The Seattle Sounders are without arguably their three most vital players in Jordan Morris, Nico Lodeiro, and Stefan Frei thanks to injuries. But the train rolls on and therefore the Rave Green are off to their best start in club history. Seattle is the lone undefeated team remaining in MLS this season and sits atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with 21 points from nine matches. The natural question is how? When other teams wilt when impactful players are sidelined, the Sounders have thrived.
Brian Schmetzer jumped on the decision Up Tuesday to elucidate the key sauce a touch. “Our mantra here in Seattle is to undertake and put the players within the best positions to succeed and also to create their confidence and their actual soccer acumen to be ready to, on the sector, make decisions on their own and problem solve on the sector,” Schmetzer said. “Those are two big ideas I attempt to get across to all or any of the players on the sector. thus far this year, it’s worked.”
Schmetzer pointed toward the move of Nouhou from fullback to a part of a three-center back setup, Brad Smith and Alex Roldan’s play out wide, also as Will Bruin partnering with Raul Ruidiaz and Cristian Roldan’s stellar play because the No. 10 for the injured Lodeiro within the Sounders’ new formation for 2021 as prime samples of that ethos working. Not that there wasn’t some trepidation within the early goings.
“There was a touch little bit of fear within the coaching staff in the preseason because we worked really hard in the preseason,” Schmetzer said. “We actually had a special preseason plan, we were getting to do a more robust, physical, quite heavier preseason, but we quite changed gears after Jordan went down together with his ACL and that we fully committed to 3 center backs.”
With the tactical tinkering within the rear-view mirror, the Sounders opened the 2021 season with a 4-0 thumping of Minnesota United. and out of doors of a couple of dropped points reception from draws, they’ve not looked back since. “Maybe that first game we lose, or who knows the primary three games could have struggled,” Schmetzer said. “Maybe we might are idiots for changing to 3 center backs, but play wood it’s worked for us.”
