Following the league’s announcement of the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Fla., Sounders FC GM & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey and Brian Schmetzer addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon.
Several themes for the discussion quickly emerged, as Lagerwey and Schmetzer fielded questions surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, preparation for returning to play, and their thoughts on the nature of the MLS is Back Tournament.
More specifically, Schmetzer discussed his commitment to the team and individual players utilizing their influence as public figures to stand in solidarity with the fight for racial justice.
“All of our players are very cognizant of the Black Lives Matter and some of these issues,” said Schmetzer. “We will have a platform to give the fans what they want, which is our sport of soccer, but also add too what [the players] want as far as their platforms for the other issues that are going on in this country.”
With the league announcement of the MLS is Back Tournament, the conversation then shifted to the team’s approach to this exciting new event.
From a health and safety perspective, Lagerwey noted the meticulous measures that the league, Disney and individual clubs have undertaken to mitigate exposure to COVID-19. Those processes include MLS having exclusive access to a hotel at the resort, with each team getting their own floor and each player receiving their own room.
“I think it’s important to establish here that there is no such thing as zero risk,” said Lagerwey. “There’s not zero risk in Washington right now. We don’t have zero cases.
“The league has spent a whole bunch of time and have their own team of medical experts engaged here. Disney has a team of medical experts that have been engaged here. Importantly, the players have their own experts engaged in this process, and they have agreed to this.”
Beyond the exposure of the event – MLS will be the first men’s pro sports league in North America to return to action, and all of the matches will be televised nationally – players and members of the staff are excited to get back to some semblance of normalcy.
Following a grueling preseason and stint in Concacaf Champions League, the Seattle Sounders played just two MLS regular season matches prior to the world being put on pause due to COVID-19. As a result, the whole league has undergone a modified second preseason as they ramp up preparations for Orlando.
Schmetzer, however, is confident that the club’s deeply ingrained culture of winning, coupled with the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League spot and prize money on the line, will foster an environment for engaging matches.
“I think our team is very good in these tournament formats,” said Schmetzer. “Our record in the playoffs is a testament to that. And the quality of the games is going to be high if they’re competitive. I think that CCL spot, the prize money, the guys wanting to be back, our players wanting to defend a championship, there’s a lot of reasons why these games can be good games.”
Slated as one of the top seeds in the MLS is Back Tournament, the Sounders will learn their opponents for the group stage following tomorrow’s official draw. You can learn more details about the draw HERE.
