RENTON — By most metrics, Paul Rothrock is well on his way to having the most productive season of his professional career. With a bit over 1,000 minutes played across all competitions, the 27-year-old has six goals and an assist. Coming off an offseason in which he signed his first big contract, it seems fair to say he’s at least living up to expectations.
But Rothrock has always held himself to a different standard and doesn’t quite see it that way.
“I’m still not really satisfied with how this season has gone so far,” Rothrock told reporters following Friday’s training session. “If I’m honest, I haven’t come away from a game feeling like I had a great game. There’s still a lot of room for growth for me.”
Rothrock specifically called out both his and his teammates’ performances against the Galaxy.
"We learned some things from that game and it’s not fun when you’re learning things and losing points that you feel like you should be earning," he said. "I think this last weekend was a slice of humble pie for us.
"We were not good against the Galaxy. I think each and every one of us can put our hands up in some different moments. I had moments were I needed to be better; that cost us."
In Rothrock’s mind, the upcoming World Cup break is a unique opportunity to grow in the middle of a season with lots of training sessions and no games for eight weeks.
“Depending on how you play it, you can come out of that break in even better shape,” Rothrock said. “I’m looking at an opportunity to add some tools to my toolbox.
“I’m probably on track for a better year, but I still have high expectations for myself.”
Before that break, however, Rothrock is well aware that the Sounders have some important business to take care of on Sunday when they visit LAFC. Although LAFC are currently on a four-game losing streak and in a stretch in which they’ve won just twice in 11 games as they’ve slipped down to seventh in the Western Conference, they still have one of the most talented rosters in the league.
Rothrock, for instance, will be matched up against David Martinez, a 20-year-old forward who already has nine goals across all competitions this year.
“I’m excited about it,” Rothrock said. “Games like this, going against good players, good matchups, it’s an opportunity to bring the best out of yourself. It’s going to take the best from Nouhou and I on our side. We feel good about it.”
Alex Roldan resumes full training
Alex Roldan was a full participant in Friday's training session and will be available for selection on Sunday after missing the Sounders’ previous game with a hamstring injury.
Paying a visit
Fresh on helping Schalke gain promotion to the Bundesliga, goalkeeper Loris Karius was an inconspicuous observer of Friday’s training session. The former Liverpool man is a massive Seattle Seahawks fan — he’s apparently quite involved in the German 12s — and is in town to visit the VMAC training facility.
