Writer - Brandon Clearwaters
Seattle, WA- This Thursday, the Seattle Sounders are set for a tough game against Santa Tecla in the final leg of the Champions League Round of 16. In the first leg of the round, Seattle suffered a 2-1 defeat in El Salvador to Santa Tecla FC. This time it will be on their home field at CenturyLink Field.
Ahead of Thursday’s matchup and the upcoming MLS Season, the Sounders held their annual media day on Wednesday. Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer addressed questions related to the amount of importance that the team puts into playing any competition, not just MLS. “Every competition is important, so yeah we put a lot of stock in Champions League, I would also say that we have put a lot of stock in MLS Cup and Supporter Shield and Cascadia Cup and Open Cup. Every game for those players at least the mantra coming from the player, us, and the coaching staff, is that every game regardless of who steps out of on the field is important for this club, that’s an automatic for us. So, I would say that you have a Champions League game and a League game, is there more importance on either one? We take both of them as equally as important.”
Even though the Sounders kickoff the MLS season on Sunday against LAFC, whom it will be their inaugural match, coach Schmetzer emphasized the importance of not looking too far ahead. “The next game is the most important game, we’re going to get back to that. That served us well in 2016, and the most important game is the next game. I’m going to put out the best lineup for Thursday, and then we’re going to assess and put out the best lineup for Sunday…Every game is a critical game for us.”
Mathematically, a 1-0 win would send Seattle to a likely date with Mexican giants Chivas, in the CCL quarterfinals. The trip would also mark the 4th time in 5 Champion League appearances that the Sounders advanced to the quarterfinals. Only once did they make it to the Semi-Finals, back in the 2012-13 tourney.
No team from the MLS has ever won the Champion League Crown. Only Real Salt Lake and Montreal Impact have made it to the finals, both suffering defeat.
You can catch the Sounders match against Santa Tecla FC Thursday at 7:00 PM PST. Then the Sounders will open up MLS play at home against the Los Angeles Football Club on Sunday, and can be seen on ESPN or listened to on the official radio station of the Seattle Sounders 950 KJR AM.
Ahead of Thursday’s matchup and the upcoming MLS Season, the Sounders held their annual media day on Wednesday. Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer addressed questions related to the amount of importance that the team puts into playing any competition, not just MLS. “Every competition is important, so yeah we put a lot of stock in Champions League, I would also say that we have put a lot of stock in MLS Cup and Supporter Shield and Cascadia Cup and Open Cup. Every game for those players at least the mantra coming from the player, us, and the coaching staff, is that every game regardless of who steps out of on the field is important for this club, that’s an automatic for us. So, I would say that you have a Champions League game and a League game, is there more importance on either one? We take both of them as equally as important.”
Even though the Sounders kickoff the MLS season on Sunday against LAFC, whom it will be their inaugural match, coach Schmetzer emphasized the importance of not looking too far ahead. “The next game is the most important game, we’re going to get back to that. That served us well in 2016, and the most important game is the next game. I’m going to put out the best lineup for Thursday, and then we’re going to assess and put out the best lineup for Sunday…Every game is a critical game for us.”
Mathematically, a 1-0 win would send Seattle to a likely date with Mexican giants Chivas, in the CCL quarterfinals. The trip would also mark the 4th time in 5 Champion League appearances that the Sounders advanced to the quarterfinals. Only once did they make it to the Semi-Finals, back in the 2012-13 tourney.
No team from the MLS has ever won the Champion League Crown. Only Real Salt Lake and Montreal Impact have made it to the finals, both suffering defeat.
You can catch the Sounders match against Santa Tecla FC Thursday at 7:00 PM PST. Then the Sounders will open up MLS play at home against the Los Angeles Football Club on Sunday, and can be seen on ESPN or listened to on the official radio station of the Seattle Sounders 950 KJR AM.