Much has been made, rightfully, about the Seattle Sounders’ offseason acquisition of Designated Player Albert Rusnák. He was the league’s biggest free agent signing since the mechanism was expanded a few years ago, and the quality he brings — a double-double last season — is evident.
But perhaps even bigger acquisitions than Rusnák to the Sounders’ 2022 squad are that of captain Nicolás Lodeiro and winger Jordan Morris. Each player was a 2020 MLS Best XI candidate and have been mainstays in Seattle since 2016, but they both missed nearly the entire season last year through injury.
Now fully healthy, the Sounders look poised to improve upon what was already an impressive 60-point 2021 campaign. And Morris, who is entering his sixth professional season, could be in for his strongest season yet.
“I’m feeling really good, the knee feels great,” said Morris, who had ACL surgery early last year before returning for the MLS Cup Playoffs. “Time goes quickly. It’s been a good run so far with some great seasons and championships.”
Morris is so integral to the Sounders’ style of play that his injury precipitated a switch from the team’s usual 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-5-2 last year. Now that Morris is back, so is the 4-2-3-1, as the Sounders look to exploit the space in behind on the wings where Morris’ speed can burn defenses.
March to the 50th
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The 27-year-old is just entering his prime, and the presence of two elite playmakers in Lodeiro and Rusnák should give Morris plenty of scoring opportunities. Plus, he won MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2019 a year after tearing his ACL for the first time when he bagged 10 goals and seven assists in just over 2,000 minutes.
Morris said he tends to keep his goals and expectations close to his chest, but it’s clear what’s at stake. Another good year with this loaded Sounders squad means competing yet again for trophies while a potential trip to Qatar with the United States national team in November for the FIFA World Cup awaits.
For now, though, Morris is focused on the immediate task at hand. The Sounders opened 2022 with a scoreless draw at F.C. Motagua last week in the Round of 16 of CCL and are hosting the Hondurans in Leg 2 at Lumen Field on Thursday (7:45 p.m. PT; FS2, TUDN | TICKETS).
“It’s the same mindset every year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a young kid or a veteran now, it’s about the team and what we can try to do to win championships. We all feel like we have the quality to do something really special in [Concacaf] Champions League.”
