The mood around the Seattle Sounders training facilities in Renton this week? Man, it’s a breath of fresh air, a whole different vibe. And honestly, it makes total sense: the team just snagged a hard-earned road point against FC Cincinnati over the weekend. That’s a massive deal because it’s their first league road point in over 100 days.
“Life This Week”: What’s Fueling the Shift
Paul Rothrock put it perfectly, saying, “We got some life this week. It feels like the tide’s turning a little bit.” You gotta believe him. On top of that crucial point in Cincinnati, our Emerald City squad also locked down Dejan Joveljić from Sporting KC, a big move that definitely brings some fresh energy. And probably the biggest reason for the renewed optimism: a host of veterans are fully back in training. That’s a big deal for a team where the mood had definitely taken a turn for the sour. Rothrock even went as far as saying, “I think this is going to turn out to be a beautiful story. You can judge me on that at the end of the year, if that’s true, but I really think this could be the time that could be a turning point. I really hope that’s true, but I do believe that right now.” That’s the kind of belief we need right now, even though we haven’t seen a league win since May 13.
The Green Light for Our Stars and Ragen’s Road Back
Good news for Saturday’s game: our guys Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris, and Hassani Dotson have all been cleared to play. That’s massive. Paul Arriola is even expected to be back next week when we face the New York Red Bulls. Our depth is about to get a serious boost. Goalie Andrew Thomas summed up the mindset, stating, “The thing we’re eyeing is the MLS Cup, and we have plenty of quality to make that the outcome of the end of the season.” He added, “It doesn’t matter how you go in the middle of the year; it’s all about how you finish. I know that as this team catches some momentum, guys get back, and we start playing the kind of soccer that is expected of us. Towards the end of the year, no one’s going to want to play us, and no one’s going to want to play us in the playoffs too.” We’re still only three points out of a playoff spot, and eight points from getting home-field advantage in the first round. With 14 games left and a game in hand on almost everyone we’re chasing, those wins need to start stacking up, and fast. The only downside is Jackson Ragen, who’s unfortunately out for at least three more weeks. An MRI showed a “little crack” in a non-weight-bearing bone in his knee, an injury Coach Brian Schmetzer mentioned was similar to one he had in a USMNT training camp years ago. He can start jogging in about three weeks, but the exact timeline depends on his pain tolerance. He went down against Austin FC on August 19, tried to play through it, but eventually had to come off. Schmetzer had initially dismissed concerns, not knowing the full extent.
This weekend is crucial. With our veterans back and that fresh energy, it’s time to translate that training mood into three points. We’re looking at a huge opportunity to keep building momentum and prove Rothrock’s “beautiful story” prediction right. Let’s go, Sounders!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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