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Actually, he’s their best player.

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Morales’ performance Saturday and eagerness to embrace whatever role he is given is positive on numerous levels.

As the Whitecaps’ captain, he is leading by example. No one is above the team. Everyone works.

He is supporting his coach and allowing Mezquida, Morales, Laba, Techera and Christian Bolanos on the field together.

He is contributing to offensive flow and cohesiveness that was missing for most of March and April.

And despite his deeper deployment, Morales was still extremely effective and involved on Saturday, registering a team-high 87 touches while completing 92.1 per cent of his passes, which included a 60-yard switch across the field to Harvey that had the velocity and trajectory of a Stinger missile.

The 60 yards Morales covered on foot in the 86th minute was even more impressive because we’re accustomed to the Stingers.

“It means a lot for the guys to see their captain track back 60 yards to nick the ball,” Ousted said. “That’s what he needs to do and that’s what everybody needs to do. This is the benchmark for how hard we should work every single game. There’s no free rides on this team, no one who can sit back and relax and let others do the job.”

In his improving English, Morales sounded Monday like a captain.

“You have to do this,” he said of his effort against the Timbers. “You have to do for your team. Not just me, the whole team has to work hard every game, every training.

“Before, I never play this position. Always the No. 10 or at Malaga (in Spain’s La Liga) right or left (midfield). But always, I look at this position and I see those players. I like this position. I feel comfortable with the ball.”