RENTON — It’s not often that a team riding a five-game losing streak can feel as though they have some positive momentum, but that seems to be the feeling surrounding the Seattle Sounders right now as they return to league play following the Club World Cup.
Going pointless and posting a -5 goal-difference, the Sounders will finish near the bottom of the Club World Cup table. But who they lost to and how they lost is more front of mind. In three matches against Botafogo (the reigning Copa Libertadores winners), Atlético Madrid (a top 15 team in the world) and Paris Saint-Germain (the reigning UEFA Champions League winners), the Sounders never trailed by more than two goals, were only down by one at halftime of each game and remained competitive while sticking to their principles of play.
“We showcased that we can compete with these teams, some of the best teams in the world, and I’m just really proud of the group,” Sounders forward Jordan Morris said. “Obviously, the results didn’t go how we wanted them to, but we can take a lot away from it in terms of how we played and how we competed in the intensity that we played at. If we bring that back into the league season, I think we’re gonna accomplish a lot this year.
“We have such a good team, such a deep team, and if we get all of our pieces back together, and we we play like we did during that tournament, I think we’re gonna be really competitive this year. We’ll fight for trophies, which is our goal.”
If there is a danger, it’s that there will be an emotional letdown going from facing arguably the best team in the world to the eighth-best team in the MLS Western Conference.
Playing at home against some of the biggest teams in the world is likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Motivation takes care of itself. Playing the annual home fixture against Austin FC will require something else.
“A lot of it is going to come from within – within the group, within each other, and understanding that each of these games are massive,” Morris said. “At the end of the year, all these games add up, and we want to be hosting playoff games, we want to be in the position to try to host MLS Cup, things like that.
“We know that’s going to have to come within ourselves a little bit.”
Along those lines, Sounders coaches talked to the players about holding themselves accountable.
“We showed them some good highlights of what they’re capable of doing and the messaging was this is the new standard,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said. “We as coaches are going to hold them to the standard as both individuals and as a collective. We’ll keep beating that message into them and I’m sure they’re going to respond. It’s a talented, motivated group.”
Morris says he’s feeling fit
Morris returned from his latest injury setback in time to play about five minutes against PSG. Although he’s probably not yet fit enough to start, he said he came out of that game feeling good and confident he’ll be able to stay on the field.
“It’s been a frustrating year for me,” Morris said. “I’ve never really had re-injuries like this before, so mentally, it’s been pretty tough.
“But I feel like I’ve gotten past that mentally. I’m in a really good spot.”
Thin at centerback
Yeimar Gomez-Andrade and Kim Kee-hee have been ruled out for the Austin match. Stuart Hawkins is still weeks away from returning. Nouhou and Jon Bell are suspended due to red cards in the final league game before the Club World Cup. Even Leo Burney, who would require a short-term loan anyway, is out with an injury.
That leaves Jackson Ragen as the only healthy and available natural centerback for this weekend.
Asked how he’s managing that situation, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said “carefully.”
Alex Roldan was getting reps at centerback on Thursday, but Schmetzer said he was confident Cody Baker could fill the role if needed as well.
Facing Brandon Vazquez, the Sounders will have their hands full.
“It’s tough,” Schmetzer said. “We’ll be under it, but I have confidence in whoever I put out there.”
