TUKWILA, Wash. — The theme of improvement has pushed the Seattle Sounders to unlikely comebacks for the past three seasons, propelling them past slow starts to a pair of MLS Cup Finals. The same theme has pushed three players: Chad Marshall, Stefan Frei and Osvaldo Alonso, onto the shortlist for MLS’ player of the year awards.
“I told them today at film, I said ‘yeah, these guys are being considered — Frei, Chad and Ozzie — but they can’t do it without the rest of you guys,’” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said Wednesday.