Cristian Roldan: This is ‘biggest game in Sounders history’

SEATTLE — The grass is down and has settled in over the past couple of weeks. It has been trimmed to the perfect length and mowed in the classic alternating pattern. FIFA signage has filled Lumen Field and the immediate area outside.

It’s very clear that the Club World Cup has now arrived, and with it the enormity of the opportunity.

For years, the Sounders have talked about aching for the opportunity to play the world’s biggest clubs in a real competition. This is that chance.

“It’s probably the biggest game in Sounders history,” Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan said following Saturday’s training session.

Roldan seems as good of a candidate as anyone to make that assessment, having helped the Sounders reach the finals of four MLS Cups and one Concacaf Champions League.

“This is one of those games we probably won’t see in a long time from a club standpoint,” he continued. “There are very few opportunities that we get to see these types of competitions. We owe it to the ourselves to show the world what we’re about.”

There’s no hiding that the Sounders enter Sunday’s match against reigning Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo at something less than their best. Not only did they lose their last two league games, but they’re also missing arguably their best scorer in Jordan Morris and best defender in Yeimar Gomez Andrade.

But they still have plenty of talent and experience. Of the Sounders’ starters from that 2022 CCL final, eight remain with the Sounders. Roldan is 1 of 5 who will likely start against Botafogo, which doesn’t even include Obed Vargas, who played 61 minutes off the bench in that title game.

This is a group that has played in plenty of big games. They are doing their best to simply embrace the opportunity.

“This is as big as it gets,” Vargas said. “This is definitely a different feeling, we’re so excited. I know for myself, I’m super pumped. I’ve already been dreaming about the games.

“This is a great opportunity for me, for my career going forward and I just want to take advantage of that.”

On top of the stage being what it is, the Sounders are also well aware that any chance they have of making noise in this tournament also requires that they win their opener. Not only does it set them up with a much easier task in their final two matches, but as good as Botafogo is, they are also the least intimidating of the Sounders’ three opponents.

“We need to come up with a great performance,” Roldan said. “This is a great opportunity in front of our fans. 

“This is probably the most important game for us to be able to come out here and have a good performance.”

Notes

• Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said Kim Kee-hee would start after getting through another full day of training.
• There will be a host of activities both before and during the game, starting with an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest soccer lesson at Pier 62.