The Seattle Sounders will get another crack at Liga MX on Wednesday when the host the first quarterfinal leg of CONCACAF Champions League against Mexican giants Chivas de Guadalajara.
Seattle bowed out of CCL in 2016 after falling to perennial power Club América, but is eager to prove its status as one of the top teams in North America. After dismantling El Salvador’s Santa Tecla FC in the Round of 16, the Sounders will have their hands full in slowing down a talented Chivas attack led by forward Alan Pulido.
“We just watched video of [Pulido],” said defender Chad Marshall. “His movement around the box is pretty special, so we always have to make sure we’re communicating and have an eye on him. He’s a special player. He’ll be a handful, so we have to be physical with him and make sure he’s not making any untracked runs.”
Added Assistant Coach Gonzalo Pineda: “Pulido is not a true No. 9, he’s a little bit of a hybrid who can play underneath, he can go outside, he has a lot of mobility. He won’t be an easy target for our center backs. We know that and we have a plan to protect the game in that area.”
Pineda is no stranger to Chivas. He spent four years there from 2006-09 and won one of his three Liga MX titles while in Guadalajara. He still has friends and contacts at the organization, one he speaks about with tremendous pride, and is using his knowledge of the team and the league to help the Sounders advance to the semifinals.
Despite playing a heated, wildly eventful rivalry match with Club América this past Saturday, Chivas brought nearly all of their preferred starters to Seattle. Sitting uncharacteristically in 16th out of 18th in the Liga MX Clausura table, Chivas has its full attention on bringing the first CCL title to Jalisco since 1962. How well the Sounders can play in Leg One at home will go a long way in preventing that.
“[Liga MX teams] are very technical, very sound, very organized in what they try and do,” said Marshall. “They’re extremely deep. They can bring players in, they don’t have a problem with a ton of games because they’re just so deep.
“Communication is important especially with a team that interchanges like they do,” he continued. “They’re going to be a good team. It’s going to be a tough test to keep them off the scoresheet.”
