TUKWILA, Wash. – Freshly minted Designated Player Nico Lodeiro and veteran midfielder Alvaro Fernandez are both available to make their debuts when the Seattle Sounders take on the LA Galaxy this weekend.
Interim head coach Brian Schmetzer confirmed Saturday that the paperwork for both players has cleared just days after signing on with the club, giving the Sounders some much-needed punch when then they take on the Galaxy at CenturyLink Field on Sunday (1 p.m.; ESPN/KIRO 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM).
Lodeiro, 27, signed with the club on Tuesday and Fernandez, 30, followed on Thursday. Lodeiro joined the club from Argentine club Boca Juniors and Fernandez is back with the club for his second stint after first playing with the club from 2010-12.
“Yes, they are available for selection,” Schmetzer said with a smile following the team’s training session Saturday.
Forward Clint Dempsey trained Saturday following his appearance in the MLS All-Star Game on Thursday night and will also be ready to play, and forward Jordan Morris is also available after a midweek appearance in the Chipotle Homegrown Game.
The match will also mark the debut of Schmetzer, who took over for departed head coach Sigi Schmid earlier this week. Schmetzer said he doesn’t have a lengthy pregame speech planned, but he’s hoping the team will feed off the emotions of a turbulent week and the urgency of the moment.
“I think the emotion of the game, what’s happened this week, the inclusion of Nico and Flaco, I won’t have to say much,” Schmetzer said. “There’s gonna 50,000-plus people in the stands, I won’t have to say much.”
