RENTON – The international break is over, and the Seattle Sounders are preparing for their stretch run in league play. That run starts with a repeat of their Leagues Cup semifinal and final matches, this time hosting an LA Galaxy side and then heading out on the road to play Inter Miami. Their next two opponents find themselves in very different circumstances, but both have particularly strong motivations to exact some revenge against the Sounders.
First on the docket is their home match against the Galaxy, who are all but eliminated from playoff contention as they sit in last place in the West with 20 points from 28 games. Against the Houston Dynamo last weekend the Galaxy started a heavily rotated lineup, and this weekend they’ll almost certainly turn to their depth again as they navigate numerous absences due to injuries and a yellow card accumulation suspension for Gabriel Pec, as well as aiming to see just what they’ve really got in young players like Harbor Miller.
“Even though their season is maybe over, it's our season for us to take,” said Alex Roldan after training. "So those games, we can't take lightly. Especially, you know, when they have nothing to lose, they come out a little bit stronger. There's players eager to showcase what they have to offer in their team. So, new players will come in and we’ve got to adapt to that and hopefully put in a good performance."
That unpredictability of a team with nothing to lose, and players that Seattle likely won’t have much tape on, can pose a particular challenge. But it’s still a Galaxy team that the Sounders have already played twice in just over a month and beat by a combined score of 6-0 in two games on the road.
“Luckily for us this year we’ve had good results against [them],” explained Roldan. “And so just trying to do the same thing, replicate those same performances. I think we came out with energy in both performances against the Galaxy, and so here at home is no different. We need to come out on the front foot, first 15 minutes, let them know that we’re here to go out there and perform. And I think if we jump on them early, it’ll be a good game for us."
The Sounders haven’t always been their sharpest coming out of an international window, and with the Leagues Cup final victory there’s bound to be something of a let off, but Roldan suggests that the team is ready to go.
“The team is focused on the objective, which is to basically to turn the page. We're excited, we're happy with the title, and now it's time to go back to work, and we have another objective that comes with the rest of the season and MLS Cup coming around the corner.” That all starts with the match on Saturday.
A well-earned reward
Cristian Roldan wasn’t out at training on Thursday following his call into the USMNT, where he made a substitute appearance against South Korea followed by a start against Japan, in which he played the full 90 minutes as the US won 2-0. That didn’t keep him from being a topic of discussion, though. “He deserved this call,” said Alex Roldan of his brother’s USMNT nod. “He’s been playing amazing for the last eight months here.”
Playing for Mauricio Pochettino’s US side, Cristian Roldan was able to showcase much of what has made him an integral part of this Sounders team and one of the league’s best central midfielders. “The way he cleans up things in the middle, you can’t replicate it sometimes with other players. And so he’s one of a kind,” Alex Roldan described. “And so he’s one of a kind, and I think he’s very deserving of this opportunity. I think he put in a good performance, too. Not to say that he just deserves to be called up. He deserved a spot in there, and it showed with his play, and I think he’s going to build on that and hopefully get more opportunities."
Injury updates
No specific updates were shared regarding anyone’s availability, but Jordan Morris and Albert Rusnak were both involved in 11-v-11 scrimmages at training on Thursday. Head coach Brian Schmetzer has indicated that Rusnak will be involved against the Galaxy, but Morris and João Paulo may be a little further from returning on the field.
Pedro de la Vega spent at least part of training doing individual drills on the side. Schmetzer has said that de la Vega is managing some tendinitis in his knee, which has likely kept him from being able to play a full 90 minutes or start multiple times in a week. He may still be able to start this weekend, but we’ll know more on Friday.
