SEATTLE — Much of the discussion surrounding the lead-up to Tuesday’s Leagues Cup match centered around its worthiness. A common refrain went something like this: Why are the Seattle Sounders being forced to play a midweek game against a more talented opponent in a made-up tournament that feels like a money grab? Wouldn’t they be better off simply resting and focusing on chasing the Supporters’ Shield and positioning themselves for a potential MLS Cup run?
From the very beginning, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer rejected that thinking. He insisted all along that he would be playing his starters; that testing his players against a high-quality opponent was important in itself; that the Sounders are all about winning trophies and this was an opportunity to win another.