about his history with the club. "We don't really think about that any more. You got to move forward. This opportunity presented itself, so I needed to take it.
"As a professional, what happens in the past happens in the past. And what happens on the field stays on the field. After the game is done, we're all brothers, friends, family, and now that I'm here at this club, it's my opportunity to repay the confidence the club has shown in me and just work hard. Everyone's been really welcoming."
Perez's clashes with the Whitecaps’ defense have been almost legendary at times these past few seasons. Players like Jordan Harvey and David Ousted have had more than their share of physical and verbal battles with the big Panamanian, but the 'Caps keeper has already put their past tussles behind them.
"Throughout your career you're going to play against players that you absolutely hate on the field," Ousted told reporters at Whitecaps training. "You hate playing against, and they haunt you, and then you end up being teammates with them and you find out how nice of a guy they are. Same with Blas.
"He's a nice guy, and coming in he's only been all smiles and ready to work. I'm still going to scream at him, a lot, like I do with all the guys, but this time he's going to be on my team. So hopefully he's going to haunt someone else."
