The Seattle Sounders have endured a disappointing start to their 2022 Major League Soccer campaign, kicking off with two consecutive defeats and zero desires scored.
The modern-day roster is riddled with accidents, with key Designated Players Raul Ruidiaz and Nico Lodeiro both out. Many assumed the Western Conference giants might go through the similar misfortune in the Concacaf Champions League, but head coach Brian Schmetzer insisted in any other case.
“There's been a whole lot of communicate approximately no longer triumphing in 11 video games going lower back into closing season, a group of stuff that became on various courses, sites, all of that. I nevertheless accept as true with in this crew,” declared head instruct Brian Schmetzer.
His confidence translated onto the pitch, with his side securing a three-zero victory over Liga MX side Club Leon in the first leg in their quarter final collection. Veteran Fredy Montero scored two times within the first half to earn the early lead, before Jordan Morris managed a 90 minute purpose to seal the triumph.
Leon didn’t pass down without a fight, dominating 70 percent of possession. The Sounders, however, used that to their gain, confining the Mexican facet to circulate the ball throughout their backline and midfield before pouncing on mistakes.
“We recognize they prefer to play all of the time from the goalkeeper, they play from the returned, they prefer to play ownership, and our group actually is a superb transition team. And in case you defend properly and also you press at the right moments, you create chances in transition.
“The task there may be, towards an amazing group like Leon, in case you press and also you don't win the ball, and they open you up, then they're on top of things of scoring possibilities. And so I assume our players did an excellent task of recognizing when the right time to press and then in transition, I notion we were excellent tonight,” defined Schmetzer.
Beyond the score and key data, Schmetzer hailed player Cristian Roldan for his impact on the squad amid their uneasy begin to 2022. The coach pointed to Roldan’s 'in no way surrender' attitude, and the influence it may depart on those around him.
“As far as Cristian is worried, I know that he got top outcomes on a number of the statistics web sites available in the facts-verse, metaverse, some thing you men want to call it, however Cristian’s emotional ties to our fulfillment is what I prefer to take a look at. You can cross on Sofascore, Fotmob, you men can do all that. You men can do all of the information you need,” referred to the coach.
“But his emotional leadership on the sector – when he presses, how he presses, the strength and the desire, the commitment to his crew, to himself, to the game, is what makes him a special player. Never offers up, whether it's the 1st minute, the 95th minute, 4th minute – that's his emotional contribution to the group. It’s a ways and away more than any statistic that you men can come up with.”
