Freddie Ljungberg's puppy "Amadeus"
joined the club at practice today
and watched from the sidelines. Greg Roth / NSS
Under the watchful eye of Freddie Ljungberg's puppy Amadeus, Sounders FC prepared for their upcoming Match, a Mother's Day matinee with the Los Angeles Galaxy, minus David Beckham who is still with AC Milan until the summer transfer window opens.
The two clubs met in the preseason. Coach Sigi Schmid, did not remember the score or who won because the match was basically meaningless. The reason being is that the lineups used by both clubs back in February were much different than the lineups that will take the pitch this Sunday.
To Continue...
Under muggy skies but spring-like temperatures, the Sounders worked on set pieces and crosses the last 15 minutes of training today. As stated earlier this week, Schmid would like to see the club take advantage of set pieces to create more goals. The Sounders got their first set piece last week against Chicago, seven weeks into the season.
Jarrod Smith left the pitch early to hit the training table with an unspecified injury and thus was unavailable for an interview. It is not clear if it is the same re-occurring ailment or something new. Smith was very effective in the reserve match last Tuesday, scoring two of the club's four goals.
Coach Schmid didn't say if fans would see Smith on the pitch this Sunday. Smith has been nursing his way back to health since preseason and has been working on getting match fit to contribute to the club in some capacity.
Sunday will be the club's first MLS day match at home this season. The match starts at 12:00pm (PDT) and will be televised on KONG TV as well as Telefutra
Quotes from Freddie Ljungberg:
On playing against FC Barcelona and Chelsea
"I played against them a lot of times before in real games. I know myself when I played at Arsenal a game when you play an exhibition game it is very different than playing a competition game. It is more for the fans to see the players to make a good game. I think it is great for the young players that have mostly seen them on TV to play against players from the big teams. I think they (Chelsea and Barcelona) will probably be in the middle of preseason as well. I would probably say that there will be a lot of substitutions and a lot of players that may not play. Like I said, it is a great opportunity for the people of Seattle to see those teams and the young players to play against them."
On International friendly matches being a distraction from MLS matches
"No, I don't think so, you have to be professional at this level as well to know that it is great to play against Chelsea and Barcelona but for us the most important thing is to win in the league (MLS) and do that well. I think it is going to be a buzz for them and they are going to run their socks off hopefully. It's going to be an experience and hopefully, that will be helpful in the league. Maybe something that worked in MLS will definitely not work against a top player, hopefully there will be lessons to be learned."
On Chelsea and Barcelona's world appeal
"I think if you look at Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool in England or the equivalent in Spain and Italy, they are the best clubs in the world. Of course there is an appeal to that. That's how it works. There is a massive following in America, the rest of the world and everywhere. I mean everybody wants to see a good football game and that's what it is all about so hopefully we can fill the stadium and have a great day."
The chemestry between himself and Fredy Montero
"I mean we are trying we talk quite a lot he speaks only Spanish, it's hard but I try, but at the same time, it is not just about me and Fredy. I feel like I am getting a great understanding with Stevie (Zakuani)for example because I want him to come close and then go behind the defender so I can play him him in because he's got the speed. It is about a lot of other players as well that we need the combinations to go right. It is all developing but you have to think like it is a totally new team. Nobody has played with each other before and it will take a little time for it to get it perfect."
Here is the photo slideshow from today's training:
All Photos by Greg Roth - Sounders Fan Insider
Photos property of NSS. Please do not redistribute.
