Upon reflection of how the 2025 season ended, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer talked to the team on the first day of preseason about doing a better job of holding each other accountable.
“I think that's one area we can evolve and be a little bit better at,” he said.
In matches like the loss vs. Real Salt Lake at American First Field last weekend, this is especially vital as the team continues their marathon stretch of away matches and looks to get back into the win column.
“It's all about getting better, understanding what you did wrong, and applying yourself each and every day that you get on the training field,” said midfielder Cristian Roldan. “After a loss, it's about communicating on the mistakes that we've made as a group, and then correcting those during the week, and adjusting and being ready to compete against a different squad on the weekend.”
Constructive communication comes with leaders on the team guiding the rest of the roster in the right direction. Whether it be Schmetzer and Assistants Fredy Juarez and Ricardo Clark showing film, or veterans like Roldan supporting the younger players, success comes when the group as a collective is willing to listen and learn from the past.
“We know that games on the road are difficult. Each game is going to be a little bit different, with different challenges, different environments,” said forward Jesús Ferreira. “And so having leaders in the team who can tell you to like, ‘Hey, make sure that we fix this up so then we don't make the same mistakes,’ [it allows us to] move forward.”
The Feb. 28 match-up found the squad without a point due to the team giving up “a couple of bad goals, that put us behind the eight ball,” according to Schmetzer.
The Sounders had 7 of their 14 shots on target and three big chances to score, including Roldan’s second half header goal and Danny Musovski’s volleyed finish that was called offside. But their comeback fell short after initially falling 2-0 after 47 minutes.
“I think we got the ball into their half. I just don't think we made the plays that we needed to,” said Schmetzer.
As the team prepares for St. Louis CITY SC, one point of emphasis will be to come out a little more aggressive in the attack.
“We have athletic players. And so we can bet on our players,” said Ferreira. “We can bet on the 1v1 and so I think that's something we can learn, and that can help us because we'll be much higher if we do win the ball, and we'll have a better position to attack the goals.”
It is key for team leaders to set expectations and set the tone of what is expected from others on the team. But it is even more important for the rest of the squad to follow through and execute what is asked of them.
“Holding each other accountable is really important on and off the field, but especially on the field — the last two yards to impact a play, the run that you don't want to make. You know, yelling at your teammate in a good way,” said Roldan.
“Getting the most out of your teammates is the most important thing.”
