Sounders in no rush to figure out Best XI

SEATTLE — Through four competitive matches, the Seattle Sounders may not be much closer to choosing a theoretical “best 11” than they were at the start of preseason.

In each of those matches, the Sounders have used slightly different lineups, with an average of six changes from one game to the next.

That’s at least somewhat by design. The Sounders have been trumpeting their depth and at least as long as they’re playing two games a week — as they’ll be doing for at least another two weeks — they intend to test that out.

“I don’t think it’s important that I have a set 11 because of the fixture congestion and squad rotation,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said during a press conference on Tuesday. “There’s going to be good healthy competition along the way, there’s going to be some bumps in the road as we get through the season.

“But right now, it’s not clear and it doesn’t need to be clear.”

Perhaps the most notable position battle is in the attack. Jordan Morris seems to have established himself as the clear starter at the No. 9 — he’s one of just two players who has started all four games — but it’s less clear who the preferred players are beneath him, where Albert Rusnák, Pedro de la Vega and Jesús Ferreira have each started two games.

Complicating the decision is that all three have played well. Rusnák has a goal and an assist, de la Vega has three goals and Ferreira has two assists.

As problems go, that’s a pretty good one to have – especially when the schedule looks how it does right now.

Starting with Wednesday’s game against Liga MX giant Cruz Azul, the Sounders will play three games in seven days and four matches in 11 days. They’ll host fellow Western Conference power LAFC on Saturday, travel to Mexico City for the return leg against Cruz Azul on Tuesday and then play a road game at St. Louis City on March 15.

“We’ve thrown everything up on the board,” Schmetzer said. “We’ve talked to our sports science guys. I think we have a good plan. But what’s up on the blackboard could change depending on the scores of the game, the outcome of the game.”

Up for the challenge

The Sounders come into Wednesday’s game riding an 12-game unbeaten streak in Concacaf play, during which they’ve gone 6-0-6. They also have quite a bit of experience against Liga MX opponents, having faced seven different teams a total of 18 times. But this will be the first time the MLS version of the Sounders have played Cruz Azul, one of the traditional giants (the A-League Sounders played Cruz Azul in this tournament in 1997, falling 11-0).

All of which is to say they bring a mixture of experience and success into this matchup.

“Whenever you play a Mexican side, they’re exceptionally aggressive, very goal driven,” Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei said. “The tension is going to be high, there probably isn’t much room for error. It’s probably a good thing for us to have made some errors in the past, maybe some good wakeup calls. Mexican teams will pounce on that, go for blood.

“I’m confident we have enough leadership that has experienced that before and pass it along.”

Short-handed Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul has one of the most talented and deepest rosters in all of Concacaf, but they will apparently be coming to Seattle missing several key pieces. Assuming the reports are accurate, the club could be missing their top four scorers, a starting defensive midfielder and a starting centerback.

Ángel Sepúlveda has mostly come off the bench for Cruz Azul, but has 11 goals in about 1,100 minutes in 2024-25; Argentine Rodolfo Rotondi is effectively an every-game starter and has eight goals and six assists; Uruguayan Ignacio Rivera has eight goals and two assists; and former Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis has eight goals and seven assists while also serving as a sort of super sub. Erik Liga has been one of Vicente Sanchez’s most consistent centerbacks and Charly Rodriguez has been a staple in the defensive midfield.

Round One honors

Pedro de la Vega (three goals) and Paul Arriola (two goals) were both named to Concacaf’s Best XI for Round One of the tournament. Cruz Azul’s Sepulveda (three goals) also earned the honor.