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TUKWILA, Wash. - The boys are back.
Sounders FC Preseason, presented by adidas, kicked off Saturday at the team's Starfire Sports complex with the team's first outdoor training session. With more than 100 supporters in attendance, the boys in Rave Green took to the training pitch for the first time this year with exactly a month to go before the club's Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League matchup against defending champion Club América at CenturyLink Field.
Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid fielded questions early about how the short turnaround between the first camp and a match with big implications may affect his approach to preseason this year.
"At some times, we'll have to push that group out and work with them separately," noted Schmid. "But the intensity is good. The spirit is good."
With the rain pouring down on a healthy mix of new and returning faces, players went through an array of conditioning exercises and short-sided games, giving fans a chance to check out a few potential starting XIs for the new season.
"It was good. The guys came out and showed a lot of energy," said Schmid. "We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish in terms of getting a good work day in."
Nearly all returning starters were in attendance on Saturday - Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and others - as were recently acquired players Joevin Jones, Michael Farfan and Homegrown addition Jordan Schweitzer.
Schmid also revealed that former Sounders midfielder and MLS veteran Nathan Sturgis was back in camp with the club after playing with the Houston Dynamo last year. Sturgis appeared in 29 games for the Sounders in 2009-10 and has played for seven MLS teams since his debut in 2006.
"He has an interest in coming back here, so we said, 'Yeah, we definitely want to take a look at you, and we'll decide,'" Schmid said.
Notably absent were captain Brad Evansand newly signed Homegrown forward Jordan Morris, both of whom are currently training with the U.S. national team in Carson, Calif. Both players are expected to join the Sounders later in preseason after completing the USMNT camp with friendlies against Iceland and Canada.
While the full squad went through a session outside, center back Román Torres continued his recovery indoors. The CONCACAF Best XI selection posted several videos to Twitter, showing him getting in a workout indoors as he continues to rehab following an ACL injury last season.
The Sounders will enjoy a day off on Sunday before a packed week of training at the Tukwila complex. The team travels to Arizona late next week to begin preparations prior to the Desert Diamond Friendlies. Tickets and travel packages are now on sale.
