The Seattle Sounders are set to take on Chivas de Guadalajara in the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday night (7 p.m. PT, go90.com, Univisión Deportes, 950 KJR AM), and assistant coach Gonzalo Pineda knows it won’t be an easy task.
Pineda addressed the media following the team’s training at Estadio Akron, recognizing that Wednesday night would be a unique match for the former Sounders and Chivas player.
“It’s a special match,” said Pineda. “First of all, for reaching this stage with Seattle, and second, for facing a team like Chivas.”
Even though the Sounders secured a well-deserved 1-0 win over Chivas last Wednesday, Pineda assured the team’s work is not done yet.
“We have a minimal lead from our match at home, but it doesn’t mean anything,” he explained. “There are 90 minutes left that will be very intense where Chivas is going to come out and attack from the first minute and we know it’s going to be a tough battle.”
In a tournament where away goals are the tiebreaker, Pineda highlighted the importance of Chivas not scoring last Wednesday.
“Of course, it was very important for us to win, but also to have done it without allowing our opponents to score on the road,” explained Pineda. “That puts us in a situation where, if we score, we force Chivas to have to score three.”
Pineda explained that the team must continue working diligently in the midfield where Chivas utilizes its speed to counterattack.
When asked about the way Seattle will come out on Wednesday, Pineda said the team will continue playing the same way they always do.
“We came to play like we always do,” said Pineda. “In soccer, there’s no defense or offense. There are simply moments of possession and moments where you don’t have the ball. Normally, we are a team that tries to maintain possession and we will not change that when playing on the road.
“Obviously, you have to consider that Chivas will probably try to come out on the attack more, to press more, and it will be a battle to see who dominates."
