Eighty-five degree heat and jet lag didn't get in the way of the Seattle Sounders' Argentina practices.The team has gone through two days of practice in Buenos Aires, which is where they'll stay until they fly back home March 6, and the time change and hot temperatures have shown little effect on the players and coaches.
Head coach Sigi Schmid talked about how well the team has responded to the weather and travel.
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“The second day is where fatigue hits you a little bit and the time change will hit you. But the team’s done well. We play in a league where you go through three-hour time changes. It’s not six hours like this, but you have to adjust to it. There’s certainly a physiological adjustment, but also part of it is psychological.”
The Sounders FC have scheduled five training games (70 minute matches) while in Argentina. The Argentine clubs are expected to field a mixture of starters and reserves.
The club remains focused on their goals for training in Argentina and seem to believe this trip will help prepare them for the upcoming season. The team continues to work on their defense and believe that playing training matches against Argentinean teams will help improve the backfield.
Most Argentine teams have an offensive system based on good passing and keeping possession of the ball, playing against teams like these will give the Sounder defense a chance to study different opponents and styles. It should also give the offense an advantageous outlook on how to polish up their own possession techniques.
Examining teams like these will help the Sounders learn to control the ball better on offense and improve passing. Coach Schmid also commented on how the team plans to utilize their upcoming training matches.
“Defensively you have to be really good about keeping your shape and really good about your patience and really good about staying mentally focused because during their time of possession you can’t get exposed; you can’t get drawn apart.”
These matches are a helpful training method. Observing and playing with other teams can be a beneficial training technique because it gives you a chance to learn new skills and practices. The club will use this learning experience to prepare for MLS teams.
Training Match Schedule:
Friday (11 A.M. local, 5 A.M. PT) at Estudiantes La Plata
Saturday (10 A.M. PT) vs CED (a squad comprised of local-based free agents)
Monday (4:30 A.M. PT) at Vélez Sarsfield
Tuesday (4:30 A.M. PT) at Argentinos Juniors
Wednesday or Thursday at River Plate
Reach Michael Camden at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
