SEATTLE — Ever since Garth Lagerwey was hired to lead the Seattle Sounders’ front office, he has talked about prioritizing CONCACAF Champions League. It’s been easy enough to chalk that up to idle chatter when they’ve scheduled midseason friendlies against Liga MX sides two whole years before they could even play in the tournament, or look at their relatively conservative spending in order to ensure they have a full stocked roster, but Sunday’s MLS opener was perhaps the most obvious sign that the organization was serious.
Given the choice to put out their best possible team against Los Angeles FC or to hold out some key parts, the Sounders made it obvious they were far more concerned about having their best possible squad available for Wednesday’s game against C.