The club is still offering few specifics as to the “health-related issues” that kept Schmid from attending Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Toronto FC at CenturyLink Field, though assistant coach Brian Schmetzer and general manager Garth Lagerwey said they hope he can return to practice this week.
Each Major League Soccer campaign is so long, stretching from preseason camp in January through MLS Cup in December, that every break from the routine feels jarring. It’s a season of patterns — game day, recuperation day, 11-vs.-11 day, repeat — through 34 matches and potential playoff runs.
So it felt especially discomforting Tuesday morning to look out at the Sounders’ practice fields at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila and see assistant coach Brian Schmetzer directing drills, with coach Sigi Schmid still nowhere to be found.
The club is still offering few specifics as to the “health-related issues” that kept Schmid from attending Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Toronto FC at CenturyLink Field, though Schmetzer and general manager Garth Lagerwey said they hope he can return to practice this week.
In the meantime, Schmetzer will continue to stand in for his longtime mentor ahead of Saturday night’s pivotal match against the Earthquakes in San Jose.
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Smoothing the transition is a similar style running from the roots of the coaching tree to its branches. “We’re both German,” Schmetzer cracked when asked to compare his approach with Schmid’s, but it’s more than that.
“Sigi has a good connection with (assistant) Ante (Razov) and Schmetz,” Sounders defender Tyrone Mears said. “They’re fully involved every day, at game time as well. It’s not going to be a big difference for the players. The only thing that is distracting is that we hope he’s going to recover well and he’s going to get back soon.”
The familiarity helps, as does Schmetzer’s crowded coaching resume. A former Sounders player, the 53-year-old was previously the head coach of the club’s USL incarnation from 2002 through 2008.
“I know for a fact that he’s interviewed for other head jobs, and my impression is that he’s chosen to remain here even in some situations where he’s had some opportunities,” Lagerwey said. “He’s a guy that’s been immensely loyal to the club, and he is highly qualified. I say that having talked to other general managers who have interviewed him.”
Schmetzer is 3-1 when filling in for Schmid as a spot replacement, with the only loss coming against those Earthquakes this season at CenturyLink.
“If you asked me in 2002 would I have a chance to coach arguably the best player that the U.S. has ever produced (Clint Dempsey), I’d have said you guys are crazy,” Schmetzer said. “If you guys would have asked me in 2002 if I would coach world-class players like Oba (Martins), (Andreas) Ivanschitz and (Nelson) Valdez, I’d have said you’re all crazy.
“So yes, it’s fun,” he said before sending more well wishes Schmid’s way. “It’s enjoyable. It keeps me young.”
Dempsey leaves early
Despite having moved gingerly through most of his substitute appearance Saturday, Valdez went through the full training session Tuesday morning while continuing to recover from a calf bruise.
Fellow Designated Player forward Dempsey wasn’t as lucky, heading to the locker room early because of hamstring tightness — though Schmetzer said the move was precautionary.
“The important thing is Saturday,” Schmetzer said. “We’re not going to take any chances with any of the injured guys. We need him to play Saturday.”
Alonso to miss San Jose match
Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso will miss Saturday’s match in San Jose due to yellow-card accumulation. Lagerwey confirmed Tuesday that the club cannot appeal the simulation call that triggered the one-match suspension.
“I can’t think of any scenario under which we could challenge (a yellow card),” Lagerwey said. “I know we can’t challenge this one. And I think it’s the right policy, to be fair. You can’t go back and re-ref games.
“We want the skillful players to be able to play. If guys get a bunch of yellow cards, we want them to sit down. Whether we agree with this particular call or not, it’s the right overall policy.”